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Police Federation
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) funds and (b) benefits in kind have been provided from public funds to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland in the past two years; what rules govern the Federation and its staff; how many staff are employed by the Federation, at what cost; what payments have been made by the Federation to assist the Daily Telegraph Defend the RUC campaign; and what payments were made by the Federation to cover the expenses of staffing phonelines associated with the campaign. [101759]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 December 1999]: No contributions are made to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland from public funds. The body, which currently employs six staff, is governed by Federation Rules drawn up in accordance with the provision of the Police Association for NI Regulations 1991.
I am advised the Federation has not made any payments to the Daily Telegraph or Defend the RUC campaigns.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of (a) installing and operating for one quarter the additional
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telephone lines and 0845 number and (b) printing by the Police Federation in connection with its campaign against the Patten Commission. [101762]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that the estimated total cost of the 0845-telephone number, which has now been discontinued, was £1,947. There were no additional telephone lines installed. I am also advised that the printing costs in connection with Patten Commission issues cannot be readily disaggregated from overall Federation printing costs.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many advertisements entitled, "Where Patten Got it Wrong", have been placed in which newspapers by the Police Federation; and what the cost of each was. [101760]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that the Police Federation for Northern Ireland placed advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News and The Belfast Newsletter at a total cost of £1,688.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times since 1 September the Police Federation of Northern Ireland has met; and what decisions have been made concerning the allocation of funds for a public campaign against the findings of the Patten Commission. [101761]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: The Central Committee of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland meet under the rules for three days bi-monthly although this may be split with the approval of the Chief Constable. I am advised that one additional meeting was held to approve the response to Government on the findings of the Patten Commission and a special one day meeting of all representatives was held with the approval of the Chief Constable on 24 September. The use of funds for a public campaign was approved by the Central Committee and at the direction of the special meeting of representatives.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been received in donations by the Police Federation since 1 September; and what arrangements have been made for financial oversight of the allocation of these funds. [101763]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that no donations have been received by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland since 1 September 1999.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what body has responsibility for overseeing the financial arrangements entered into by the Police Federation; and what powers he has to prevent the Federation from making ultra vires payments. [101764]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: The financial arrangements of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland are governed by the provisions of Regulations 18 to 22, inclusive, of the Police Association for NI Regulations 1991.
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Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations HM Government have received from (a) political parties in Northern Ireland, (b) other Governments and (c) other interested parties concerning the reform of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and if he will make a statement. [102623]
Mr. Ingram:
[holding answer 16 December 1999]: Since 9 September the Government has held 14 meetings with Northern Ireland political parties to discuss police reform. Nearly all of the political parties have also provided written submissions. Meetings have also been held with the Irish Government and there have been 32 meetings with other interested parties. In addition a large number of written submissions and calls to the freephone number have been received.
Formal consultation about the proposals in the Patten Report has now ended. The Government is considering all the comments and representations it has received, before coming to decisions about the way forward.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the executive or non-executive members of the Northern Ireland Police Authority for any part of the years (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [103565]
Mr. Ingram:
The names of all executive members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland from 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following list provides the names of non-executive members of the Police Authority who have served for any part of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999:
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In addition, the names of two Authority members have been omitted to maintain their wish of anonymity for security reasons.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which executive or non-executive member of the Northern Ireland Police Authority has taken responsibility for the testing or evaluation of vehicles for police use in the last three years. [103569]
Mr. Ingram:
Executive members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland have taken responsibility for the testing or evaluation of vehicles for police use in the last three years.
No non-executive members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland have taken the responsibility for the testing or evaluation of vehicles for police use in the last three years.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for (a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102334]
Mr. Mandelson:
There is nothing in the Civil Service Code that specifies that any accommodation is to be set aside for religious use, pregnant and nursing mothers or smokers.
The Secretary of State has staff located in 24 buildings. Eleven of the buildings have a room set aside for smokers. None have rooms specifically set aside for ethnic minority religious use or by pregnant or nursing mothers. However, in many cases staff have access to rest rooms or interview rooms which they can use.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he plans to take as a result of receiving reports of the likely cause of the fire at Carrickfergus police station on 10 January 1990. [102083]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I have been asked to reply.
Mr. P.J. Armstrong (Chairman)
Professor H. Wallace (Vice-Chairman)
Lt. Col. R.H. Bicker (from July 1997)
Mr. H.B. Casey (from July 1997)
Ms S. Chamberlain (to June 1997)
Rev. R.J. Coulter (from July 1997)
Mr. R.L. Cree (from July 1997)
Ms S. Cherry (to June 1997)
Mr. S. Davidson (to June 1997)
Sir R. Empey
Mrs. K.F. Hargan
Mr. A.R.A. Huston (from July 1997)
Mr. B.R. Johnston (to June 1997)
Mr. T. Kerrigan (to June 1997)
Mr. S.J. McCammick (to June 1997)
Mrs. R.A.McCormick (to June 1997)
Mr. J.O. McDonald
Mr. W.R. Martin (to June 1997)
Mr. J.L. Neeson (to June 1997)
Mrs. N.P. O'Loan (to October 1999)
Mrs. R.I. Peters-Gallagher
Mrs. E.A. Rea
Mrs. F. Reid (from July 1997)
Mrs. G.A. Rice (from July 1997)
Mr. F.A. Rocks
Professor R.A.J. Spence
Mr. T. Wilson.
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