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Tourist Intimidation (Bushmills)

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC has taken to respond to reports of verbal abuse and intimidation of tourists in the Bushmills area, County Antrim; and how many meetings have been held with the Bushmills Community Association in the past 12 months. [105438]

Mr. Ingram: There have been no reports of verbal abuse or intimidation reported to the police. There have been six meetings with the Bushmills Community Association in the last year.

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Hurling Summer Scheme

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following the Irish News newspaper report of 5 August concerning threats received by organisers and children participating in a hurling summer scheme to have taken place on the O'Neill Park, Dungannon; when the police first learned of the threats against the scheme; and what measures were taken to address the community relations aspects of this incident. [105462]

Mr. Ingram: As a result of information on 3 August, police personally informed two representatives of the Gaelic Athletic Association at O'Neill Park that day and a third representative on 4 August of a possible threat to the summer scheme. Appropriate crime prevention and security advice was given and all police patrols were briefed to give attention to the area at the times given by GAA representatives.

Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the investigation by the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the assault on Gregory Girvan in Portadown town centre on 27 April 1997. [119711]

Mr. Ingram: A file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the 31 July 1997 in respect of this assault. However, he directed that there was insufficient evidence to press charges. The investigation therefore remains open and I would implore anyone who has not already done so to contact the police and provide whatever information they can to assist in catching those responsible for this despicable crime.

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list by rank and the time at which they attended, those officers above the rank of constable who attended the scene of the assaults on Robert Hamill and Gregory Girvan in Portadown town centre on 27 April 1997; [119713]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 32W, on Robert Hamill, for what reasons police did not cordon off the location of the attack on Robert Hamill in Portadown on 27 April 1997 until 07.27 hours. [119714]

Mr. Ingram: The Independent Commission for Police Complaints are actively considering whether disciplinary proceedings will be instigated against police officers in this particular case and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment on such details at this time.

Parades Commission

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the applications for judicial review of a decision of the Parades Commission since its creation, in each case describing the (a) issue involved, (b) the result of the application hearing and (c) the result of the substantive hearing and summarising of the findings of the Court. [124107]

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Mr. Ingram: To date there have been five occasions when applications for judicial review have been made on determinations made by the Parades Commission:

1. Ormeau Road parade on 13 July 1998:

(a) The Commission's decision not to impose route restrictions on the Orange Order parade was the subject of an application for judicial review on 7 July 1998. The grounds of the application were that, in not prohibiting the parade from parading on the Lower Ormeau Road as it had done in relation to previous parades, the Commission had exceeded its statutory powers. It was argued that the functions of the Commission were the balancing of local interests, and that the meaning of "community" in the Public Processions Act 1998 was confined to the people living in the area through which it was proposed that the parade should pass. The Commission could not, therefore, come to a different conclusion in relation to the 13 July parade if, as it was bound to do, it restricted itself to local considerations.

(b) The application was dismissed. The decision, when appealed, was upheld.

(c) No substantive hearing.

2. Apprentice Boys Parade in Dunloy on 8 August 1998:

(a) The Commission's decision not to permit the Dunloy Apprentice Boys to parade through the village of Dunloy was the subject of an application for judicial review on 6 August 1998. The grounds of the application were, among others, that the Commission had failed to distinguish the various groups which are commonly described as the 'loyal orders' and had imposed an obligation on those loyal orders to engage with the local community. This, it was argued, had fettered the Apprentice Boys discretion.

(b) The application was dismissed.

(c) No substantive hearing.

3. Parkmount Junior LOL No. 150 parade in Portadown on 29 May 1999:

(a) The Commission's decision not to impose conditions on the parade along a section of the lower end of Garvaghy Road in Portadown was the subject of an application for judicial review on 27 May 1999. The grounds for the application were that in deciding not to impose conditions the Commission had not acted in accordance with its own procedures.

(b) Leave to apply was not granted. The applicant appealed the decision and the Court of Appeal subsequently granted leave and heard and determined the application.

(c) The judgment found that the Commission had taken into account relevant factors, and had not taken into account irrelevant factors, and that the decision to impose no restrictions was lawful, procedurally proper and reasonable in the circumstances.

4. Long March Parade on 3 July 1999 (Lurgan to Portadown):

(a) The Commission's decision to re-route that part of the march notified to pass through Lurgan was the subject of an application for leave to apply for a judicial review on 2 July 1999. The grounds for the application were that the Commission had not complied with its own procedures in failing to consult with the organiser of the march in order to facilitate mediation.

(b) The court considered that the Commission had not acted " in a way which was clearly outside its powers or contrary to its prescribed procedure". The application was refused. The applicant appealed the decision on 2 November 1999. A preliminary hearing was held on 8 November 1999, and the substantive hearing on 1 December 1999. The appeal was dismissed.

(c) Dismissed on invitation of appellant's counsel.

5. St. Patrick's Day parades in Kilkeel on 17 March 2000:

(a) The Commission's decision to permit parades by two nationalist bands to proceed along their notified route was the subject for an application for a judicial review on 16 March

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2000. The ground for the application was that the Commission had failed to comply with its procedures in not consulting widely enough to gain sufficient information on which to base its decision. It had therefore failed to take into account previous disorder in relation to the parade, and to consider the adverse impact of the parade on community relations, and had not advised anyone that "they were minded to alter the status which had existed for over 20 years".

(b) The judge agreed, in view of the time constraints, that he would deal with both the leave application, and if this were successful, the substantive hearing. The Court held that the Commission had not acted outside its powers or contrary to its procedures, and the application was dismissed.

(c) No substantive hearing.

RUC Personnel

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the composition by gender and perceived community origin of the (a) RUC Special Branch and (b) RUC Criminal Investigation Department. [123956]

Mr. Ingram: The following table details the current composition by gender and perceived community background of the RUC Special Branch and RUC Criminal Investigation Department:

	Special Branch	CID
Male	739	886
Female	88	150
Perceived Protestant	762	898
Perceived Roman Catholic	54	98
Undetermined	21	40

It should be noted that these figures include all police officers in both Departments, unlike the answers given on 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 239W, and on 11 February 2000, Official Report, column 322W, which only stipulated the number of officers with detective status in RUC Special Branch and CID.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the process of selection and entry requirement for officers to serve in the (a) RUC Special Branch and (b) RUC Criminal Investigation Department. [123955]

Mr. Ingram: Vacancies in the ranks of Constable to Inspector are circulated throughout the force in accordance with force orders. Applicants, who must have completed their probationary period, are required to complete an application form and receive a line manager's recommendation before being interviewed by a selection panel consisting of officers of at least Chief Inspector rank, one of whom is from the specialism involved. The Chairman of the panel is always from outside the specialism. Successful candidates undergo a one-year aideship and only on successful completion will an appointment to the branches be made permanent. Appointments at the ranks of Chief Inspector and above are the responsibility of Force Command, advised by Personnel Branch, who consider the number of vacancies and the policing experience of potential appointees before making recommendations.

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