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NORTHERN IRELAND
Democratic Accountability
9. Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the democratic accountability of the Northern Ireland Office. [9634]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: Our overall objective is, as part of a three-stranded process, to establish locally accountable political arrangements in Northern Ireland, on a widely accepted basis.
Until there is agreement on such arrangements and they are in place, I want to improve the democratic accountability of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments. I need therefore to consult the Northern Ireland parties which I shall shortly do. The remit of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee is, for example, an area with a promising potential.
Republican Terrorism
10. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) violent attacks and (b) murders have been committed by republican terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland in the last year. [9635]
Sir John Wheeler: In the period 15 January to 14 January 1996 there were 225 punishment attacks, of which 144 have been attributed to republican groups. Over the same period there have been 10 terrorist-related deaths, of which eight have been attributed to republican groups.
Arms and Explosives
12. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current positions taken by paramilitary organisations in Ulster on the surrender of weapons. [9637]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The international body concluded that the paramilitaries will not decommission any arms prior to all-party negotiaions. We see no sufficient reason why they should not begin. But no one should be allowed to block the path of peace. That is why we hope that an elective process may now be considered by the parties which, together with the recommendations the body has made, may well offer an alternative means to generating the necessary confidence which the body found to be lacking.
Paramilitary Murders
13. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give the number of murders committed in Northeren Ireland involving the use of firearms since the declaration of a ceasefire by paramilitary organisations in the Province. [9638]
25 Jan 1996 : Column: 382
Sir John Wheeler:
Since the Provisional IRA ceasefire on 1 September 1994 there have been 17 murders committed in Northern Ireland which involved the use of firearms. Of these, 10 have been categorised by the RUC as having a terrosit involvement.
14. Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments in the peace process. [9639]
20. Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Northern Ireland and recent progress on the peace process. [9646]
21. Mr. Robert Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the Government's "twin-track" approach to the Northern Ireland peace process [9647]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
I refer the hon. member to the replies I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) and to the hon. Members for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) and for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice).
19. Mr. Simon Coombs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the impact of the peace process on living standards in the Province. [9644]
Mr. Ancram:
It is not possible to link the peace process directly to any general measure of the standard of living in Northern Ireland. however, in the first 12 months after the ceasefire employment increased by almost 11,000--1.9 per cent.--to the highest level ever recorded; unemployment fell by just over 9,000--9.5 per cent.--to its lowest level for 14 years and house prices increased, on average, by 5 per cent.
15. Mr. David Shaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current annual level of inward investment in Northern Ireland; and what was the level prior to the ceasefire. [9640]
Mr. Ancram:
During the nine months of the current financial year to 31 December 1995 Northern Ireland has secured eight inward investment projects promoting 2,306 jobs. In the 12 months of 1994-95 there were 10 projects promoting 1,969 jobs, and in the 12 months of 1993-94 there were 13 projects promoting 2,309 jobs.
16. Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants are available to food companies wishing to conduct inward investment in Northern Ireland. [9641]
Mr. Ancram:
The range of grants available to food companies wishing to invest in Northern Ireland is the same as that for any other potential inward investor engaged in manufacturing industry or in internationally tradeable services.
25 Jan 1996 : Column: 383
17. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Mitchell Commission. [9642]
25. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy in respect of the form the decommissioning of weapons and ordnance by paramilitary groups should take; and if he will make a statement. [9651]
28. Mr. Hain:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the decommissioning of paramilitary arms. [9655]
Sir Patrick Mayhew:
I refer hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink).
18. Lady Olga Maitland:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current levels of shootings and punishment beatings in Northern Ireland. [9643]
Sir John Wheeler:
I strongly condemn these wicked attacks on people. Such attacks divide the community and destroy the trust in Northern Ireland. The Government's position is clear. These murders, senseless shootings and attacks are appalling and must cease. There is no excuse of any kind. I am in no doubt that terrorists are involved in all such incidents and I call on all those genuinely committed to peaceful methods unreservedly to condemn such acts.
22. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the economy of Northern Ireland during 1996. [9648]
Mr. Ancram:
Prospects for the Northern Ireland economy are very encouraging. Business confidence is high, employment is at record levels and output and trade are increasing. With continuing peace we can look forward to this excellent progress being maintained.
23. Mr. Clifford Forsythe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of (a) pensioners and (b) pensioners on income support in Northern Ireland. [9649]
Mr. Moss:
The latest available figures show that at September 1994 there were 219,109 pensioners in Northern Ireland and at November 1995 there were 65,931 pensioners--excluding partners over pensionable age--in receipt of income support.
24. Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed weapons were in private hands in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of these weapons are owned by (a) Catholics and (b) Protestants. [9650]
25 Jan 1996 : Column: 384
Sir John Wheeler:
At 30 November 1995 there were a total of 133,869 weapons held on 88,092 firearms certificates received under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
There is no information held which would indicate the religious background of an applicant.
26. Mr. William O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future proposals involving the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. [9652]
Mr. Moss:
The housing policy review entitled "Building on Success" was published on 19 December and copies placed in the Library. The conclusions confirm the Executive's role as a single, comprehensive, regional housing authority for Northern Ireland, and also propose to strengthen and enhance that role. I would welcome comments on those proposals by 31 March.
27. Mr. A. Cecil Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the care of the elderly physically handicapped in Northern Ireland. [9653]
Mr. Moss:
Care services for elderly physically disabled, and other vulnerable people, in Northern Ireland are provided on the basis of individual assessed health and personal social services care needs. In securing the delivery of services which respond flexibly and sensitively to the needs of individuals, and the relatives and friends who care for them, boards are expected to ensure that priority is given to those in greatest need and to secure value for money.
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