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Devolution
26. Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the prospects for devolved Government in Northern Ireland. [87741]
27. Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the prospects for the establishment of a cross-community Executive to govern Northern Ireland. [87742]
Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the prospects for devolved Government in Northern Ireland. [87726]
Marjorie Mowlam: I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) and Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor), today, Official Report, column 334-35.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to involve Northern Ireland Assembly Members in decision making in Northern Ireland. [87725]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Intensive discussions are currently taking place between all of the parties represented in the Assembly and the British and Irish Governments to agree a way forward to complete the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement including devolving power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Until devolution takes place, Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office will continue to consult the Northern Ireland political parties in the normal way about any decisions they take.
RUC (Portadown)
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of (a) assault and (b) affray occurred in the Thomas Street and Market Street/Woodhouse Street area of Portadown town centre between 1 April 1996 and 27 April 1997; and how many arrests were made. [85499]
Mr. Ingram: The RUC have advised that there were three recordable offences of assault in this area between the dates in question. Of these, two were assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one was grievous bodily harm. One person was arrested in each case. There were no recorded offences of affray.
Chief Constable
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to lay before each House the annual report for 1998 of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [89357]
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 182
Marjorie Mowlam:
Copies of the Chief Constable's annual report for 1998 have today been placed in the Library. It is a general report on the carrying out of the RUC of their functions during 1998 which is submitted to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and also to me for laying before Parliament in accordance with Sections 48 and 49 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made towards the normalisation of security arrangements in Northern Ireland. [87730]
Mr. Ingram:
Since the Good Friday Agreement, routine military patrolling has been reduced by almost two thirds. Since the start of the year, there have been under 15,000 service personnel on operational duties in Northern Ireland, fewer than at any time since 1970, although there may be some short term increases over the summer period. Military installations have been closed and some demolished.
We are committed to as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements, consistent with the level of threat.
Sentencing
Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to implement sections 80 and 81 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [89576]
Mr. Straw: Section 80 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on the Court of Appeal to consider producing or revising sentencing guidelines when a suitable case arises.
Section 81 of the Act establishes a new Sentencing Advisory Panel which must be consulted by the Court whenever it decides that guidelines are necessary. The Panel may also propose that the Court frame or revise guidelines and I may direct it to do so.
Both sections come into force on 1 July 1999.
The Lord Chancellor will appoint the following members to the Panel:
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 183
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the lead security vehicle for the Prime Minister is a British-made vehicle. [88161]
Mr. Straw:
The Metropolitan Police are responsible for the purchase and supply of the lead security vehicle used for the protection of the Prime Minister. The vehicle currently used is a Land Rover Discovery.
Mr. Peter Bradley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish figures for each police authority in England and Wales setting out (a) the percentage changes in their budget and (b) the numbers of police officers in the force between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999. [89577]
Mr. Straw:
The information requested is set out in the table. The information on changes in police numbers is based on provisional strength figures at March 1999 provided by forces.
Professor Martin Wasik (Chairman)
Professor Andrew Ashworth
Pamela Brown
Dr. Michael Chan
Anne Fuller
Heather Harker
Professor Frances Heidensohn
Peter Jones
David Mallen
Judge Michael Mettyear
| Percentage change in police numbers | Percentage change in budget | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Force | March 1998 to March 1999 | March 1998 to March 1999 | 1997-98 to 1998-99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5-5.9 per cent. reduction in strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City of London | -5.7 | (-46.8) | -7.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleveland | -5.2 | (-76.8) | +5.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4-4.9 per cent. reduction in strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lincolnshire | -4.3 | (-51.5) | +1.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nottinghamshire | -4.2 | (-98) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3-3.9 per cent. reduction in strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bedfordshire | -3.4 | (-37.2) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumbria | -3.2 | (-37.5) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norfolk | -3.4 | (-48.2) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sussex | -3.7 | (-107.9) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Yorkshire | -3.4 | (-172.7) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2-2.9 per cent. reduction in strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Devon and Cornwall | -2.5 | (-74.5) | +4.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dorset | -2.7 | (-35.9) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greater Manchester | -2.0 | (-138.8) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Humberside | -2.3 | (-46.8) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northamptonshire | -2.7 | (-31.2) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Yorkshire | -2.2 | (-30.7) | +4.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Staffordshire | -2.4 | (54.5) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0-1.9 per cent. reduction in strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cambridgeshire | -1.3 | (-17) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derbyshire | -0.8 | (-13.6) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Essex | -1.3 | (-38) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hampshire | -0.5 | (-16.1) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hertfordshire | -0.9 | (-16.2) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent | -1.5 | (-50) | +4.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lancashire | -0.4 | (-12.3) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Police | -0.08 | (-20.7) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Yorkshire | -0.4 | (-14) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thames Valley | -0.7 | (-27.4) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire | -1.7 | (-15.4) | +3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Mercia | -0.5 | (-10.5) | +3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wiltshire | -0.5 | (-5.3) | +3.7
| Forces with increases in police numbers
| Gloucestershire | +0.02 | (0.2) | +3.8
| Avon and Somerset | +0.8 | (23.4) | +3.8
| Cheshire | +1.4 | (28.7) | +3.8
| Durham | +3.5 | (53.1) | +4.9
| Dyfed-Powys | +2.4 | (24) | +3.8
| Gwent | +1.2 | (14.3) | +3.8
| Leicestershire | +0.5 | (10.1) | +3.8
| Merseyside | +2.3 | (95.1) | +3.8
| Northumbria | +1.9 | (71.5) | +4.7
| North Wales | +0.4 | (5) | +3.8
| South Wales | +0.13 | (3.8) | +3.8
| Suffolk | +0.4 | (4.4) | +3.8
| Surrey | +3.3 | (53.5) | -1.0
| West Midlands | +2.3 | (165.3) | +3.8
| | |
| Overall total | -0.6 | (-793.3) | +3.7
| | |||
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 184
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1999, Official Report, column 296, concerning police manpower, when he intends to publish figures for the number of police officers, per force and in total, on 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [88192]
Mr. Straw: The information requested is set out in the table. The figures are provisional and subject to validation.
(1) Figures are for full-time equivalents, are provisional and subject to validation
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 185
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