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24 Feb 2003 : Column 224W—continued
Local Government Finance
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation took place with local government representatives on the implications of the new formulae for distributing financial support to local councils through the general grant. [98366]
Angela Smith: Consultation on proposals for a new formula for the distribution of the resources element of general grant to district councils took place with a
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wide range of interests including local government representatives between 1 September and 13 November 2000, to consider initial suggestions, and, subsequently, on more detailed proposals, between 21 September and 17 December 2001. This was followed by consultation on the draft primary legislation between 10 and 23 May 2002 and between 19 September and 21 October 2002 on the draft regulations which give effect to the new formula.
During consultation on the proposals the Department of the Environment arranged a workshop for members of the Association of Local Government Finance Officers. Presentations were also made to the Northern Ireland Assembly's Environment Committee; individual MLAs; the National Association of Councillors, and to individual district councils, as requested. Members of the Department of the Environment's Finance Working Group, which includes representatives of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the Association of Local Government Finance Officers and Local Government Audit, were regularly informed about developments relating to the new formula.
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the level of the reduction to the general grant was notified to the affected local councils. [98367]
Angela Smith: All 26 district councils were advised on 23 December 2002 of their allocations of general grant for 2003–04 under the new statutory formula for calculating the resources element of general grant. The new formula applies from 1 April 2003.
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change of the general grant proposed for 2003–04 is as a proportion of the budget of the councils affected for 2002–03. [98368]
Angela Smith: General grant has two elements—a resources element and a derating element. The proposed changes in the resources element of general grant for 2003–04 are expressed as a percentage of district councils' estimated expenditure for 2002–03, in the table. Complete information on the proposed changes in the derating element in 2003–04 will not be available until the end of March 2003.
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David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will be introducing transitional arrangements for the changes to the general grant. [98369]
Angela Smith: Yes. I intend to make available financial support to assist with the transition to the new statutory formula for calculating the resources element of general grant amounting to some £3 million over the next two financial years.
Plastic Bags
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to introduce a levy on the use of plastic bags; and if he will make a statement. [96390]
Angela Smith: There are currently no plans to introduce a plastic bags tax. Instead, as the Chancellor said in his pre-Budget statement, the Government will be considering how the use of economic instruments can be extended to provide a more comprehensive and coherent framework for waste management more generally, as well as the scope for using other policies to tackle packaging and encourage producer responsibility. However, in both Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom generally, a number of positive steps are being taken to encourage a significant reduction in the use of plastic bags in order to protect the environment, decrease the amount of visible litter and reduce the volume of plastic bags going to landfill.
A key element in achieving these results is to change consumer behaviour. In Northern Ireland, I am pleased to confirm that, following negotiations with representatives of the major supermarket chains, a Retail Charter was introduced in October last year. This charter takes a pro-active approach to educating both retailers and consumers in the application of sustainable environmental policies to their shopping habits, a message which has again been promoted in recent months, in the Department of the Environment's intensive 'Wake up to Waste' and 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' advertising campaigns.
A further key step in changing a culture of indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic bags will be the forthcoming review of litter legislation, which will identify and address any shortcomings in the existing body of litter legislation in Northern Ireland.
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Police Service
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic applicants entered each recruitment competition since the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [98314]
Jane Kennedy: The numbers of Catholic applicants entering each recruitment competition for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to date are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Competition 1 | 2,815 |
| Competition 2 | 1,891 |
| Competition 3 | 1,640 |
| Competition 4 | 1,480 |
These numbers consistently represent some 35 per cent. of the total applications in each of the four competitions.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 683W, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence at the arrest for drugs by Customs and Excise referred to in his reply; what the response time was; and if he will make a statement. [98623]
Jane Kennedy: On 19 January 2003, personnel from the Special Branch Portal Unit were in attendance at the scene along with Customs and Excise personnel when the drugs arrest was made at Belfast City Airport. No assistance was required from PSNI at Strandtown.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 683W, on Belfast City Airport, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence following the complaints of (i) the alleged assault in flight, (ii) three disruptive passengers and (iii) one drunk person; what the response time was in each case; and if he will make a statement. [98624]
Jane Kennedy: In relation to each of these complaints the following action was taken:
(i) Alleged assault in flight—Report of disturbance on BMI airbus, in-bound on 9 October 2002. PSNI Strandtown were contacted at 1305 hrs. Two tactical support group call signs and a PSNI Strandtown call sign were in attendance at the scene upon arrival of the flight at 1316hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
(ii) Three disruptive passengers—On 12 July 2002, a person was reported drunk on board an in-bound FLYBE flight from Gatwick. Response requested from PSNI Strandtown at 1045 hrs and arrived at 1057 hrs, before the arrival of the flight. Response time 12 minutes.
(iii) Drunk person—On 24 December 2002 there was a report of a drunken person in the terminal foyer. A PSNI Strandtown call sign was tasked at 2000 hrs and arrived at the scene at 2011 hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
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Personnel from Special Branch Portal Unit, Belfast City Airport, were also in attendance at the scene of these complaints prior to the arrival of police from PSNI Strandtown.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures, tests, and exercises constitute the process by which PSNI officers reclassify in relation to use of firearms; and if he will make a statement. [98394]
Jane Kennedy: The training comprises an introductory Health and Safety input, a refresher handling class, a live fire qualification shoot and an interactive lesson on Human Rights and Police Use of Firearms.
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