SIXTH REPORT
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has agreed
to the following Report:—
THE PARADES COMMISSION - SUPPLEMENTARY
REPORT
1. We recently reported on the Parades Commission.[2]
In that Report, we referred[3]
to evidence which had been given to us which alleged that there
had been two occasions when sensitive personal information given
by parade organisers to the Parades Commission through a completed
Notice of Intention to Organise a Public Procession (Form 11/1)[4]
had been passed on by the Commission to parties not entitled to
receive it. One, which was accepted by the Commission as an error
on its part, related to a band parade in Maghera. The other related
to a claim by a witness representing the Grand Orange Lodge of
Ireland, when that organisation gave oral evidence on 15 November
2000,[5]
that it had evidence that "in 1998/99" information on
a Form 11/1 had been given to "IRA activists in Portadown".
In written evidence submitted on 27 February 2001, the Parades
Commission commented that it had "no knowledge of the incident
referred to".[6]
In the light of this comment, we sought further information from
Grand Lodge on 7 March. Our Report, agreed on 28 March, recorded
that this was still awaited.[7]
2. We have continued to seek further information
from Grand Lodge. We have not, to date, received from them any
specific details of when the alleged disclosure took place, or
of to whom or by whom it might have been made. From exchanges
of correspondence with Grand Lodge subsequent to us agreeing our
Report, it appears that certain personal information relating
to persons involved with a parade in Portadown, which would have
been given on the completed Form 11/1, appeared in a newspaper
article some two years ago. From the identity of the author of
the article, it was apparently inferred by some that the information
must have come, through the Parades Commission, from the Form
11/1. This article seems likely to have been the basis for the
allegation by the Grand Lodge witness.
3. However, it does not appear to us that there is
any personal information which is required to be given on Form
11/1 for which that form is likely to be the sole potential source.
The Parades Commission, which we have consulted on this point,
agrees with this view. Our comments about the possible consequences
of disclosure, to parties not entitled to receive it, of personal
information required to be given on a completed Form 11/1, and
the underlying evidence, have resulted in several representations
being made to us. We have therefore appended a note to this Report,
and to the original Minutes of Evidence,[8]
which has been prepared by the Clerk and which briefly summarises
the further inquiries we have made into this matter, and their
outcome. The fact that representations were made to us serves
to underline the importance of all who handle completed Forms
11/1 continuing to ensure that the confidential nature of all
personal information set out therein is fully respected.
2 Second
Report, Session 2000-01 (HC 120 - I). Back
3 Paragraph
84. Back
4 The layout
of this form, and the information required to be provided, is
prescribed by the Public Order (Prescribed Forms) Regulations
2000 (S.I. 2000/155). Back
5 Q 123
(HC 120 - II). Back
6 See HC
120 - II, Appendix 22, p. 302. Back
7 Paragraph
85. Back
8 HC 120
- II, Appendix 23, p. 308. Back
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