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22 May 2003 : Column 933W—continued
Life Sentences
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring forward legislation on life sentences for murder in Northern Ireland. [114546]
Jane Kennedy: In October 2001, the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 ("the Order") introduced new provisions for the sentencing, review and release of life prisoners in Northern Ireland. The arrangements introduced by the Order arose from a widely supported recommendation of the Review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland.
Proposals are currently before Parliament by way of the Criminal Justice Bill for the amendment of the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 to provide a statutory right for review by the Life Sentence Review Commissioners of NI life prisoners simultaneously detained under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-departmental public bodies there were in Northern Ireland in April 1998; and how many there are now. [113872]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The information sought in the question is available in the "Public Bodies" publication produced annually by the Cabinet Office and made available through the Stationery Office and on the Cabinet Office website at http: //www. cabinet-office. gov.uk/agencies-publicbodies/. This publication provides information on the size, spend and membership of public bodies in the UK and includes non-departmental public bodies attached to the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments. The current edition of the publication, "Public Bodies 2002" is available in the House of Commons Library. An updated version for 2003 is currently being prepared and should be published by the Cabinet Office before the end of the year.
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Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma andTransformation
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money the Northern Ireland Office has granted to the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation in Omagh; and for what purpose. [111697]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office has allocated £1.5 million over three years for the development of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
Its aims and objectives are summarised as follows:
- To develop the centre in Omagh and to provide other related services or facilities in Northern Ireland and elsewhere for the purposes of:
i. assessing, treating and caring for those who suffer psychological or psychiatric trauma related disorders, illness or disability as a consequence of traumatic or distressing experiences arising out of the Troubles in Northern Ireland;
ii. undertaking research and innovation, for learning, and for the education and training of those involved in the assessment, treatment and care for those persons who have suffered, are suffering or will suffer psychological or psychiatric trauma related disorders, illness or disability in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, as a result of the Troubles and other traumatic or distressing experience;
iii. applying and disseminating the knowledge and expertise of the Centre and other related services or facilities for the assistance and benefit of others involved in the assessment, treatment or care of other persons or communities affected by strife or disaster; and
iv. working in collaboration with others through therapeutic and service networks to support those affected by traumatic events, including those affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.
Parades
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of policing Loyalist band parades in Lurgan on 25 April and on 3 May; and how many personnel from (a) the PSNI and (b) the Royal Irish Rangers were involved in policing each event. [113345]
Jane Kennedy: 25 April 2003: Star of the North Band Parade 88 Police Officers were on duty at the above band parade at a notional cost of £12,500. 3 May 2003: Craigavon Protestant Boys Band Parade 101 Police Officers were on duty at the above band parade at a notional cost of £14,000.
The military support to the police at both of these events was around 100 personnel and provided by the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Police Escorts
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is in relation to police escorts for prisoners being transported to and from courts in Northern Ireland. [114036]
Jane Kennedy: The Prison Service escort prisoners from prison to court. The Police Service can assist if requested and an armed presence is required. Once in court, police officers look after prisoners in the court cells and escort them into the courtroom and back to the
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cells, before being transferred back to prison by the Prison Service. Where prisoners appear in court for the first time and are committed to custody (for example, on remand or if sentenced), police officers will escort them to prison.
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the PSNI are (a) seconded and (b) serving with police services overseas. [113447]
Jane Kennedy: There are currently 29 PSNI officers seconded overseas. The following table shows the reason and location of these officers.
| Number of Officers | Reason and Place of Secondment |
|---|---|
| 25 | United Nations Mission in Kosovo |
| 3 | European Union Policing Mission in Bosnia |
| 1 | United Nations Transitional Aid to East Timor |
Press Office (Costs)
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total costs of the press office of the Northern Ireland Office were in 2002–03, broken down by (a) staff costs, (b) administration and (c) other. [113445]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The following costs are for the core Department's Press Office. (Outside the core it includes only Prison Service NI.)
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| (a) Staff costs | 1,292,309 |
| (b) Administration | 585,186 |
| (c) Other costs | 398,588 |
| Total | 2,276,083 |
Secure Units
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of places in secure units for children and young people in Northern Ireland. [114380]
Mr. Browne: It is planned to increase the number of secure residential care places for children from 15 to 16 by 2005. Based on a recent inspection by the Social Services Inspectorate no substantial increase is proposed as it is anticipated that the Department's plans for an expansion in the general residential childcare sector will reduce the pressure on the need for secure care places.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many places there are in secure units for children and young people; how much is being expended on such provision in 2003–04; and what recent assessment he has made of need. [114378]
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Mr. Browne: There are currently 15 secure care places provided for children in the care system at Shamrock and Linden House, Lakewood, Bangor. The cost of providing these places in 2003–04 will be approximately £1.8 million.
In 2002 the Social Services Inspectorate carried out an assessment, which resulted in a business case being made to replace the existing accommodation and to expand the secure care places from 15 to 16.
Sports Funding
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding is being given to hockey players in Northern Ireland who will be competing as part of a British team at the Olympics. [113861]
Angela Smith: At present no hockey players in Northern Ireland are in receipt of funding to compete as part of a British team at the Olympics.
Victim Support
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his policy to make funding for victims' support groups available for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement. [106353]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Since 1998 this Government has allocated more than £20 million to fund victims' initiatives. More than £6 million—around 30 per cent.—of this has gone to pay the core running costs of victims' groups. This is in recognition of the valuable work that victims' groups do and I continue to press the case for more money for victims' initiatives. In allocating any further such funding that may become available I will of course have regard to this work. Equally, I must take into account the fact that many victims do not align themselves with victims' groups.
Warm Homes Scheme
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the take up has been of the Warm Homes scheme by (a) numbers of completed jobs and (b) moneys spent since its inception, in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland. [113781]
Mr. Browne: This information is not available in precisely the format requested. Work under the Warm Homes Scheme is categorised by postal code areas. However, the following table identifies the number of jobs, both energy efficiency and heating measures that have been completed in each area in years 1 and 2 of the Scheme.
(5) Comprising the post codes in brackets.
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