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North Belfast (26 September Disturbances)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she has received a report on disturbances in North Belfast involving members of the Paratroop Regiment on 26 September; and if she will make a statement. [13063]
Mr. Ingram: It has been reported that there have been allegations made about the behaviour of military personnel on the Oldpark Road in the early hours of Sunday 27 September. The allegations have not been the subject of a formal complaint. However, a full inquiry has been carried out which ascertained that there were no military vehicles in the area at the time alleged.
Security
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will consider introducing a greater level of transparency into the assessment of the security situation. [13061]
Mr. Ingram:
Both the Chief Constable and Ministers regularly provide up-to-date assessments of the security situation which are as comprehensive as possible. Most recently members of the Select Committee on Northern Ireland visited Northern Ireland and were provided with a detailed up-to-date briefing on the current security situation. However, my hon. Friend will be aware that the
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nature of some information available to the Government and the security forces is of such a sensitive nature that it cannot be placed in the public domain.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been
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detained in each of the holding centres in each of the last six months, by (a) gender and (b) perceived religious/community origin. [13065]
Mr. Ingram:
Set out below are details on the number of persons detained in each of the three holding centres in each month from April to September, categorised by gender. The religious/community origin of persons detained is not recorded.
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| Castlereagh | Gough | Strand Road | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| April | 43 | 4 | 9 | -- | 3 | -- | 55 | 4 |
| May | 21 | 1 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | 30 | 1 |
| June | 42 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 5 |
| July | 23 | 1 | 3 | -- | 2 | 1 | 28 | 2 |
| August | 23 | 1 | 20 | -- | 2 | -- | 45 | 1 |
| September | 18 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | -- | 30 | 4 |
| Total | 170 | 13 | 57 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 240 | 17 |
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Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what target date has been set for the conclusion of the consultation exercise on the recommendations made in the fourth annual report of the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres.[13066]
Mr. Ingram: Following consultation with the relevant interested parties, the Secretary of State wrote to the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres on 26 September 1997 in response to a number of the recommendations made in his fourth annual report. Some matters remain outstanding and when these have been resolved the Secretary of State will write again setting out the Government's full response. A copy of that letter, when it is issued, will be placed in the Library of the House.
Vehicle Checkpoints
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the location of permanent vehicle checkpoints in Northern Ireland in September 1994 and September 1997, indicating anticipated changes in the next six months providing there is no major change in the overall security context. [13059]
Mr. Ingram: The locations of permanent vehicle checkpoints in Northern Ireland in September 1994 and September 1997 are as follows:
Since the ceasefire many of the permanent vehicle checkpoints are no longer used as checkpoints, however the structures are still manned--they fall into the category which reads "Inactive but structure still present".
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In addition, the Civilian Search Unit manned vehicle checkpoints in Belfast at five locations--Royal Avenue, High Street, Queen Street, Donegall Place and Victoria Square. These were removed in September 1994.
All security measures, including permanent vehicle checkpoints are continually reviewed; any changes will depend on the assessment of threat at the time.
Bus Companies
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to investigate developments in the bus industry as a result of mergers and take-overs of privatised former national bus companies and municipal bus undertakings; and if he will make a statement. [13705]
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Mr. Nigel Griffiths
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: Each merger qualifying for consideration under the Fair Trading Act 1973 is considered on its individual merits. The President of the Board of Trade has said that her general policy will be to make merger references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission primarily on competition grounds.
The Government are currently reviewing the provision and regulation of local bus services as part of the development of an integrated transport policy.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what agreements exist between her Department and BNFL relating to medium-term financial targets; when the most recent target was agreed; and if it assumed mixed oxide fuel would be manufactured by BNFL. [12949]
Mr. Battle:
Three-year external financing limits are set for BNFL within the context of the annual corporate plan published by the company. BNFL's EFL for 1997-98 was adjusted from £-67,000,000 to £-169,000,000 to reflect an improved trading performance since the EFLs for three years 1997-98 to 1999-2000 were set in the 1996 Budget. The EFLs were set on the assumption that mixed oxide fuel would continue to be manufactured at Sellafield.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the areas of departmental business from which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has excluded himself as a result of previous financial interests. [12585]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
Ministers in this Government will continue to make public statements about their involvement in specific cases where it is valuable for the conduct of a specific case.
I knew on being appointed a Minister that a small shareholding in the companies detailed below were likely to be released from my late father's estate during summer 1997. For that reason I have stood aside from consideration of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on P and O/Stena, and papers relating to the European Commission's investigation under the European Community Merger Regulation of the proposed acquisition by Dupont of certain ICI businesses.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes there have been since 1 May to her Department's planned funding for Business Links (a) in the current year, (b) 1998 (c) 1999; what were the figures on 1 May; and what are the figures now. [13521]
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Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: There have been no changes to the planned funding for Business Links in the current financial year; £38.1 million is available towards the cost of establishing the Business Link network and £102.8 million towards the cost of Business Link services.
As with all Government programmes, Business Link funding for 1998-99 and 1999-2000 is currently being considered as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the results of the latest survey of Business Links' levels of activity, including the number of small businesses using Business Links. [13520]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: A detailed report on Business Link management information is issued quarterly and a copy placed in the House of Commons Library. The report for the period from April to June 1997 will be published later this month.
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