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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 12 June 2002
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Accommodation Review
Mr. Steen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to public funds is of the accommodation review being undertaken by HOK International Ltd.; and for what reason the review is not being undertaken in-house. [59780]
Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The cost of the accommodation review is £169,700. HOK International Ltd. is assisting the Serjeant at Arms and a project team representing all Departments of the House to carry out the review of the House of Commons estate on behalf of the Board of Management. The consultancy was let to bring in expertise and resources not available in-house. The aim of the review is to identify options and to make recommendations that will assist the House in forming its accommodation strategy over the period 2003–08.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Sir George Young: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the resources available to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [61775]
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Mr. Kirkwood: The House's Internal Review Service (IRS) has now reported to the Commission. The principal findings are:
- that the Parliamentary Commissioner's present time commitment of three days a week should be sufficient to cope with current and expected future need;
that the temporary office support post should be made permanent;
that there should be a new post of investigative support officer to assist the Commissioner with detailed day-to-day work. This would also enable the Registrar of Members' Interests to concentrate on, and help the Commissioner with, the preventive, educational and advice aspects of the work.
Following implementation, the staff of the Commissioner's office will be: the Commissioner, the registrar, the assistant registrar, the investigative support officer, the Commissioner's personal assistant, and a general office assistant.
The report recommends that the IRS should conduct a verification review in 12 months' time. The Commission will take any action necessary as a result of that review, but in any event remains committed to providing whatever resources, both in terms of staff and days worked, that may be required.
I am placing a copy of the review manager's report in the Library and on the parliamentary website at www.parliament.uk. I am also arranging for a copy to be sent to the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Peace Process
5. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of levels of bipartisan support for the peace process. [57735]
Dr. John Reid: We believe that all those with the interests of Northern Ireland at heart should come together in support of the peace process and the continuing implementation of the Belfast Agreement. The backing we receive here is essential to our efforts to sustain and carry forward the process.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
6. Mr. McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the new criminal injuries compensation scheme for Northern Ireland. [57736]
20. Mr. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to improve the criminal injuries compensation scheme for Northern Ireland. [57751]
22. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the new criminal injuries compensation scheme for Northern Ireland. [57753]
Mr. Browne: The scheme, introduced on 1 May, put in place many of the recommendations of the independent review of compensation carried out by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. It is similar to arrangements in the rest of the UK, and is designed to provide innocent and deserving victims of crime with a quicker and easier way to obtain compensation for their injuries. The tariff amounts of compensation for pain and suffering have been set at existing average levels within Northern Ireland. Additional payments can be made for pecuniary loss and other expenses. Many improvements to the eligibility criteria will ensure that compensation is widely available to those who have suffered at the hands of violent criminals.
Bloomfield Report
7. Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government have taken to implement the recommendations of the Bloomfield report. [57737]
Mr. Browne: The Government have made substantial progress towards implementation of the Bloomfield report. We have established the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, which we continue to support financially; the family trauma centre in Belfast; and a new Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation which will be based in Omagh. We provide core funding to victims' groups; we fund the Legacy Project, based in Warrington; and we part-fund the implementation of the Devolved Administration's Victims' Strategy. We have revised the criminal injuries compensation scheme and took steps to facilitate the recovery of the 'Disappeared.'
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Decommissioning
8. Mr. Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment is of the prospects for further decommissioning of weapons by Loyalist terrorists. [57739]
28. Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest assessment is of the prospects of decommissioning of weapons by loyalist terrorists. [57759]
Dr. John Reid: The Government have consistently called for decommissioning from all paramilitary organisations. We have had two acts of decommissioning from the IRA. That must be the start of a process. It is imperative that we now see reciprocation from loyalists, and all groups dismantling all the apparatus of terror.
15. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on prospects for further decommissioning of IRA weapons. [57746]
Dr. John Reid: The second act of decommissioning, reported on by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning on 8 April 2002, indicates the IRA's commitment to the process. The commission is continuing its contact with the IRA representative to facilitate the ultimate decommissioning of all IRA arms. However, this progress needs to be part of an ongoing process and indeed must involve all paramilitary groups. All paramilitary groups must end all forms of terrorist activity and dismantle the apparatus of terrorism.
Integration
9. Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent measures the Government have taken in Northern Ireland to assist the integration of the Catholic and Protestant communities. [57740]
Mr. Browne: We are committed to upholding the principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect, which are cornerstones of the Belfast Agreement. Through working towards full implementation of the Agreement, the Government continue to promote inclusivity at all levels.
Terrorist Disbandment
10. Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the progress towards the disbandment of the Provisional IRA and other terrorist groups in Northern Ireland. [57741]
Jane Kennedy: We need to see the dismantling of all the apparatus of terror, and the decommissioning of weapons and mindsets. We need to complete the transition away from violence. The IRA has embarked upon a process of decommissioning: it is imperative that we now see reciprocation from loyalists, and the standing down and disbandment of all paramilitary organisations.
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Provisional IRA
11. David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by month since January the shooting incidents attributed to the Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland. [57742]
Jane Kennedy: The table provides details of the shooting incidents attributed to Republican groups. Since 1 January to 30 April 2002 there have been 34 shooting incidents attributed to Republicans. It is not possible to attribute these incidents to any specific paramilitary organisation.
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| Number of incidents | |
|---|---|
| January | 15 |
| February | 7 |
| March | 7 |
| April | 5 |
| Total | 34 |
Note:
These figures may be subject to minor amendment.
| DCU | Details of incident | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 January | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 5 January | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 6 January | Fermanagh | Shots heard—5 x bursts of 5 rounds each were fired |
| 7 January | Ballymena | Three shots were fired at a house |
| 12 January | Belfast North | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 13 January | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 16 January | Belfast East | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 17 January | Newry and Mourne | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 18 January | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 18 January | Craigavon | Shots fired at a lorry driver |
| 21 January | Downpatrick | Two shots fired into a bar |
| 23 January | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 23 January | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 27 January | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 31 January | Belfast South | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 11 February | Coleraine | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 17 February | Belfast North | Shots fired in street |
| 18 February | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 20 February | Belfast North | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 21 February | Downpatrick | Shots fired at vehicle—one person killed |
| 26 February | Craigavon | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 28 February | Belfast North | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 2 March | Belfast North | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 3 March | Downpatrick | Shot fired during an armed robbery |
| 9 March | Belfast West | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 15 March | Newry and Mourne | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 20 March | Armagh | Eight shots fired at house/vehicle |
| 23 March | Fermanagh | Shots fired at police station |
| 26 March | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 6 April | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 7 April | Belfast North | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 12 April | Lisburn | Paramilitary-style shooting |
| 17 April | Dungannon and South Tyrone | Fatal shooting |
| 18 April | Belfast North | Shots fired |
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