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14 Dec 2009 : Column 656W—continued
There are also a significant number of investigations contained within the plans which will enable a greater understanding of the sources and causes of diffuse pollution and will provide the evidence base to require further action.
In addition we will continue to demonstrate our commitment and bring forward significant work including Water Protection Zones, sustainable drainage systems, and deal with misconnections into the surface water sewer network.
Full details of mechanisms for diffuse pollution will be published on the Environment Agency's website at:
on 22 December 2009, in Annex F "Mechanisms for action".
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rivers he expects to be subject to a reduction of abstraction pressure during the first round of implementation of river basin management plans. [306886]
Huw Irranca-Davies: During the first round of river basin management plans, action will be taken at 26 sites which will protect habitats directive sites.
Through developing the river basin management plans we have identified areas where we need to undertake further investigations to increase our certainty on the causal links between abstraction pressure and the achievement of ecological status. The Environment Agency will investigate approximately 300 sites where the abstraction pressure is greatest to improve its understanding, and where appropriate propose further action to tackle the problems during the first cycle.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to produce implementation plans under the EU Water Framework Directive for steps to be taken at local level in respect of that Directive. [306887]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency is the competent authority in respect of the water framework directive, and it has the responsibility for engagement and developing plans at the local level.
In some places there will be added value from adopting more detailed catchment plans to help deliver River Basin Management Plan objectives during the planning cycles and it supports the pilot project on the River Kennett to produce an implementation plan.
The Environment Agency will share the knowledge gained through this pilot with other River Basin Liaison Panels, to help identify other catchments that could benefit from a similar approach.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission: Public Relations
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission has made to Grayling Political Strategy in the last 12 months; for what purposes such payments were made; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments were made. [305251]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission has not made any payments to Grayling Political Strategy in the last three years.
Administration of Justice
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made on devolution of responsibility for criminal justice and policing in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [306277]
Mr. Woodward: Progress continues to be made towards the devolution of policing and justice. A financial package has been agreed and a Bill establishing the new Department of Justice has completed its Assembly passage. In addition the First and deputy First Ministers have written to Assembly members as part of a process to identify the new Justice Minister.
Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry: Expenditure
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, columns 902-04W, on the Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry, under what budget headings the expenditure was incurred in each year. [306638]
Mr. Woodward: The following table breaks down the yearly expenditure of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry on the basis of cash spend incurred by the Northern Ireland Office. The costs are divided into six broad categories:
legal costs, which include payments to counsel, inquiry solicitors, and all legal costs for witnesses and family representatives;
tribunal salaries and expenses, including judges' salaries and travel and accommodation costs, as well as allowances for the judges;
accommodation, which includes rent and rates for all inquiry offices and venues including costs to facilitate hearings in London;
IT, which includes cost of IT equipment and computers, consultants, and management of inquiry IT systems;
staffing, which includes salaries of all staff (both temporary and permanent), and travel and accommodation costs for staff;
administration costs, which include the running costs of the inquiry offices, cost of arrangements for publishing the report, payments to experts, and other general administration costs.
| Type of cost | Expenditure (£) (NIO funding) |
In addition to costs incurred by the Northern Ireland Office, the Ministry of Defence has also incurred £3.4 million since January 2005 primarily in relation to legal representation.
The total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the end of September 2009 is £188.7 million, comprising £153.2 million incurred by the Northern Ireland Office and £35.6 million incurred by the Ministry of Defence.
Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice for Northern Ireland: Stratagem
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments the Criminal Justice Inspection has made to Stratagem in the last 12 months; for what purposes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments were made. [305423]
Paul Goggins:
This is an operational matter for the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, which operates independently of Government. I would encourage
the hon. Member to write to Dr. Michael Maguire, the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland.
Crimes of Violence
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many violent crimes were committed against taxi drivers in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years. [305005]
Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department received in 2008; and how many of these received a substantive response within 20 days. [305491]
Paul Goggins: The following table provides details of the number of requests received by the Northern Ireland Office in 2008 and the number of requests which received a substantive response within 20 working days.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has committed to publishing quarterly and annual updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcome of requests. The annual statistics for 2008 can be found in the Libraries of both Houses and on the MOJ website at:
Departmental Internet
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what redesigns of websites operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have taken place since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) cost to the public purse and (ii) date of completion of each such redesign was. [306166]
Mr. Woodward: The following table shows the cost and date for redesigns of websites since June 2007.
| Website | (i) Cost (£) | (ii) Date |
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