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Peace Funding: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 10 May (WA 140) concerning peace funding, who selected the panel to select the funding groups; on what basis; who was selected; and what qualifications they had. [HL5753]
Lord Rooker: The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), in its role as Peace II managing authority, selected the panels, working in close consultation with the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance in Ireland. The individual
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panel members were appointed on account of grade and experience, and were on the basis of these criteria judged to be suitably qualified. The previous Answer referred to, WA 140, detailed who was selected.
Peace Protesters
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): General controls on demonstrations are contained in the Public Order Act 1986, which allows the police to place conditions on processions and assemblies in certain circumstances. There are other controls on demonstrations. For example, Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 makes it an offence to trespass on a designated site. Under Section 137 of the Highways Act it is an offence to wilfully obstruct the highway. It is an offence under Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act to organise, take part in or carry on a demonstration in a public place in the vicinity of Parliament without prior authorisation from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Those who commit these offences are liable to arrest.
Police: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff are employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland by rank; what positions are undersubscribed and oversubscribed; and how many reserve officers are currently employed. [HL5887]
Lord Rooker: The table below shows the breakdown of officers employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland by rank, and includes actual strength against establishment. Due to the detail involved, a copy of a similar table on support/civilian staff has been placed in the Library.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the average payment, in addition to the statutory redundancy and pension entitlement, made to those members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland who have left the service under the Patten report scheme. [HL6010]
Lord Rooker: The average severance payment up to 31 March 2006 was £73,328 for regular officers and £64,365 for full-time reserve officers.
There is no statutory redundancy scheme within the PSNI pension scheme, upon which the terms of the severance scheme are based, so the figure quoted represents the average severance amount paid before income tax is charged.
Residential Homes
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
In the past five years for which figures are available, how much funding has been provided to the various classifications of residential homes in Northern Ireland. [HL5972]
Lord Rooker: The information requested is shown in the table below for the latest three years. For the previous two years the information was collected in a different way (for example, excluding administration costs) and figures are not comparable.
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Sign Language
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether basic sign language is included in the educational curriculum in Northern Ireland at any level; and, if not, for what reason it is excluded from the curriculum. [HL5938]
Lord Rooker: There is no formal requirement for schools to offer sign language courses, though some do as an extra-curricular option. The revised curriculum provides flexibility for schools to teach sign language as part of the cross-curricular skill of communication, and the language and literacy area of learning. In addition, the CCEA's plans for 2006–07 include working with relevant organisations to make the revised curriculum more accessible for those with a range of special needs, including those who are hearing-impaired.
Tourism: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 May (WA 55–6) concerning the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, what is the board's policy towards the use of the word "Derry"; and why it was used in the Answer. [HL5937]
Lord Rooker: The practice of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITS) reflects customer needs inside and outside Northern Ireland and considerations under equality legislation. In correspondence, NITS responses mirror the form used by the person corresponding with it. It is also important that the name used is understandable to the widest range of potential visitors in as clear and simple a way as possible. As visitors may be familiar with either the name "Londonderry" or "Derry" NITS publications and website contain both names so that people searching for either Derry or Londonderry will be able to access the same information.
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In relation to the specific use of "Derry" in the Written Answer provided to the noble Lord on 17 May 2006 (WA 55–6):
White Horse Spa and Leisure Centre, Derry: the name Derry reflects the usage recorded on the company's own stationery.
The Walled City of Derry—Armada Exhibition, Tower Museum: this is the branded name of the Walled City of Derry Signature Project.
Foyle Marine Tourism (Derry City Council): this is the official name of the city council.
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