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NORTHERN IRELAND
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. [127338]
Mr. Mandelson: Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000, papers were deposited in the Library on 22 occasions.
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, with commercial or other confidentiality cited as the reason. [127676]
Mr. Mandelson: Of the 564 written parliamentary questions tabled in this period, four did not receive a substantive answer with confidentiality cited as the reason, and one further received only a partial answer.
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered citing (a) disproportionate cost, (b) that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) commercial confidentiality or other confidentiality. [131123]
Mr. Mandelson: Of the 564 written parliamentary questions tabled to my Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 there were no occasions where a substantive answer was not given other than the reasons set out in the hon. Member's question.
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Registrable Associations
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hull, North of 17 July 2000, Official Report, column 18W, (1) what definition he uses of public concern; and how he was informed of those public concerns; [132036]
- (2) what representations he has received from members of the public who are concerned about police membership of Opus Dei; and if he will place copies of them in the Library; [132034]
(3) if he will list the religious organisations he consulted when drafting clause 49 (registration of associations) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132033]
(4) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the inclusion of (a) the Legion of Mary, (b) St. Vincent de Paul, (c) Guild of Catholic Mothers, (d) St. Joseph Young Priests Society, (e) Society of St. Gregory, (f) Thomas Merton Society, (g) Catholic Women's League, (h) the Irish National Foresters and (i) the Jesuits from clause 49 (Registration of associations) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132070]
(5) what criteria he applied in selecting the registrable associations listed in Clause 49 of Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132124]
(6) if he will require members of internal organisations of (a) the Church of Ireland, (b) Presbyterian, (c) Methodist, (d) Free Presbyterian and (e) other churches to declare their membership of such organisations when applying to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [132125]
Mr. Ingram: The Government's decisions on registrable associations were made in the light of the recommendation and principles set out in chapter 15 of the Patten Report, and the list of organisations given in the NI Affairs Committee Report of 8 July 1998. As I said in Standing Committee B on the Police (NI) Bill, 29 June 2000, Official Report, column 336, the issue is not about membership per se but is "largely one of perception". For example, as reflected in submissions to the Commission and Government and by the amendment tabled by Members of Parliament in Committee.
We have not been made aware of public concern surrounding organisations other than those listed, but the clause contains a provision that would enable the Secretary of State to amend the list.
The Government have met representatives of Opus Dei and are considering the points put to it about their inclusion.
PRIME MINISTER
Lord Birt
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what factors underlay his decision to appoint Lord Birt as his adviser on crime; whom he consulted before making that appointment; and for what period the appointment has been made; [130317]
- (2) if he will list the qualifications held by Lord Birt relevant to his role as adviser on crime; [130318]
24 Jul 2000 : Column: 443W
(3) what remuneration was offered to Lord Birt in respect of his role as crime adviser; [130319]
(4) what areas Lord Birt will focus on in his role of adviser on crime; [130320]
(5) what (a) expenses, (b) transport arrangements and (c) office facilities Lord Birt will be eligible to claim in his role as adviser on crime; [130321]
(6) how he will ensure the accountability to Parliament of Lord Birt in his role as crime adviser; and to what categories of information in respect of crime Lord Birt will be allowed access. [130398]
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led him to appoint Lord Birt to investigate the reasons for the growth in crime; and if he will make a statement. [130305]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 June 2000]: I have asked Lord Birt to take a long-term, strategic look at criminality and long-run social trends. We have a strategy in place for tackling crime and its causes which is starting to show results in key areas such as burglary and car crime. But crime remains a serious and deep-seated problem and we must continue to look to the future and be open to new ideas. Lord Birt brings a strategic outlook and an understanding of social trends gained from a long and distinguished career in broadcasting. He will be reporting to me and to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary as well as working closely with my right hon. and learned Friends the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General and they will ensure that any new policies on crime are shared with Parliament.
Lord Birt has been appointed as a part-time unpaid adviser. The duration of the appointment is yet to be determined. As an adviser to the Government he will be entitled to claim out-of-pocket expenses, to have appropriate use of Government office accommodation and to have access to relevant Government papers. He will not be entitled to use official Government transport.
Attorney-General (Appointment)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister what the most recent occasion was, prior to the present appointment, when the Attorney-General was appointed from the House of Lords. [130833]
The Prime Minister: As far as I am aware there have been no previous appointments from the House of Lords. There is no reason why either the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General should not be members of the House of Lords. Previously attendance by the Attorney-General in the House of Lords was similar to that of a Temporal Assistant whose attendance was commanded by writ in order to give advice. I refer the hon. Member to an exchange reported in the Other Place on 19 November 1957, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 377-82, for further details on this aspect.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Prime Minister how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to him between 19 October 1999 and 20 April did not receive substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information was (a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested and (c) not available. [131199]
24 Jul 2000 : Column: 444W
The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 July 2000]: Of the 454 written answers I provided in the specified period I was unable to provide information on four occasions because it was either not held centrally or not held in the format requested or not available.
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Prime Minister how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April; and how many have not received substantive answers, with disproportionate cost cited as the reason. [131224]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 20 July 2000]: I provided 454 written answers within the specified period. I was asked on one occasion to provide information which could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Sellafield
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the matters discussed at, and the outcome of, his recent meeting with the Save our Sellafield campaign. [131995]
The Prime Minister: The group briefed me and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe (Mrs. Liddell) on a range of issues facing the west Cumbrian economy, including the need to attract new inward investment, and emphasised the importance to that economy of Sellafield.
United Nations
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister on which days he plans to attend the United Nations Millennium Summit; and if he will make a statement. [131015]
The Prime Minister: The UN Millennium Summit in New York will take place over three days from 6-8 September. I plan to attend for at least part of the time.
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