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10 Sep 2008 : Column 2009W—continued
Departmental Overtime
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of overtime payments paid to staff in his Department was in each of the last 12 months, broken down by pay grade. [221287]
Paul Goggins: The following table shows the amount of overtime incurred by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its Agencies and Executive NDPBs, in 2007-08, which is the latest audit approved 12 month period:
| £ | ||||
| Senior Management | Middle Management | Executive Grades | Administrative/Support Grades | |
Departmental Paper
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of paper used (a) for photocopying and (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last two years. [220730]
Mr. Woodward: This information is not recorded and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Northern Ireland Office policy is to use paper for photocopying, printing and publications which is derived from at least 70 per cent. post-consumer waste. Currently we purchase office paper for printing and photocopying that is derived from 100 per cent. post-consumer waste, in line with the mandatory ‘Buy Sustainable—Quick Wins’ minimum environmental product standards developed by DEFRA.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in each of the last three financial years. [221188]
Paul Goggins: The following table shows the total reimbursable expenses paid to press officers in the Northern Ireland Office in the last three financial years:
| Amount paid (£) | |
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months. [221487]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office uses both internal and external (predominantly Royal Mail) services to distribute mail. The internal mail distribution service is structured to deliver protectively marked material in an appropriate manner and, while costs are largely fixed, they represent good value for money.
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department’s policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220428]
Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office’s policy is that all suppliers should be paid within 30 days of receipt of a valid, undisputed invoice, as specified in the Department’s model terms and conditions of contract or as agreed by both parties at the outset of each contract. The Department is also bound by the ‘Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act’.
The Northern Ireland Office does not request discounts for early payment as part of the procurement process, however, if individual suppliers offer discounts for early payment, the Department will ensure that the discounted invoices are paid within the required timeframe if this offers value for money.
Departmental Public Participation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) reviews and (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007. [221367]
Mr. Woodward: The following reviews and public consultations have been initiated by my Department since 27 June 2007:
Review into Data Security Procedures in Public Inquiries
Proposed Draft Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008;
Test Purchase of Alcohol: Equality Impact Assessment and Guideline Principles;
Proposed Northern Ireland Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2009;
Improving Administration of Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly;
Anonymous Registration: Protecting Voters at Risk in Northern Ireland;
Mentally Disordered Offenders Victim Information Scheme;
Search Code of Practice issued under POCA 2002;
Investigation Code of Practice issued under POCA 2002;
Proposed Draft Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2007;
Policy Discussion Paper on Alternatives to Prosecution;
Draft Guidance Establishing New Public Protection Arrangements in NI;
Draft Sexual Offences (NI) Order;
Modernising Police Powers— Your PACE, Your Say;
Government's Proposals for the Safety of Older People.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects his Department has commissioned from (a) think tanks and (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid. [221618]
Mr. Woodward: In each of the last two years the Northern Ireland Office did not commission any projects from think tanks. The following table indicates the projects which were commissioned from charities.
Offensive Weapons
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were charged with offences relating to knife crime in each of the last three years. [219862]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer.
The number of people in Northern Ireland cleared by means of Charge or Summons in Northern Ireland with offences relating to knife(1) crime in each of the last three years is as follows:
| Cleared by means of charge/summons( 2) | |
| (1) The figures relate to crimes where a knife was involved in the incident; the system does not record the detail of how the knife was used. (2) It is not possible to disaggregate the figures between charged and summons (3) It is not possible to compare figures year on year, as PSNI adopted a higher evidential standard in respect of non-sanction clearances (those where no further action is taken by the police, mainly due to the victim not wanting formal action taken by the police or due to no prosecution being directed) in April 2006, with farther changes made to the definition of "clearance "from 1 April 2007. (4) A new crime record system, NICHE, was introduced on 1 April 2007. Under the old system, ISIS, the Modus Operandi would have been recorded as ‘knife', with NICHE the MO would show ’instrument - knife/bladed'. Furthermore, within the new recording system, the instrument used is linked to an occurrence which may contain one or more crimes. This may lead to some inflation of offence levels from the NICHE system. | |
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offences were committed in each police command unit in Northern Ireland in which a knife was employed by the perpetrator in each of the last three years. [219863]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
The following table details the number of offences committed in each police command unit in Northern Ireland in which a knife was employed by the perpetrator in each of the last three years:
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
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