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14 Sept 2004 : Column WA177
Written Answers
Tuesday, 14 September 2004.
Northern Ireland: Audits of Victims' Groups
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which victims groups in Northern Ireland have been audited each year since 1990; and on what basis the audits were carried out. [HL3269]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): To meet the responsibilities placed on departments in government accounting 2000, the Victims Liaison Unit, in August 2002, commissioned independent auditors to carry out an audit of 15 per cent of victims' groups in receipt of core funding under the core funding scheme 2000–02. Eight groups were selected for review—FACT, FAIR, Firinne, HURT, Koram Centre, VAST, WAVE and West Tyrone Voice.
One group was selected for audit on the basis that its allocation was higher than the average allocation from the scheme. Another group was selected because of concerns about the management of its allocation. The remaining groups were divided into two categories—those serving a mainly Protestant community and those serving a mainly Catholic community. These categories were further sub-divided into groups operating east of the Bann and groups operating west of the Bann. Groups were then selected at random from these categories.
Northern Ireland: Government Departments Expenditure on Consultation Exercises
Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been spent on consultations since June 2001 by each government department in Northern Ireland. [HL3519]
Baroness Amos: The amount of money spent on consultation exercises undertaken by the government departments in Northern Ireland since June 2001 is shown in the attached table. Figures relate to core departments, excluding agencies and NDPBs.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take action under paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 against Ms Patricia Kelly who has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [HL3316]
Baroness Amos: Ms Patricia Kelly resigned from her post of Commissioner in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 30 June 1994, citing the commission's handling of the Holy Cross case as the reason for her resignation.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the closing date for applications to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is 9 July as indicated in the advertisement to the public, or 16 July, as indicated in the information pack and in the application form; and why the dates are different; and [HL3659]
In seeking applications for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what is meant by bodies nominating individuals; what bodies are envisaged; and whether the nominees will be treated as representatives of such bodies; and [HL3660]
In seeking applications for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, how they propose to deal with (a) individual applications; and (b) nominations from bodies; and [HL3661]
Whether appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be made on the basis of merit alone; whether this approach will be qualified in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and how the statutory requirement of representativeness will affect selection on the basis of merit alone; and [HL3662]
Who will be the independent assessor on the appointment panel for the appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and how the independence of that assessor will be determined. [HL3663]
Baroness Amos: It would be better for me to answer the noble Lord's Questions in one extended Answer.
The difference in the dates between the closing dates on the advertisement and the information pack was down to an out-dated document accidentally being posted onto the NIO website indicating that the closing date was 9 July. We rectified this as soon as we
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discovered the error. All advertisements in the press and other correspondence stated the (original) correct closing date of 16 July. The closing date was later extended to 28 July. Following requests from a number of people, we judged that an extension would be in the best interests of the commission. We are confident that a broad cross-section of the community has applied and are encouraged by the number of applicants; 14 for chief commissioner and 162 for commissioner posts.
The term "bodies nominating individuals" was used to indicate political parties and other organisations who wished to nominate people to apply for appointments to the commission. Any individual or organisation was eligible to make nominations if they wanted. The information pack made clear that any nominees who applied would be tested in the same way as every other applicant with regard to the criteria. The fact that they had been nominated by an organisation would not be a discriminating or plus factor in their application.
Appointments to the commission are conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This code of practice sets out the regulatory framework for an appointments process. All public appointments are governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit, individuals who through their abilities, experience and qualities match the need of the public body in question. This means that all applicants to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission must go through the same application and interview process.
Under Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act, the Secretary of State is obliged to ensure that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is broadly representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
The Government take the issue of representativeness seriously and will do their best to ensure that the commission has the confidence of all parts of the community.
The independent assessor throughout the process and on the interview panel will be John Keanie. Mr Keanie is on the OCPA accredited list of assessors.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What reasons have been given by members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for resigning; and whether they will place copies of all relevant correspondence in the Library of the House. [HL3867]
Baroness Amos: There have been a total of six resignations from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The details of which are as follows:
I am unable to disclose resignation letters, as they remain private and confidential correspondence between the out-going commissioner and the Secretary of State.
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Ulster-Scots Agency
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22 June (WA 113), whether there was agreement between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Ulster-Scots Agency on the 2004 budget. [HL3820]
Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to my Answers on 10 June 2004 (WA 39) and (WA 42). While there were discussions between the two sponsor departments and the Ulster-Scots Agency about their 2004 budget, ultimately it did not prove possible to obtain the agency's full agreement to the budget approved by both departments.
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