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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 1 February 2000
NORTHERN IRELAND
Police
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will take measures to ensure that the composition of the staff of the proposed Policing Board, Northern Ireland Office Police Division and Office of Police Ombudsman are broadly reflective of the population of Northern Ireland as a whole; [107814]
- (2) when he intends to report on the role of district policing partnerships in Belfast; and what representations he has received on this matter; [107806]
(3) pursuant to his oral statement of 19 January 2000, Official Report, columns 845-48, when he will appoint the Oversight Commissioner; and if he will set out the person specification and job description for the Oversight Commissioner; [107810]
(4) who he plans will be responsible for the periodic review of progress towards a routinely unarmed police service in Northern Ireland recommended by the Patten report; how often these reviews will take place; and if their findings will be laid before the House; [107811]
(5) if he will outline the criteria by which the Policing Board will make a decision on the badge for the proposed Police Service for Northern Ireland; and if he will ensure that proposals be made public; [107809]
(6) what plans he has to develop a tenure policy for police officers; and if he will ensure that officers involved in security work are included in it. [107813]
Mr. Ingram: The Secretary of State made a statement in the House on 19 January 2000, Official Report, columns 845-48, setting out the Government's response to the Patten Report. The Government are considering a number of detailed issues in relation to the Report and will make its decisions clear in due course.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the proposed policing board will possess the power to call upon the chief constable to retire in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness, subject to the approval of the secretary of state. [107805]
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Mr. Ingram:
The Government accept the recommendations of the Patten report that the Policing Board should, with the Secretary of State's approval, be able to call upon the chief constable to retire in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met members of the Northern Ireland Police Federation to discuss his plans to reform the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [107614]
Mr. Ingram:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met with members of the Northern Ireland Police Federation on Tuesday 11 January 2000 to discuss the Patten report.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish a public register of interests and associations for the police in Northern Ireland which will include currently serving officers. [107816]
Mr. Ingram:
No. The Patten report does not recommend a public register.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105796]
Mr. Mandelson:
NIO has a well established policy on smoking in the workplace which was first introduced in 1991 and a complete ban on smoking, apart from designated smoking rooms, has been in operation in all NIO premises since 1995. The policy has been supported through participation in the annual no-smoking day campaign and various health awareness events where professional and medical advice and information has been made available to encourage staff who smoke to give it up. The Department also intends to participate in the Quit Year 2000 initiative which has just been launched by the Ulster Cancer Foundation.
The Department is currently participating in a detailed Health Survey of all its staff which will identify the mental and physical health of our staff including basic data on smoking habits which will be used to plan future employee well-being activity.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many crimes were committed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years in which legally-held (a) shotguns, (b) .22 rifles, (c) .22 handguns, (d) fullbore handguns and (e) fullbore rifles were used by (i) their legal owners and (ii) others. [106065]
Mr. Ingram:
The Chief Constable has advised me that the information about the ownership of the firearms used in criminal activity is not readily available and obtaining it would incur disproportionate cost. The table, however, shows the number of offences involving the use of firearms, and the type of firearm used over the last 10 years.
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(1) On 1 April 1998 the Home Office introduced a new counting system under which crime is recorded. The new rules figures can not be directly compared to previous years.
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Intelligence Activity
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he had to draw up a code of practice on covert law enforcement techniques and other intelligence activity overseen by a complaints tribunal; [107804]
- (2) what plans he has to appoint a covert policing commissioner to regulate the activities of Special Branch and other intelligence activity. [107807]
Mr. Ingram: The recommendations about covert law enforcement made by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland will be implemented by forthcoming legislation. The legislation will require the publication of Codes of Practice on covert law enforcement techniques which will apply on a UK-wide basis.
Union Flag
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the existing practice on the display of the Union Flag from (a) police premises and (b) other public buildings. [107817]
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Mr. Ingram:
Regarding the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I refer him to the answer I gave him earlier today on questions regarding this subject. On the second part, I will not be reviewing the flying of flags on public buildings in Northern Ireland under my authority. Other public buildings in Northern Ireland, following devolution on 2 December 1999, now fall within the responsibility of the devolved administration.
Specialist Schools
Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the value of additional private sector money levered in for educational use through the specialist school regime since May 1997. [106994]
Ms Estelle Morris: The value of additional private sector money raised through the Specialist Schools programme since May 1997 is approximately £25,000,000.
Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools given specialist status since May 1997, and the parliamentary constituencies in which they are located. [106995]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The information requested is provided in the following table.
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(2) Joint designations
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