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NORTHERN IRELAND
Organised Crime
4. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress there has been in the past six months in the fight against organised crime in Northern Ireland. [51670]
Jane Kennedy: We are beginning to make a real impact in disrupting and dismantling the organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland with a further 60 recruits. Just last Friday, the police foiled another armed robbery against a security firm and released a hostage in a daring, well executed, operation.
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27. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent action has been taken to tackle (a) smuggling and (b) other forms of organised crime. [51694]
Jane Kennedy: In September 2000 the Government established an Organised Crime Task Force in Northern Ireland. The task force, which I chair, bring the various agencies that can make a difference, such as the police service of Northern Ireland and HM Customs and Excise to agree crime types for concerted multi-agency action. The agencies have scored a number of notable successes against smuggling gangs and other organised criminals over the past year, including the largest ever UK seizure (over 42 million) of smuggled cigarettes at Warrenpoint in November 2001. In February 2002 the police broke up a heroin distribution network and charged 15 people with serious drug offences.
Tolerance and Inclusivity
6. Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in meeting his objective of promoting tolerance and inclusivity in Northern Ireland since the Belfast agreement. [51672]
Mr. Browne: The conclusion, and the continuing implementation, of the agreement itself are great achievements for inclusivity, drawing into Government people from across both major traditions. Northern Ireland can be proud of them. But it is the responsibility for all in public life in Northern Ireland to ensure that no part of either community there feels left behind by the process, and that all aspirations are fully respected.
School Anti-drugs Campaigns
7. Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the anti-drugs campaigns being mounted in schools by the police service of Northern Ireland. [51673]
23. Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the anti-drugs campaigns being mounted in schools by the police service of Northern Ireland. [51690]
Jane Kennedy: I am grateful for the opportunity to highlight the efforts being made in Northern Ireland by the PSNI to get the "don't do drugs" message across to children in our schools. It is an essential part of the overall anti-drugs strategy, with education at one end of the spectrum allied to detection and prosecution at the other. The PSNI recognises the value of including the anti-drugs message in the Citizenship and Safety Education (CASE) Programme which provides a platform for them to work in partnership with teachers and parents. The overarching aim is to encourage responsible behaviour in young people and empower them to live safely and that must include avoidance of drugs.
It is of course impossible to say precisely how effective the incorporation of the drugs education programme is in terms of numbers deterred from drug abuse, but the theme is "Education", recognising that it is better to education the young on prevention than simply to concentrate on catching offenders.
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Community Safety Strategy
8. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's proposed community safety strategy. [51674]
Mr. Browne: The Government published a draft community safety strategy for consultation on 10 April 2002. The strategy sets out a broad framework for action at a local level to address local concerns about crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. It will require close co-operation from a wide range of agencies in both the devolved and non-devolved Administrations.
17. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on community safety campaigns being mounted in schools by the police service of Northern Ireland. [51684]
Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland recognises the importance of education in promoting individual safety for young people and families and to help create safer communities. The Citizen and Safety Education (CASE) Programme has been developed in an attempt to establish close links between the police and the school community through the central themes of Protection, Education and Prevention. CASE provides a platform for police to work in partnership with teachers and parents. Together, they seek to present information and promote skills, attitudes and values, which encourage responsible behaviour in young people and empower them to live safely.
The issues covered in the programme include the role of the police, vandalism, bullying, peer pressure, stranger danger, road safety, internet safety, abuse, respecting others, young people and the law, underage drinking, solvent abuse and drugs and the law. Over 80 officers are involved in the CASE programme and it is hoped to significantly increase that number for the next academic year. Of the 1,182 schools in Northern Ireland, PSNI is currently working in 940, focusing on pupils at Key Stages I, II and III.
25. Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the promotion of crime prevention and community safety in Northern Ireland. [51692]
Mr. Browne: The Government have taken forward a number of crime prevention campaigns in Northern Ireland with appropriate partners. In addition, a draft community safety strategy for consultation was published on 10 April 2002. The strategy sets out a broad framework for action at a local level to address local concerns about crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour.
Devolved Institutions
9. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [51675]
20. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation in the past 12 months of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. [51687]
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Dr. John Reid: The devolved institutions have already embarked on a wide ranging process of review and reform. Since last November a new stability has been achieved. I believe that, under the able leadership of the First and Deputy First Ministers, the institutions offer the potential for greatly improved public services, through local decisions by local people reflecting local circumstances.
22. Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the decommissioning of weapons by paramilitary groups. [51689]
Jane Kennedy: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported, on 8 April 2002, that it had witnessed an event in which the IRA leadership has put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning confirmed that they have made an inventory of the arms concerned.
The process is on-going and we now need to see loyalist groups commence decommissioning. There needs also to be a decommissioning of mindsets. Terrorist groups must end all forms of paramilitary activity and dismantle the apparatus of terrorism.
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness in the past year of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. [51677]
Dr. John Reid: The devolved institutions have already embarked on a wide-ranging process of review and reform. Since last November a new stability has been achieved. I believe that, under the able leadership of the First and Deputy First Ministers, the institutions offer the potential for greatly improved public services, through local decisions by local people reflecting local circumstances.
Decommissioning
10. Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest act of decommissioning by the IRA. [51676]
Jane Kennedy: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported, on 8 April 2002, that it had witnessed an event in which the IRA leadership has put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning confirmed that they have made an inventory of the arms concerned.
11. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to bring about further decommissioning of weapons. [51678]
Jane Kennedy: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported, on 8 April 2002, that it had witnessed an event in which the IRA leadership has put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use.
The process is on-going and we now need to see loyalist groups commence decommissioning. There needs also to be a decommissioning of mindsets. Terrorist
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groups must end all forms of paramilitary activity and dismantle the apparatus of terrorism. The timing of any future decommissioning events is a matter for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and the representatives of the various paramilitary organisations.
16. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the amount of IRA weapons recently put beyond use as a proportion of the estimated total IRA weapons arsenal. [51683]
Jane Kennedy: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported, on 8 April 2002, that it had witnessed an event in which the IRA leadership has put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning confirmed that they have made an inventory of the arms concerned. It has not been possible at this time to assess the percentage of the Provisional IRA's weaponry involved.
The Commission's mandate under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement is to facilitate the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms. The Government have every confidence in General de Chastelain and his colleagues and respect their wishes on how best to proceed to fulfil their mandate.
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many weapons the IRA has put beyond use; when this process was completed; what confirmation he has received from General John de Chastelain that the process is on-going; and if he will make a statement on the process of decommissioning. [42913]
Dr. John Reid: The second IRA act of decommissioning on 8 April 2002 demonstrates that the IRA is committed to the continuation of the decommissioning process.
The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning have confirmed they have made an inventory of the arms concerned—the British and Irish Governments will be provided with this when the task is completed.
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