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Education Funding (Bury)

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for Bury MBC in each of the last four years (a) the total revenue allocation for education from non-SSA budget headings, (b) the total capital allocation for education and (c) the annual percentage change for (a) and (b). [131387]

Ms Estelle Morris: The total revenue and capital allocations for education from 1997-98 to 2000-2001 for education outside the Education Standard Spending Assessment for Bury Metropolitan borough council are shown in the following table along with the annual percentage increase.

The revenue allocation for 1997-98 includes grant to cover for the cost of the nursery voucher scheme. This was funded from Education Standard Spending from 1998-99. The revenue allocations for 2000-01 does not include Nursery Grant for which data are not yet available. Since 1997-98 spending per pupil in England has increased by £300 in real terms.

				£
	Revenue allocations	Annual percentage increase	Capital allocations	Annual percentage increase
1997-98	2,306,783	--	968,050	--
1998-99	1,705,347	-26	2,039,207	111
1999-2000	3,345,615	96	3,970,250	95
2000-01	5,133,028	53	4,759,253	20

School Meals

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure that all local education authorities provide state school primary aged children with the choice of a hot school meal, with particular reference to the implementation of the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2000. [132716]

Jacqui Smith: We do not have the statutory power to require local education authorities and schools to provide hot meals for maintained primary pupils. This is because cold food that is provided in line with our new nutritional standards can be just as nutritious as hot food. We shall nevertheless make clear, in our forthcoming complementary guidance to school caterers, the importance of making hot meals available, especially during the winter months.

26 Jul 2000 : Column: 670W

NORTHERN IRELAND

Police Oversight Commissioner

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what annual budget is set aside for the police Oversight Commissioner, broken down into convenient budget heads; what representations he has received regarding the moneys to be allocated for this purpose. [130421]

Mr. Ingram: The Government are currently in discussion with Mr. Constantine, the Oversight Commissioner, as to the resources he will require.

Lords Lieutenant

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of Northern Ireland's lord lieutenants are (a) women and (b) members of an ethnic minority. [132143]

Mr. Mandelson: The information is as follows:

(a) 1

(b) 0.

Plastic Baton Rounds

Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many proposals his Department received to undertake a study to examine an alternative to plastic baton rounds, in accordance with recommendation 71 in the Patten report; what institution has been commissioned to undertake this research; when a decision was made on who would conduct the research; when the research commenced; which individuals are undertaking the research; and what the expected completion date is. [132032]

Mr. Ingram: I have established a UK-wide Steering Group to lead the research project. The Group comprises representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Northern Ireland Office. The Steering Group was formed in June of this year and held its first meeting on 8 July. The first phase of the project will be completed by the end of this year. One organisation has been suggested as a potential candidate to undertake the research.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to investigate which institutions, organisations and individuals have the necessary expertise to conduct an independent study to find an alternative to the plastic baton round. [131024]

Mr. Ingram: The first phase of the research project involves a literature review that will be undertaken by the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office--an organisation with recognised and extensive expertise in this area. This work will involve investigating which institutions, organisations and individuals ought to have a role to play in contributing to the research programme to find an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the plastic baton round.

26 Jul 2000 : Column: 671W

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms of reference will be for the independent study to find an alternative to the plastic baton round. [131025]

Mr. Ingram: The Terms of Reference which have been set for the Steering Group leading the research project are as follows:

Objective

To establish whether a less potentially lethal alternative to baton rounds is available; and to review the public order equipment which is presently available or could be developed in order to expand the range of tactical options available to operational commanders.

Task

In the light of the recommendations in the Patten Report for a research programme to find an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the Plastic Baton Round, and for the RUC to be equipped with a broader range of public order equipment, to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in a report as follows:

Phase 1 (Defining operational objectives and literature review)

Define the operational objective against which less potentially lethal weapons must be tested;

Prepare a literature review of less potentially lethal weapons available or under research.

Examine the literature review against the operational objective.

Phase 2 (Evaluating the literature review, preparing business case and directing further research as necessary)

Formulate proposals for further research on less potentially lethal weapons which would benefit from further research and which have the potential for successful transfer to the operational field, setting out the timings and the costs of that research; and

Prepare business case.

Phase 3 (Research)

As directed under Phase 2, conduct further research, evaluate performance and safety, and establish deployment costs.

Phase 4 (Operational objectives and Public Order Equipment)

Define operational objectives for public order equipment;

Prepare a report on the tactical deployment of a range of public order equipment in Northern Ireland, covering as wide a range of equipment as possible.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been made to police training programmes concerning use of plastic baton rounds since publication of the Patten report. [131026]

Mr. Ingram: Since the publication of the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, officers undergoing baton gun training have also been involved in a wider training programme including equal opportunities, community and race relations, the effects of Human Rights legislation and the use of force. Baton gun training specifically highlights the use of force, human rights matters, their issue, deployment and use together with command and control protocols, tactical deployment procedures and the criteria for their use. Officers in command positions undertake training in the issue, deployment and use of baton guns at both tactical and strategic levels and concentrate on accountability and human rights issues associated with the use of force.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) organisations and (b) individuals have been consulted in order to implement the Patten Commission proposal for a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round. [131027]

26 Jul 2000 : Column: 672W

Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has consulted with ministerial colleagues about the establishment of, and terms of reference for, a Steering Group to lead the research project. The first phase of the research project will involve consultation with other organisations and individuals.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round; and if he will make a statement on how he will ensure best value is achieved and evaluated. [131028]

Mr. Ingram: The Government have made the necessary funding available for phase one of the research project which involves a literature review undertaken by the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office. This research will help to determine the level of funding required for the remainder of the project. The principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness will guide the research project.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to invite tenders from those with the expertise to conduct a research programme to find an alternative to the plastic baton round. [131029]

Mr. Ingram: None at this stage.

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