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Queen's University Student Union
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the moneys paid to Queen's university students union over the last three years, the purposes of the payments and the religious breakdown of its part-time staff. [38295]
Mr. Ancram: Grants paid by the Queen's university of Belfast to its students union over the three years to 1994-95, the latest figures available, are:
| Academic year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 683,000 |
| 1993-94 | 731,000 |
| 1994-95 | 757,000 |
Grants go towards the running costs of the students union, which under the university's charter and statutes promotes the interest of students and represents them in all matters affecting their interests.
The religious breakdown of the part-time locally recruited staff is 16 per cent. Protestant and 84 per cent. Catholic.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statistical forms issued to businesses by his Department, indicating the number of each sent out. [38675]
Sir John Wheeler:
In 1995, the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments conducted or commissioned 86 statistical surveys of businesses. A list of the surveys and the number of forms sent out for each survey is contained in the statistics notice "Statistical
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Surveys of Businesses by Central Government in Northern Ireland during 1995", a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Northern Ireland Departments took an early initiative to review the continued need for their forms which impact on business. A register of all Northern Ireland forms sent to business is held which allows the overall position to be kept under review. A detailed review of each NI form is carried out once every two years.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to whom a citizen of Northern Ireland should complain if they believe that they were injured by a plastic bullet fired improperly by a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer; and what complaints procedure exists for examining such complaints. [38955]
Sir John Wheeler:
Plastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
A complaint about the conduct of a police officer may be made to a variety of places, including a local police station, the independent commission for police complaints, the police authority or through a solicitor, but ultimately will end up with the police in complaints and discipline branch. If, however, the complaint is about an officer of assistant chief constable rank or above, it will fall to the police authority for consideration.
The procedures for examining complaints are contained in the Police (NI) Order 1987--(1987) No. 938 (N.I.10)--and regulations and guidance issued under it. A guide on making a complaint, issued by the independent commission for police complaints, will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints he has received, to date, about the use by the Royal Ulster Constabulary of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland from 7 July to date. [38959]
Sir John Wheeler:
Plastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
In the period from 7 July 1996 until 19 July 1996, five complaints about the use of plastic baton rounds were received by the complaints and discipline branch of the RUC. One of these complaints has since been withdrawn.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets were fired by Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in Northern Ireland between 7 July and 15 July; how many reports of people injured by plastic bullets and requiring hospital treatment he has received, to date; how many people were detained in hospital; how many people remain, to date, in hospital; and if he will make a statement. [38958]
Sir John Wheeler:
Plastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
During the period from 0600 on 7 July to 0600 on 16 July 1996, approximately 6,000 plastic baton rounds--PBRs--were fired by the RUC.
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There are reports of injuries to 149 RUC personnel and 192 civilians during this period. It is not possible at this stage to determine how many of the civilian injuries were caused by PBRs. There are no figures to indicate how many people were detained in hospitals.
Dr. Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Royal Ulster Constabulary officers were injured in the gunfire directed at New Barnsley RUC station; and what was the nature and extent of the attack on the officers. [39040]
Sir John Wheeler:
Although a total of 95 rounds of gunfire was directed at New Barnsley RUC station in a number of gun attacks between midnight and 3 am on 13 July, fortunately no police officers were injured as a result.
Dr. Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many petrol bombs have been recorded as being thrown at the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the last three months; and how many officers have been injured. [39042]
Sir John Wheeler:
The RUC do not hold figures relating to the number of petrol bombs thrown, but do collate the number of incidents where petrol bombs are thrown.
Figures for the last three months are not yet available. However, initial estimates would suggest that between 7 and 16 July alone, more than 8,000 petrol bombing incidents were recorded, involving between 16,000 and 24,000 petrol bombs.
Dr. Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many punishment attacks have been carried out since 1 September 1994, by (a) republican and (b) loyalist groups. [39041]
Sir John Wheeler:
Between 1 September 1994 and 18 July 1996, terrorist gangs in Northern Ireland have carried out 454 so-called punishment attacks, 24 of which were shootings. Of these, 277 have been attributed to republican groups and 177 to loyalist groups.
Dr. Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on current levels of acts of intimidation against members of the community committed by (a) republicans and (b) loyalists. [39043]
Sir John Wheeler:
It is not possible to sub-divide acts of intimidation into those committed by republicans and those committed by loyalists. However, during the period 0600 on 7 July to 0600 on 16 July, the RUC received reports of 89 cases of intimidation of police personnel and 251 complaints from civilians.
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the outcome of the housing policy review; and if he will make a statement. [39725]
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Mr. Moss:
I have today placed in the Library of the House the Government's decisions contained in "Building on Success--the Way Ahead" following the period of public consultation. It is now proposed to proceed with the main policies and strategies outlined in the housing policy review, although a number of proposals have been amended in light of the consultation and further considerations. Progress on certain proposals will require legislative change. I am now setting up a small group of senior officials from the Department of the Environment, the Housing Executive and housing associations, to agree the timetable and detailed arrangements for implementation of the decisions.
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the royal commission's report on criminal justice; and if he will make a statement. [39726]
Sir John Wheeler:
The terms of reference of the royal commission did not extend to Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State decided to consider the implications of the report in the context of Northern Ireland.
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