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Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list all those consultants and advisers who have worked for the Office of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman since its creation; what was the basis on which they were selected; and how much they were paid.[HL2394]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Police Ombudsman advises that the advisers/consultants engaged by her office since its creation, the cost of each and their purpose are as follows:
| Name of Consultant/Adviser | Nature of consultancy/adviser | Amount Paid £ |
| Mediation Network for Northern Ireland | Organisation development and mediation skill training for staff | 8,250.00 |
| Bond Solon | Court room skills training arranged by Metropolitan Police Service | 2,643.75 |
| A V Browne | Design and printwork and printing of letterheads, paper, publicity for launch office etc | 102,539.48 |
| A V Browne | Design and placement of recruitment advertisements in newspapers | 56,106.03 |
| Capita Business Services Ltd. | Police complaints training | 1,532.21 |
| Deloitte & Touche | Advice and support in the implementation of IT systems | 71,965.23 |
| Department of Finance and Personnel—NI Statistics and Research Agency | Advice and assistance in conducting surveys | 7,755.00 |
| Elite Training Services Ltd | Provision of IT training | 1,132.70 |
| Johns Elliot, Solicitors | Provision of legal advice | 3,712.99 |
| Knowledge Pool | Provision of IT training—sole provider of training in business objects | 5,346.26 |
| Metropolitan Police Service | Training in forensic science, crime scene management etc | 89,200.00 |
| Forensic agency for Northern Ireland | Forensic science training, advice and the provision of a forensic science service | 17,596.81 |
| Morrow Communications | Provision of media service to information officer | 5,272.29 |
| Professor M Punch | Input to training programme—specialist knowledge | 651.18 |
| University of Ulster | Translation services | 4,908.99 |
| Mr D Young | Advice on maintenance and support of Internet/Internet site | 425.00 |
| Uppercare Communications Ltd | Advice on maintenance and support of Internet/Internet site | 4,292.64 |
The selection of advisers and consultants is in line with the ombudsman's office procurement procedures and financial delegation set by the sponsoring department—the Northern Ireland Office.
Those with delegated powers to order goods and services should ensure that prices paid are fair and reasonable, and where contracts do not already exist, competitive quotations, based on the value of the order should be obtained as follows:
Up to £500
Quotes not required. (The procurement officer must ensure the goods or services are to the expected standard.)
£501 to £2,000
Quotes from at least two sources oral or written but must be recorded.
£2,001 to £5,000
Two written or faxed quotes.
£5,001 to £10,000
Three written or faxed quotes.
£10,001 to £20,000
Four competitive tenders in writing.
Above £20,000
Tendering process organised through the Central Procurement Unit.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Police Ombudsman advises that since the creation of her office on 6 November 2000 to 31 December 2001, a total of 4,254 complaints have been received. Of these, 3,116 have been resolved and the remaining 1,138 are currently in the process of investigation.
The Police Ombudsman has forwarded a total of 14 investigation reports, as she is required to do, either under Section 61 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 or Article 20 of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc) Regulations 2000. The reports cover the discharge of baton rounds and personal protection weapons, deaths where there may have been police involvement, fatal road traffic accidents and other matters of public interest involving police conduct issues.
The ombudsman's reports received thus far have shown that the actions of the police were legal and within the permitted guidelines and practices in the prevailing circumstances. In those reports where recommendations have been made by the ombudsman concerning police matters, some of these have been acted upon, while others are under consideration by the Chief Constable and the Policing Board.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Since 1999, the Government have referred two Bills for comment to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. These were the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill and the Terrorism Bill.
The commission has also commented on the following Bills and Acts:
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many affirmative instruments tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001 were debated:
How many negative instruments were tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001; and[HL2621]
How many negative instruments were debated during the Parliament of 1997–2001:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information sought is a matter of public record. Details of the number and type of instruments tabled and their handling by the House of Commons can be found in the sessional returns published annually by the House of Commons. The sessional returns for the 1997–2001 Parliament can also be found on-line at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhocpap.htm.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The following information has been supplied by the House of Commons Journal Office.
Earl Russell asked her Majesty's Government:
(a) on the Floor of the House of Commons;
(b) in a Committee of that House; and what percentage of the total this represents in each case. [HL2562]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Instruments considered in Committee in the House of Commons cannot be defeated on a vote since the motions for their approval etc are subsequently decided by the House of Commons as a whole.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The following information has been supplied by the House of Commons Journal Office.
Records of the reason for withdrawal are not held centrally.
How many cases the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman has considered since the office was created; how many ombudsman's reports have been forwarded to the Secretary of State; what is their opinion of the quality of those reports; what action they have taken; and what further action they will take on these reports.[HL2395]
Which Bills they have referred to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since 1999; and what has been the comment in each case.[HL2342]
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill
Freedom of Information Bill
Immigration and Asylum Bill
Criminal Justice and Police Act.
As the responses are detailed and extensive, I have arranged for a copy of each to be placed in the Library. They are also available on the commission's website.
How many affirmative instruments were tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001; and[HL2559]
(a) on the Floor of the House of Commons;
(b) in a Committee of that House;
and what percentage of the total this represents in each case; and[HL2560]
(a) on the Floor of the House of Commons;
(b) in a Committee of the House of Commons;
and in each case what percentage of the total number of such instruments this represents.[HL2622]How many affirmative instruments tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001 were the subject of a vote
(a) on the Floor of the House of Commons;
(b) in a Committee of that House; and what percentage of the total this represents in each case. [HL2561]
Session Affirmatives laid Divisions in House (%) Divisions in Standing Committee (%) Total divisions (%)
1997–98 225 6 (2.7%) 16 (7.1%) 22 (9.8%)
1998–99 178 3 (1.7%) 18 (10.1%) 21 (11.8%)
1999–2000 180 5 (2.8%) 6 (3.3%) 11 (6.1%)
2000–01 123 9* (7.3%) 8 (6.5%) 17 (13.8%)
Total 706 22 (3.1%) 48 (6.8%) 70 (9.9%)
*—of which four were deferred to the following sitting Wednesday.
How many of the affirmative instruments tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001 were defeated on a vote
How many affirmative instruments tabled during the Parliament of 1997–2001 were withdrawn for re-drafting following criticism
13 Feb 2002 : Column WA159
(a) from within the House of Commons;
(b) from outside bodies;
and what percentage of the total this represents in each case. [HL2563]
Session Number of instruments withdrawn
1997–98 17
1998–99 7
1999–2000 8
2000–01 7
Total 39
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