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Implementation Group
10. Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the implementation group; and what the implications are for the future of the devolved institutions. [65808]
Dr. John Reid: At the implementation group on 26 June, and the meetings of the Northern Ireland parties with the Prime Minister and Taoiseach on 4 July, participants recognised the Belfast Agreement had brought great gains; but also that continuing violence and signs of paramilitary activity threaten community confidence. The Government agreed to reflect further on how best to address concerns about the necessary transition from violence to democracy. Before Parliament rises we will set out how we believe the necessary sense of confidence—which underpins the Agreement and the devolved institutions—can be restored.
Bill of Rights
11. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [65809]
Dr. John Reid: The Belfast Agreement tasked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission with consulting and advising on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights and to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.
The Commission published a consultation document, "Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland", in September 2001 and is currently considering the responses it has received to that document.
The Government will reach no policy conclusions on the proposals until the final advice is received from the Commission. This advice is expected in 2003.
Community Safety Partnerships
12. Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role he plans for voluntary and community organisations in the proposed community safety partnerships. [65810]
Dr. John Reid: Community Safety Partnerships are made up of the statutory organisations responsible for the delivery of services at a local level. The Partnership should engage with voluntary and community organisations to identify issues of concern at a local level and develop collaborative ways of tackling these issues. The Partnership should determine how best to interface with the voluntary and community sector.
Organised Crime
13. Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what strategic issues are being considered by the organised crime task force; and if he will make a statement. [65811]
Jane Kennedy: On 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual organised crime task force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
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The OCTF's strategy for countering the threat sets priority stress for concerted multi-agency action by the OCTF partners. These are extortion, drugs, oils-related fraud, tobacco and alcohol duty evasion, money- laundering, counterfeit goods and armed robbery.
In the year, the OCTF, which I chair, will keep a watching brief on emerging and new organised crime trends. The OCTF strategy also explains how we will measure and report on the overall impact we are having on organised crime in Northern Ireland.
16. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the areas of criminality in which organised crime networks are involved in Northern Ireland. [65814]
Jane Kennedy: On 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
The OCTF threat assessment shows that organised criminals engage in a wide range of criminal activities in Northern Ireland. These include: trade in illegal drugs; extortion; tobacco and alcohol smuggling and duty evasion; oils fraud; counterfeit goods; money laundering; counterfeit currency; organised vehicle theft; armed robbery and hijacking; abuse of social security payments; illegal livestock trade; evasion of tax and VAT; various financial frauds; identity fraud; motor vehicle licensing fraud; hi-tech crime; illegal immigration; and prostitution.
In the year, the OCTF, which I chair, will keep a watching brief on emerging and new organised crime trends. The OCTF strategy also explains how we will measure and report on the overall impact we are having on organised crime in Northern Ireland.
18. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to tackle counterfeiting operations by organised crime gangs. [65816]
Jane Kennedy: On 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
Recognising the adverse impact of the counterfeit goods trade on the Northern Ireland business community and on society more generally, the OCTF has made this crime a priority for concerted multi-agency action by the OCTF partners.
There have been some significant operational successes in the last year. The police are doing excellent work every week to tackle the trade in counterfeit goods. At the last OCTF meeting, a strategy prepared by PSNI for tackling the counterfeit goods trade was agreed. The strategy includes raising awareness of the wider harm caused by this illicit trade, understanding better the reasons why people purchase such goods, working with the business community to address those reasons, and considering whether the existing legislation is sufficient.
Terrorist Activity
14. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of illegal activities by terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland. [65812]
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Jane Kennedy: The table provides details of the level of paramilitary activity from both sides during the last year.
| By Loyalists | By Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of deaths as a result of the security situation | 9 | 4 |
| Number of shooting incidents | 209 | 115 |
| Number of bombing incidents | 271 | 52 |
| Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults | 81 | 36 |
| Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings | 110 | 66 |
Notes:
1. Includes all deaths due to the security situation.
2. The following types of incidents are included: shots fired by terrorists; shots fired by the security forces; paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings; shots heard (and later confirmed); other violent incidents where shots are fired (e.g. armed robberies).
3. 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.
N.B. 2002–03 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
27. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the levels of terrorist activity in the Province. [65826]
Jane Kennedy: We keep the security situation under constant review. The Secretary of State receives regular advice from the Acting Chief Constable, the GOC and his security advisers. The Acting Chief Constable is on record as saying that he believes that paramilitaries on both sides have been involved in orchestrating the recent street violence in Belfast. This is a worrying development.
Marching Season
17. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the potential for disorder during this summer's marching season. [65815]
Jane Kennedy: The vast majority of parades held this year have passed off peacefully. In relation to a small number of particularly contentious parades which have taken place, some disorder did occur but was quickly contained by the security forces. In the event of public disorder, the security forces have appropriate contingency measures in place to ensure the determination of the Parades Commission is upheld.
Belfast Agreement
19. Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the confidence of the Unionist community in the Belfast agreement; and if he will make a statement. [65817]
Dr. John Reid: As the Prime Minister said at Hillsborough on 4 July, we recognise there is a lack of confidence in Northern Ireland, especially in the unionist community, about the process of transition away from violence to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods. We shall set out, before Parliament rises, how we believe the necessary confidence can be restored.
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Loyalist Commission
20. Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of the Loyalist Commission. [65818]
Dr. John Reid: It is not for me to define the role of the Loyalist Commission. That is something for members of the Commission itself. I can say that I welcomed the statement issued by the Commission on 14 June 2002 which contained guidelines on reducing the tension and violence experienced by both communities over recent weeks and months. This was a positive step and I would urge everyone to give this initiative their most careful consideration, and act accordingly.
I also had a frank and useful exchange of views with members of the Commission on 1 July.
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