House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Dec 2005 (pt 20)

15 Dec 2005 : Column 2243W—continued

Sexual Assaults

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sexual assaults have been reported to the police in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how many people have been prosecuted. [36558]

Mr. Hanson: I am committed to supporting victims of sexual assaults in ways which help cases to be brought to court and prosecutions of offenders secured. This includes special measures in the courts to facilitate the way in which victims and witnesses who might otherwise feel intimidated give evidence.

15 Dec 2005 : Column 2244W

Table 1 provides the number of offences of rape, attempted rape and other sexual assaults recorded by the police. Data is provided for 1998–99 onwards. The reason for this is that the Home Office introduced revised counting rules for recording crime in April 1998 and figures produced since then belong to a different statistical series and are not comparable with those produced prior to April 1998.

The number of prosecutions for these offences are provided in Table 2 and cover the calendar years 1994 to 2003. Data beyond 2003 will become available in early 2006.

It should be noted that statistics in Table 1 are offence based whilst figures in Table 2 are based on the number of persons prosecuted.
Table 1: Offences of rape, attempted rape and other sexual assaults recorded by the police

Financial year Rape Attempted rape Indecent assault

1998–99 284 40 878

1999–2000 279 32 714

2000–01 209 23 663

2001–02 252 40 677

2002–03 317 40 633

2003–04 354 41 834

2004–05 347 33 746

Source:
Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

Table 2: Prosecutions for rape, attempted rapeand other sexual assaults

Rape Attempted rape⁽¹⁸⁾ Other sexual assaults⁽¹⁹⁾ Total

1994 39 6 148 193

1995 65 13 163 241

1996 59 10 194 263

1997 54 7 153 214

1998 45 3 113 161

1999 30 6 86 122

2000 20 6 111 137

2001 28 6 111 145

2002 25 5 90 120

2003 26 5 109 140

⁽¹⁸⁾Includes aiding and abetting rape and assault with intent to rape.
⁽¹⁹⁾Includes indecent assault on female, indecent assault on male, indecent assault on female child and indecent assault on male child.
Source:
Statistics and Research Branch, Northern Ireland Office

Financial year	Rape	Attempted rape	Indecent assault
1998–99	284	40	878
1999–2000	279	32	714
2000–01	209	23	663
2001–02	252	40	677
2002–03	317	40	633
2003–04	354	41	834
2004–05	347	33	746

	Rape	Attempted rape⁽¹⁸⁾	Other sexual assaults⁽¹⁹⁾	Total
1994	39	6	148	193
1995	65	13	163	241
1996	59	10	194	263
1997	54	7	153	214
1998	45	3	113	161
1999	30	6	86	122
2000	20	6	111	137
2001	28	6	111	145
2002	25	5	90	120
2003	26	5	109	140

Shared Future

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the first triennial action plan for Shared Future will be published; and if he will make a statement. [35322]

Angela E. Smith: The Triennial Action Plan will be published before March 2006. This will give further impetus to A Shared Future, the policy and strategic framework for good relations in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein (Assembly Expenses)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff Sinn Fein claim for under Northern Ireland Assembly expenses. [36533]

15 Dec 2005 : Column 2245W

Mr. Hain: Taking account of MLA allowances and support provided under the Financial Assistance to Political Parties scheme, in the financial year 2004–05, Sinn Fein received support for 25 staff.

Sports Council

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the response of 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 750W, on the Sports Council, how many individuals have received funding from the Sports Council in each of the last five years. [36357]

Mr. Hanson: Under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland Order) 1986 the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is statutorily responsible for the development of sport in NI including the distribution of public funding to individual sports.

Under the talented athlete programme they make funding available to individuals for talent development. The following table provides details of how many individuals have received funding under this programme in each of the last five years:

Individual awards

55

2000–01 78

2001–02 59

2002–03 30

2003–04 103

2004–05(present) 66

Total 391

	Individual awards
	55
2000–01	78
2001–02	59
2002–03	30
2003–04	103
2004–05(present)	66
Total	391

Terrorism

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether there is a Republican Christmas terror threat in London. [36500]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I have been asked to reply.

Northern Ireland related terrorism continues to pose a threat and dissident republican groups who have rejected the Good Friday agreement of April 1998 still aspire to mount attacks in Great Britain. The Government will never hesitate to issue a warning if it is the best way to protect any community or venue facing a specific and credible threat. Advice would be issued immediately if the public needed to take specific action. Public safety is our absolute priority.

Tourism

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) joint ventures, (b) discussions and (c) liaison there has been between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Scottish Tourist Board in targeting visitors from the United States of America. [36488]

Angela E. Smith: Many informal links exist but the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has no plans to have a formalised structure with VisitScotland. However, officials from the NITB meet on a regular

15 Dec 2005 : Column 2246W

basis throughout the year with a number of other UK tourism officials and this would involve colleagues from VisitScotland.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote the annual 12th of July demonstrations as a tourist attraction. [36542]

Angela E. Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) recognises the value of celebrations and festivals as drivers for tourism. Research confirms that events are an effective tool for changing perceptions and attracting visitors.

NITB featured the 12th of July festivities in its 2005 calendar of events for visitors, and has recently met the Orange Order on a number of occasions to identify what actions are required to enable the festivities to be promoted to tourists.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote the River Bann as a tourist attraction. [36545]

Angela E. Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has supported the local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Newry and Mourne, Down and North Down to establish a regional tourism partnership. This public/private sector partnership has produced a tourism strategy and action plan for the region which looks at regional development, marketing and visitor servicing priorities. The plan identifies activity tourism and natural assets as key regional strengths and the partnership includes details of the River Bann in its promotional materials. In addition the NITB website acts as an information point and electronic sign post to relevant information. The River Bann features on www.discovernorthernireland.com on three separate pages in the angling section. Each reference provides angling details for the Upper Bann and relevant contact details.

The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure which owns the fishing rights on a stretch of the Upper Bann promotes the Public Angling Estate through its angling guides and angling website at www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk Provided for the public in general this website targets tourist anglers providing them with travel and accommodation provider links. It enables tourist anglers to plan and arrange a fishing break in Northern Ireland from the comfort of their own home.

The Department also promotes the Public Angling Estate and angling in general within Northern Ireland by attending major angling game fairs and exhibitions throughout the island of Ireland, England and Europe.

US Visa Applications

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what advice the Northern Ireland Office gave to the US consulate in Belfast in connection with the visa application for Rita O'Hare; [36534]

15 Dec 2005 : Column 2247W

(2) how many US visa applications the United States consulate in Belfast has asked him about in each of the last 10 years. [36566]

Mr. Hain: My Department has not given any advice to the United States consulate in respect of a visa application for Rita O'Hare. Decisions on applications for visas are solely a matter for the US Administration.

Next Section

Index

Home Page