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16 Nov 2005 : Column 1317W—continued
Assets Recovery Agency
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the cases investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland relate to persons believed to be (a) republican and (b) loyalist; and how many of the cases successfully concluded fall into each of these two categories. [21179]
Mr. Woodward: Cases are not routinely judged on individual affiliations but on the assets derived from identified criminal activity.
The breakdown of cases according to community background is based on the best estimate of what the agency believes to be the likely affiliation.
Of the cases investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency in the current year to date, six relate to individuals believed to have links to loyalist groups and two cases relate to individuals believed to have links to republican groups.
Of the cases concluded in the current year to date, two have been identified as being from the loyalist community.
Ballot Papers
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spoiled ballot papers there were in each district council electoral area in Northern Ireland in (a) the most recent 2005 local government elections and (b) 2001. [18060]
Mr. Hanson: The number of invalid ballot papers for the local government elections in 2005 and 2001 were as follows:
16 Nov 2005 : Column 1318W
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spoiled ballot papers there were in each constituency in Northern Ireland at the (a) 2005 and (b) 2001 general elections in Northern Ireland. [18061]
Mr. Hanson: The number of invalid ballot papers for the Westminster general elections in 2005 and 2001 were as follows:
C8
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the types of contract of employment applicable to those working in the policing unit designated C8; and what the nature is of the review scheduled to take place on or around 4 November. [24014]
Mr. Woodward: The staff employed on the Historical Enquiry Team (C8) are a mixture of serving police officers and civilian staff. The police officers are currently all seconded staff from England and Scotland, but a number of PSNI staff will join the unit in the new year. Civilian staff are a mixture of direct employees of the PSNI, persons on short-term contract and agency staff. These numbers 'ebb and flow' in response to demand (e.g. the search process) but will stabilise in 2006 once the team becomes operational.
I am advised by the police that no 'review' was held on or around 4 November.
Crime and Disorder Act
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [28996]
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Mr. Hanson: Some of the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 already directly extend to Northern Ireland. Further extensions were not proposed at that time as a contemporaneous review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland was planned and it would have been inappropriate to do so in advance of the review's conclusions. A series of other important measures, provided in the Act, have subsequently been introduced, in recent years, through separate Northern Ireland legislation. These have included provisions dealing with hate crime, antisocial behaviour, reparation orders in youth justice and the creation of additional bail powers. There are no plans to extend the remaining provisions to Northern Ireland at the current time but this will be kept under review in response to operational needs.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the criteria used in formulating the answers of 28 October 2005, Official Report, column 641W, on the Child Support Agency management board and 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 1028W, on the Social Security Agency, were the same as those used in formulating the answer of 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 108W, on public bodies (appointments). [27403]
Angela E. Smith: When answering any request for information on community background the rules that are to be applied for the release of such information fall under the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 (subjected to specified exceptions).
In respect of the answer given of 28 October 2005, Official Report, column 641W, on the child support agency management board, it was not possible to give the information requested as to do so may have revealed (or allowed someone to deduce) the community background of individual staff because of the small number of staff involved. However in the case of the answer of 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 1028W, the legislation was incorrectly interpreted and the following requested information should have been provided.
| Competition | ||
|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Temporary | |
| Protestant | 133 | 100 |
| Roman Catholic | 202 | 132 |
| Non-determined | 3 | 9 |
| Total | 338 | 241 |
Departmental Refurbishment
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the refurbishment projects in his Department that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months. [18384]
Mr. Hain: The NIO currently is refurbishing a minor wing of Hillsborough Castle and replacing the water piping throughout the building.
Three refurbishment projects are due to start within the next six months in Castle Buildings blocks 1 to 3, Massey House and Stormont House.
16 Nov 2005 : Column 1320W
This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 Departments of the devolved Administration.
Departmental Staff Training
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last three years. [19524]
Mr. Hanson: The total amount spent on learning and development in the NIO excluding its agencies is provided in the following table.
| Resource spend (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 1,124,307.00 |
| 2003–04 | 943,942.00 |
| 2002–03 | 971,270.64 |
Departmental Stationery
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has joined the Watermark project. [18414]
Mr. Hain: The Watermark project does not apply in Northern Ireland.
This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 Departments of the devolved administration.
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