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16 Sept 2003 : Column 723W—continued
Organised Crime Taskforce
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been made available to the Organised Crime Taskforce since its introduction in September 2000. [129816]
Jane Kennedy: With the exception of an annual publicity budget of £50,000 to meet the cost of publishing the annual Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Threat Assessment and Strategy Documents and to promote the role of the OCTF, no specific funding has been allocated to the Organised Crime Task Force. Costs for administering the OCTF are met from the overall resources allocated to the Security Policy and Operations Division of the Northern Ireland Office. Individual constituent members of the OCTF are responsible for funding their involvement from within their overall organisational budgets.
Police Recruitment
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 50:50 recruitment procedure to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on police recruitment. [129838]
Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland continues to attract a very high number of applicants: over 27,500 have applied over the course of the five competitions held since the 50:50 recruitment procedures began. As a direct result of 50:50 recruitment, the proportion of Catholics in the PSNI has increased from 8 per cent. at the time of the Patten Report to 13.3 per cent. as of 1 September this year.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to increase the representation of (a) females, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) those with disabilities on district policing partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [129839]
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Jane Kennedy: Schedule 3 to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 sets out how the appointments of political and independent members to District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) are to be made. District councils are responsible for the appointment of political (elected) members. Councils were required to ensure that the political members of the DPP reflected the balance of the parties prevailing among the members of the council, immediately after the last local government election.
The responsibility for the appointment of independent members lies with the Policing Board. A widespread advertising campaign and public information evenings were used by the Policing Board to encourage applications.
In addition, approaches were made to several thousand community groups to promote the interest from potentially under-represented sections of the community including females, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. To facilitate those with disabilities, the application form was produced in Braille, audio and large print.
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of (a) Roman Catholics and (b) Protestants have been unsuccessful in their applications since the 50:50 recruitment policy started for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [130419]
Jane Kennedy: Details of the number of unsuccessful applicants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland since the introduction of 50:50 recruitment are as follows:
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic applications | 9,823 | 35.6 |
| Catholic applicants unsuccessful | 9,342 | 95.1 |
| Non Catholic applications | 17,727 | 64.4 |
| Non Catholic applicants unsuccessful | 17,284 | 97.5 |
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The figures are based on the total number of applications received in the five competitions held so far i.e. they will include more than one application from some individuals. As not all of the competitions have been completed there may be some minor changes to the numbers over time.
Police Reserve
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers are serving in the Police Service of Northern Ireland full time reserve; what their expected future length of service is; and if he will make a statement. [130422]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Unfortunately it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the requested time-scale. I will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Police Service
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on the impact of the Force Order issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 25th March on access to police exercise facilities for retired police officers; [120973]
- (2) who has responsibility for day to day security management at police exercise facilities across Northern Ireland; and whether retired police officers will have to be vetted in order to gain access to such facilities; [120974]
(3) what action the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has taken with regard to retired police officers having access to police exercise facilities in Northern Ireland; [120975]
(4) if he will make a statement on why retired police officers in Northern Ireland have no access to police exercise facilities in Northern Ireland; and if he will take action to remedy this. [120976]
Jane Kennedy: The General Order referred to seeks to regulate access to exercise facilities in PSNI establishments for both security and health and safety considerations. The Order outlines the separate circumstances and procedures applicable for 'Employee' and 'Guest' access to such facilities. Retired Police Officers fall into the category of 'Guests' and as such will be required to apply for 'Guest Status' as outlined in the General Order.
The Chief Constable has responsibility for security at Police establishments. Any individuals who fall into the 'Guest' category will require security clearance. No exceptions are made to this vetting process. Retired Police Officers with 'Guest Status' will have access to police exercise facilities at eight major sites listed in the PSNI General Order.
Primary/Secondary Education
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 100W, what the publicly declared positions are of each member of the working group on a form of selection in the transfer procedure for pupils from primary to secondary education. [123981]
16 Sept 2003 : Column 726W
Jane Kennedy: I am not aware of any publicly declared positions of members of the Working Group in favour or against a form of selection in the transfer procedure for pupils from primary to secondary education.
Prisons
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many self-inflicted (a) injuries and (b) deaths there have been in Northern Ireland prisons in each of the past five years; and what action the Government is taking to reduce these figures. [129829]
Jane Kennedy: The information is as follows:
| Number of self-inflicted injuries | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 89 |
| 1999–2000 | 70 |
| 2000–01 | 90 |
| 2001–02 | 98 |
| 2002–03 | 146 |
| 2003 to date | 53 |
| Number of self-inflicted deaths | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1 |
| 1999–2000 | 3 |
| 2000–01 | 3 |
| 2001–02 | Nil |
| 2002–03 | (15)— |
| 2003 to date | (16)— |
(15) Two deaths in custody awaiting Coroner's inquest.
(16) One death in custody awaiting Coroner's inquest.
Action Government taking to reduce these figures
A review of policy and practices for dealing with prisoners at risk has recently been completed by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. This takes a holistic approach to providing the necessary support and care to prevent the individual harming him or herself. It includes an initial assessment on reception to prison, Samaritan services, listener schemes, an anti-bullying policy and improved structures, systems and procedures. This will include a multi-disciplinary case conference being held, leading to the development of a care plan for those at risk. This policy is due to be implemented by December 2003.
Recycling
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a doorstep recycling service in Northern Ireland. [129809]
Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy, published by the Department of the Environment in March 2000, provides a framework for developing waste management practices to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. A key element of the Strategy is the preparation of Waste Management Plans by District Councils. Plans covering all of Northern Ireland are currently being implemented and are geared towards achieving a primary target set out in the Strategy of recovering 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005.
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The Plans were adopted following extensive public consultation throughout each district council area. They set out the full range of activities and facilities to be put in place to provide a recycling service, taking account of the needs and circumstances of individual councils areas. These activities and facilities to be put in place include a mix of kerbside collection for individual households, home composting schemes and the development of new and enhanced civic amenity sites and recycling centres. Under its Waste Management Grant Scheme, the Department provides significant financial assistance to district councils to assist with the cost of implementing the Plans. The Scheme commenced in April 2001 and up to March 2003 some 20 Councils used the assistance for the purchase of bins to enable householders to segregate waste for recycling.
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