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Early-day Motions
Mr. Butterfill: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what, in each of the three most recent years for which figures are available, were (a) the total costs relating to early day motions and (b) the average cost of the reprinting of individual motions when names were added. [77436]
Mr. Kirkwood: I have been asked to reply.
I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
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Police Complaints
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she will lay before Parliament the 1998 Annual report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [77926]
Marjorie Mowlam: The 1998 Annual Report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints is being laid before Parliament today. The Report, which follows the format of previous years, comments on the work of the Commission in 1998, its 11th year dealing with alleged complaints against the RUC.
I should like formally to record the Government's thanks to the Chairman and Members of the Commission and to the staff for their continued excellent work during this past year and for producing this Report. In this respect, I would like to highlight and endorse the Chairman's introduction to the Report in which he says that in spite of the already heavy workload of (Commission members and) staff, and the extra demands on them in facilitating the transition to the establishment of the Ombudsman's office, their
I know that the police, particularly in Complaints and Discipline Department, have shown similar commitment, and I would like to place that on record also.
The work on establishing the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is continuing and we will be re-advertising the Ombudsman post shortly. This is an important new office, which, along with the other changes in policing that are in train, should contribute further to improving public confidence in the police in Norther Ireland.
The 1998 Report notes that there was a reduction of nearly 15 per cent. in the number of cases of complaint received by the Commission, compared with the number received in 1997, down from 3,111 to 2,651. The figures since 1991, however, have remained around the 2,500 level. It also notes that the number of cases for mandatory supervision has remained at about 100 and the number of discretionary cases was lower than expected at 171. Of the 2,383 cases closed in 1998, 562 were withdrawn, 682 were dispensed with (usually because a complainant would not co-operate with an investigation) and disciplinary action was considered in over 1,000. The DPP directed 5 criminal charges, there were 19 formal disciplinary charges and 104 informal disciplinary actions.
In light of the appalling murder of Rosemary Nelson, I think it important and appropriate to highlight the reference in the report to the complaints made by and on behalf of Mrs. Nelson. The Commission refer to their "serious concern" about the conduct of the investigation. They raised these with the Chief Constable and me last Summer. As a consequence, the Chief Constable appointed Commander Mulvihill, with the approval of the ICPC, to continue the investigation. The ICPC will shortly be issuing its statutory statement on the conduct of this to
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the Chief Constable and complainants. As is normal the investigation file will then be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.
A number of additional points are worth recording. One is the Commission's helpful historical analysis of the evolution of the complaints system in Northern Ireland. Another is the decision to supervise all complaints alleging intimidation of solicitors. As we have already told the Commission, this is a sensible and helpful approach to a contentious subject. A third is the decision to take on a small number of cases concerning incivility. These may be regarded by some as less serious allegations, but to complainants they are all serious, and I think it important to audit such cases in the way the ICPC has done.
Finally, the Government echoes the concluding words of the Chairman that:
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will announce the names of the two newly appointed members of the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission. [77927]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I am pleased to announce that I have recently issued warrants of appointment for the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission to Mrs. Joan Elizabeth Ruddock and Richard McLaughlin QC. I have also been informed by the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland that he has appointed hon. Mr. Justice Coghlin to the position of Deputy Chairman of the Commission.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds dealing with incontinence are available in Northern Ireland in (a) all service hospitals, (b) general hospitals, (c) specialist hospitals, (d) teaching hospitals and (e) hospitals in other categories. [77032]
Mr. McFall:
The information requested is not collected.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the preliminary view of the coming year's parades is to be published by the Parades Commission; to whom the preliminary view of the coming year's parades is formally submitted; to whom the Parades Commission is formally accountable; on what parades the Parades Commission has issued a formal determination since its inception; how many parades have taken place which have contravened rulings made by the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the work of the Parades Commission over its first 12 months. [76930]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The current text of the Procedural Rules, one of the three statutory documents published under the Public
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Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, indicates that the Commission will
(Procedural Rules, p1, para. 1.2).
The Commission is currently reviewing the Procedural Rules, together with the Code of Conduct and the Guidelines, in line with its statutory remit, and has issued its proposed changes to the documents in draft form for consultation. One of the proposed changes to the Procedural Rules is the removal of the requirement to make a preliminary view. In reaching its decisions in respect of contentious parades in the 1998 season, the Commission set out clearly the action it considered necessary by parties to parades disputes in order to remove the need for Commission involvement. Therefore, it considers that to issue a preliminary view in 1999 would simply be to restate what is already in the public domain.
The Chairman and his colleagues on the Commission will, of course, consider carefully the responses they receive in relation to the documents, including proposals relating to the preliminary view. The revised documents are, as the hon. Gentleman knows, subject to Parliamentary approval before publication.
In relation to accountability, the Commission was established by Parliament under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as an independent body. In addition to the statutory requirements in relation to the Code of Conduct, Procedural Rules and Guidelines, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required to present to Parliament the Commission's Annual Report on the discharge of its functions for that year.
I have placed in the Library of the House a list of parades in relation to which the Parades Commission has issued a determination since receiving its statutory powers enabling it to impose conditions on parades.
Statistics on the number of parade which have contravened the Commission's rulings are not available.
Finally, I wish to congratulate the Parades Commission for their integrity and commitment over the last year. They have a difficult job and they have carried out their role in a totally fair and impartial manner in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the waiting periods for (a) angioplasty, (b) angiogram procedures and (c) heart by-pass surgery in each health trust. [74887]
Mr. Hutton:
Available information on the number of patients waiting for angioplasty and heart by-pass surgery by health authority is shown in the table.
"commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm stand as a tribute to each and every one of them."
"The Commission has been variously described over the years by some as "toothless" and often as "ruthless". In fact, it has been neither."
"express an informal broad view of the overall pattern of parades in the areas in which they are contentious"
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