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Criminal Justice System Business Plan
Mr. Paul Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the criminal justice system business plan for 2001-02. [151323]
Mr. Straw: My right hon. and noble Friends the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney-General and I have today published the business plan for the criminal justice system in England and Wales for 2001-02. The plan describes the aims, objectives and performance targets which the Government expect the criminal justice system as a whole to work to deliver. Copies of the plan have been placed in the Library.
CABINET OFFICE
Special Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2001, Official Report, column 763W, on Special Advisers, which clauses of Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers" set out the role of Special Advisers in costing the policies of opposition parties. [148844]
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Marjorie Mowlam: The "Model Contract for Special Advisers" makes it clear that Special Advisers can discharge their duties with a degree of party political commitment and association which would not be possible for a permanent civil servant.
Section (iv) of Schedule 1 (Part 1) sets out the duties of Special Advisers which include devilling for the Minister and checking facts and research findings, and adding party political content to material prepared by permanent civil servants.
Strategic Communications Unit
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role will be played by (a) the Prime Minister, (b) ministers, (c) Special Advisers and (d) the Chief Press Secretary in relation to the Strategic Communications Unit in the period following the calling of a general election. [150240]
Marjorie Mowlam: The activities of Government during an Election period are undertaken in line with the requirements of "the Ministerial Code", "the Civil Service Code", "the Model Contract for Special Advisers", and the additional Election Guidance that is routinely issued to all civil servants once an Election has been called. The Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary has already made it clear that he will resign as soon as an Election is called.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance is given to the Strategic Communications Unit relating to information concerning the policies of Opposition parties. [150237]
Marjorie Mowlam: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 11 December 2000, Official Report, column 47W.
Serco Contracts
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the contracts that exist between Serco and the Department, its executive agencies and associated public bodies; and if she will list those which have existed in the last three years. [151342]
Marjorie Mowlam: The Cabinet Office, including its executive agency, has contracts with Serco for the provision of:
- messengers, post room, security and other support services for the main Department;
- security services for the Government Car and Despatch Agency; and
- a helpline for users of secure telephone facilities.
Departmental IT Policies
Mr. Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if she will list the IT projects currently undertaken in her Department; and if she will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project; [151504]
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- (2) if she will list the IT projects her Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if she will state in each case the (a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151468]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The IT projects currently being undertaken by the Cabinet Office are as follows:
- Ukonline.gov.uk citizen portal
- In July 2000 the Cabinet Office awarded a contract to BT (British elecommunications plc) to build and operate the Ukonline.gov.uk citizen portal, for one year (until July 2001). This initial development phase is expected to cost around £10 million, of which around £4 million has been spent so far. We are currently considering the longer-term arrangements for operating the site.
- Government Gateway
- In October 2000 the Cabinet Office began working with a group of suppliers including Microsoft and Cable and Wireless to deliver the initial phase of the Government Gateway. The initial phase of delivery will be complete by June 2001 and will have cost around £18 million.
The initial development phases of both the ukonline.gov.uk citizen portal and the Government Gateway projects will continue into the next financial year, ending in July and June 2001 respectively. Both projects are part of the long term strategy for delivering electronic government, and the Cabinet Office has applied for CMF funding to enable both projects to continue beyond these dates. The value of this work will depend upon which aspects of each project are selected for development during the next phase.
Pierre-Yves Gerbeau
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met Mr. Pierre-Yves Gerbeau. [151429]
Marjorie Mowlam: I met Mr. Gerbeau from time to time on an informal basis. We last met in an official capacity at a meeting of the Millennium Commission on 14 June 2000.
WALES
Steel Industry
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the European Commission about extra funding for the Llanwern and Ebbw Vale areas; and if he will make a statement. [150231]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 13 February 2001]: Any redirection of Structural Funds in Wales would be for the Assembly to discuss with the Commission. I understand that the Commission has indicated a willingness to engage in such discussions.
Departmental IT Projects
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151512]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There is none. My Department's IT requirements are provided by the National Assembly for Wales under the terms of a service level agreement.
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Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the (a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151471]
Mr. Paul Murphy: None. My Department's IT requirements are provided by the National Assembly for Wales under the terms of a service level agreement.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Paramilitary Violence
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) murders, (b) shootings, (c) beatings, (d) bombings, (e) expulsions and (f) other crimes have been carried out by (i) Republican and (ii) Loyalist paramilitary groups since the signing of the Belfast Agreement. [150223]
Mr. Ingram: The tables show the number of deaths, bombings, shootings, and the number of casualties as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland. These figures would include, for example, where an armed robbery is believed to have been committed by a
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paramilitary grouping. There may be other incidents recorded under the heading of a criminal offence, for example, robbery, where a paramilitary group may have been involved, but this cannot be confirmed.
There are no figures available which indicate the number of persons who may have been forced to leave the province through paramilitary/terrorist intimidation. Attribution for shootings and bombings cannot be given after 31 March 1999 (these details are no longer held centrally and therefore are not readily available), and figures for 2001 are provisional and may be subject to minor adjustment.
| By Loyalist | By Republican | |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 10 | 32 |
| Bombings: | ||
| Incidents | 95 | 22 |
| Explosions | 90 | 16 |
| Defused | 106 | 11 |
| Shootings | 88 | 51 |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary Style Shootings | 39 | 30 |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary Style Assaults | 111 | 60 |
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| By Loyalist | By Republican | Not known | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 16 | 5 | 2 |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary Style Shootings | 134 | 73 | -- |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary Style Assaults | 139 | 86 | -- |
| Bombings: | |||
| Incidents | -- | -- | 223 |
| Exploded | -- | -- | 100 |
| Defused | -- | -- | 165 |
| Shootings | -- | -- | 421 |
Notes:
1. The following types of shootings incidents are included:
(a) Shots fired by terrorists
(b) Shots fired by security forces
(c) Paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings
(d) Shots heard (and later confirmed)
(e) Other violent incidents where shots are fired eg armed robbery
2. An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusing. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.
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Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions for paramilitary (a) beatings and (b) shootings there were in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. [150308]
Mr. Ingram: I regret that the information requested is not available. Court Database records are maintained by the type of offence e.g. Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. It is not therefore possible to link such convictions to paramilitary-style assaults as there is no such offence.
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