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Holy Cross Protest

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions his officials had

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discussions with (a) Ardoyne Road and (b) Glenbryn Road residents about the Holy Cross protest; and what the outcome of these meetings was. [17233]

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State and I along with my officials have had a number of meetings with both sides involved in this dispute. I have also held meetings with members of the Devolved Administration, local community representatives, interest groups, and the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds) to discuss how the present situation may be resolved. We welcome the recent decision by the residents to end their protest and now hope the children will be able to continue with their education without fear or threat of intimidation.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Police Service for Northern Ireland's policing strategy for the Holy Cross protests; and how many times this has been reviewed. [17232]

Jane Kennedy: During the policing of the Holy Cross protest it has been police strategy to:

Respect and uphold the human rights of all those involved including the children, parents, teachers, protestors, residents and the general community;


Prevent public disorder and to ensure the safety of all those involved;


Minimise the disruption to local communities and those attending Holy Cross Primary School; and


Enforce the law and bring offenders to court.

Protection of the children and their rights has been a paramount factor throughout the protests. In this context, police have sought to work and negotiate with local people from both sides and their representatives in order to ensure the safe passage of the children to their school. The strategy for the operation has been kept under review on a daily basis. In addition there have been six formal meetings to review the strategy.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been to (a) the Army and (b) the Police Service for Northern Ireland of policing the Holy Cross protest. [17230]

Jane Kennedy: Police estimate the additional cost to the police grant of the ongoing operation at Holy Cross to be £18,000 per day arising from increased overtime costs. This equates to a financial cost from September to date of £1.1 million in addition to the human resource effect the operation has on other areas of policing. There have been no additional costs to the Army in supporting the PSNI to police the Holy Cross protest. Any costs incurred are contained within the Army's normal operational budget.

The quoted figures distinguish between the normal costs of policing and the incremental costs (overtime and other expenses) incurred for this specific operation.

Although there may be additional secondary costs to the Army e.g. fuel costs, these are not easily quantifiable. There are no additional manpower costs as the Army does not work overtime.

Violent Offences

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each month

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since April 2000 the police were in receipt of information regarding violence against (a) persons and (b) property in interface areas; on how many occasions officers were sent to the scene; and on how many occasions charges were subsequently brought against those involved. [17371]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not held centrally and would have to be extracted from a number of different sources. To provide the information from April 2000 could be done only at a disproportionate cost. Generally, if information is received by police prior to an incident of public disorder, patrols are briefed accordingly and if necessary additional patrols are tasked.

Paramilitary Crimes

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist paramilitary crimes have been committed (i) since the signing of the Belfast Agreement and (ii) during 2001, broken down into (a) shootings, (b) bombings, (c) killings, (d) beatings and (e) other crimes; and if he will make a statement. [17905]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is included in following the tables:

Terrorist-related incidents since the Belfast Agreement10 April 1998 to 22 November 2001

	By Loyalist	By Republican	Unknown	Total
Murders	35	42	0	77
Shooting incidents	540	237	84	861
Bombing incidents	508	80	30	618
Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults	317	183	0	500
Casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings	273	157	0	430

Terrorist-related incidents 1 January to 22 November 2001

	By Loyalist	By Republican	Unknown	Total
Murders	10	3	0	13
Shooting incidents	218	89	11	318
Bombing incidents	269	40	12	321
Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults	81	46	0	127
Casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings	113	61	0	174

Notes:

1. The following types of shooting incidents are included:

Shots fired by terrorists

Paramilitary style attacks involving shootings

Shots heard (and later confirmed)

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 defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.

3. 2001 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor adjustment.

DEFENCE

Cardiff International Airport

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the draft plans for the new fixed wing aircraft repair business unit at Cardiff International Airport. [18612]

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Mr. Ingram: The consultant's report and other supporting information regarding re-location of the fixed wing business unit to Cardiff International Airport contains commercially sensitive information. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exception 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Cardiff Airport option is now not being pursued and a business case to develop the St. Athan site is being developed.

European Technology Acquisition Programme

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons learned from the procurement process of Eurofighter he will apply to the procurement of the European Technology Acquisition Programme; what are the objectives of the ETAP study; when he expects the ETAP study to be completed; what financial commitment he has made to the ETAP study; what expenditure limits he has set for it; and if he will make a statement. [18288]

Dr. Moonie: The European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP) is concerned with technologies relevant to a wide range of combat air systems, including manned and unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles. The key lessons from the Eurofighter procurement are reflected in Smart Acquisition principles under which ETAP will be conducted. The two project teams are in close communication to ensure that any appropriate lessons are learnt.

ETAP is a joint technology programme with European industry which will sustain and develop European capabilities for combat air systems over the next two decades. Linked to ETAP is a joint study, reporting in summer 2002, which will give an initial assessment of the miliary capabilities that the six nations' armed forces will need around 2020. Nations will commit funds to the specific technology demonstration programmes within ETAP in which they participate. It is too early to say with precision what UK funding will be required, but we would expect to spend some tens of millions of pounds in the early years of ETAP and more thereafter. All funding will be subject to normal MOD approvals.

Future Offensive Air System

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Offensive Air System programme. [18641]

Dr. Moonie: The UK has a requirement to replace, towards the end of the next decade, the strike capability currently provided by the Tornado GR4 strike aircraft. This programme is known as the Future Offensive Air System. The primary roles will be to destroy strategic targets deep in enemy territory and to damage the enemy's ability to wage aerial warfare by disabling aircraft on the ground or by damaging their command and control systems.

To meet the capability required, the MOD is studying a range of options, including manned and unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles. Allied to these studies will be a programme of technology demonstrations, some of which will be collaborative; opportunities are being explored within Europe and with the USA and Australia.

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On 19 November, Defence Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom signed the European Technology Acquisition Programme declaration. This launched a joint technology programme with European industry which will sustain and develop European capabilities for combat air systems over the next two decades.

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