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Performance and Innovation Unit
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what consultations the Performance and Innovation Unit has undertaken as part of the study on accountability and incentives for joined-up Government; [108370]
- (2) what consultations the Performance and Innovation Unit has undertaken as part of the study on the use of analysis and modelling in central Government. [108372]
The Prime Minister: The Performance and Innovation Unit carried out extensive consultation for both reports. Those consulted include representatives from Government Departments, international institutions, overseas governments and the National Audit Office. In the case of the report on accountability and incentives, local authorities and the Audit Commission were also consulted.
Paragraphs 2.9 and 2.10 of the report on Whitehall's management of cross-cutting policies and services, "Wiring It Up", summarises the consultations carried out for the project. Annexe 5 of the report on the use of analysis and modelling in central government, "Adding It Up", lists those consulted by the project team.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Human Rights
7. Mr. Bradshaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the training of RUC officers in human rights issues. [107679]
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8. Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made in the training of RUC officers in human rights issues. [107680]
Mr. Ingram:
The RUC has embarked upon a new, comprehensive programme of training for all officers and support staff with human rights training being an important element in that programme.
The Chief Constable has set up a committee of senior officers to organise and develop this programme and this committee is in contact with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and with other police training colleges in the development of that programme.
9. Mr. Connarty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making on tackling crimes of violence in Northern Ireland. [107683]
Mr. Ingram:
Provisional figures on violent crime for the period April to October 1999 and the final comparable figures for the same period in 1998 show some positive trends. Although the number of offences recorded has increased by 10.18 per cent., the clearance rate is even higher than that proportion with a 13.9 per cent. improvement. As a result, clearance rates for violent crime compare favourably at 53.4 per cent. with the previous year's figure of 46.9 per cent.
10. Jean Corston:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the RUC on the implementation of the Patten commission recommendations on policing in Northern Ireland. [107684]
Mr. Ingram:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable have frequent meetings during which they discuss a range of issues--including the implementation of the recommendations in the Patten report. The last such meeting was on 17 January 2000.
11. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly Ministers responsible for the delivery of anti-drugs strategies. [107685]
Mr. Ingram:
I have not had any specific discussions with Northern Ireland assembly Ministers about drug misuse policy since devolution on 2 December 1999, although I am keen to do so. In the meantime, my officials have had regular contact with colleagues in Assembly Departments.
12. Mrs. Irene Adams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107686]
22. Ms Moran:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107701]
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Mr. Ingram:
Domestic violence is an abuse of human rights and cannot be tolerated in a civilised society. Our policy in this area aspires to the eradication of domestic violence in all its forms. The Northern Ireland Regional Forum on Domestic Violence was established in 1995 to bring together Government Departments, other public bodies and voluntary organisations to promote co- operation and liaison in this area. The forum has four main policy aims: to heighten awareness of domestic violence, highlighting domestic assault as a crime, to improve services to victims to challenge perpetrators' attitudes and behaviour and to improve the information base.
13. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in decommissioning illegally held weapons. [107687]
14. Shona McIsaac:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decommissioning of illegally held terrorist weapons. [107689]
19. Mr. Donaldson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress there has been on the decommissioning of illegal terrorist weapons. [107697]
20. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest report he has received from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. [107699]
Mr. Mandelson:
I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley), at column 236.
15. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements exist in respect of redundancy payments for members of the Northern Ireland Executive who resign or are removed from office. [107691]
Mr. Mandelson:
Responsibility for this matter currently rests with the devolved Administration.
16. Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Office of First and Deputy First Minister relating to victims of terrorist and paramilitary violence. [107692]
Mr. Ingram:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones), at column 234.
17. Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent support his Department has provided for victims of the troubles. [107693]
Mr. Ingram:
Building on previous initiatives in this field I recently announced a £3 million core funding scheme to sustain the work of groups providing quality
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services to those most directly affected by the Troubles. In addition, an extra £1 million has been given to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.
18. Mr. Savidge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss Government policy on part-time working. [107694]
Mr. Mandelson:
Responsibility for this matter currently rests with the devolved Administration.
21. Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has recently made to and received from Sinn Fein on the implementation of the Belfast agreement. [107700]
Mr. Mandelson:
I have met Sinn Fein representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks. Those discussions have focused on the need to ensure that the Good Friday agreement is fully implemented including the complete decommissioning of all paramilitary arms by May 2000.
23. Mr. Stephen O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Belfast agreement. [107702]
Mr. Mandelson:
Both Governments are working intensively to try to secure further progress on decommissioning as an essential part of the peace process. An enabling power to put the various institutions on hold is being considered in another place. I hope this legislation will not be required but the process of decommissioning intentions must be clear if further confidence in the present arrangements is to be sustained.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109295]
(Redundancy Payments)
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