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Northern Ireland Office: Media Announcements
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What media announcements were made by the Northern Ireland Office during the week beginning 13 June. [HL979]
Lord Rooker: The following media announcements were made by the Northern Ireland Office via press releases issued to all media outlets in the week commencing 13 June 2005.
Monday 13 June 2005
"Reforming Criminal Justice and Building Confidence For all"—The Secretary of State, Peter Hain MP, the Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith and Alasdair Fraser launch the new Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS).
Wednesday 15 June 2005
"Banish criminal and paramilitary activity"—During NI Questions in the House of Commons, Secretary of State Peter Hain MP said that criminal
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and paramilitary activity must be banished from politics in Northern Ireland.
Thursday 16 June 2005
"New Appointments to Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission"—Monica McWilliams is appointed Chief Commissioner, along with seven new commissioners.
Thursday 16 June 2005
"Co-operation in Criminal Justice Applauded in Annual Report"—Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson launches this year's annual report of the Criminal Justice System Northern Ireland (CJSNI).
Saturday 18 June 2005
"Sean Kelly returned to Prison"—Sean Kelly is re-arrested and returned to Maghaber Prison.
Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 6 July (WA 106–107) and 13 July (WA 152), why the per capita cost of a criminal conviction arising from complaints investigated by the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is over 250 times the equivalent cost of a criminal conviction by the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and whether it represents value for money. [HL1299]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Police Ombudsman's budget is set at a level to allow the office to fulfil all of its legal obligations under Part II of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 and I refer the noble Lord to that Act. Part of those obligations is the determination of complaints from the public about the conduct of police officers, only a small number of which end in prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions and subsequently conviction by the courts. There is no direct correlation between the Police Ombudsman's budget and the cost of convictions.
Value for money can only be determined when compared to similar organisations; a fair comparison would be with the predecessor of the Police Ombudsman, i.e. the combined functions of the RUC Complaints and Discipline Department and the Independent Commission for Police Complaints. In his 1997 report, A police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Dr Maurice Hayes placed their combined operating cost at about £6,850,000. Given the range and scope of work of the ombudsman's office, which is fully independent of government and police and as it is eight years since the report was completed, its current budget of £7,100,000 (cash) would seem to represent value for money.
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Northern Ireland: Children in Care
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they fulfil their duty of care towards children resident in children's homes if they do not collect centrally information relating to contraception and pregnancy terminations; whether they will collect such information in future; and, if so, who will be given responsibility for implementing and monitoring the necessary changes. [HL821]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: All young people, whether they are in care or not, can visit a general practitioner or a family planning clinic in total confidence and receive contraceptive advice or treatment provided that they meet the criteria outlined by Lords Fraser and Scarman in 1995—"the Fraser guidelines".
The Abortion Act 1967 does not extend to Northern Ireland, and abortion may be carried out only when necessary to save the life of the mother, or where continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of serious injury to her physical or mental health. As children who meet the Fraser guidelines are under no obligation to inform anyone of their treatment, it is likely that any information collected would be incomplete.
In addition to children's rights under the Children (NI) Order 1995, the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child mean that the department could not collect this information without children's consent, and have no plans to do so in the future.
Northern Ireland: Election Complaints
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many formal complaints they have received about the 2005 elections in Northern Ireland; what breaches of electoral law or other malpractices were alleged; whether there were any complaints concerning dummy ballot papers, campaigning on polling day or the behaviour of party agents; and what remedial action, if any, they propose to take. [HL812]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland (Mr D A Stanley) has written to the noble Lord as follows: "The Electoral Office received 34 formal complaints from electors in respect of the Parliamentary General Election and the District Council Elections both held on 5 May. None of these related to dummy ballot papers or campaigning on polling day. Two related to the behaviour of party agents and one of these was made by a Candidate. In addition, one party complained about what they believed to have been attempts to interfere with absent votes by two other parties. These latter cases were referred to the police and are currently still under investigation".
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Northern Ireland: Equality Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is governed both by UK-wide legislation and Northern Ireland-only legislation.
Northern Ireland: Festivals
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what basis the Department of Social Development in Northern Ireland allocates funding to festivals and community celebrations; how much has been allocated in each year since 2000; to whom
- such funds have been allocated; and for what purpose. [HL1154]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Department for Social Development (DSD) has provided timebounded funding to several community festivals in the past, to support community cohesion and to promote towns and cities. It was DSD's intention to provide seed funding so that once festivals had become established further assistance would not be required. The department is still providing funding to a number of festivals on a transitional basis, until permanent government policy on festival funding has been established. In 2005–06 transitional arrangements will continue for those festivals funded on that basis in 2004–05, and DSD will consider applications for funding up to 2004–05 levels.
The following table sets out how much the Department for Social Development has allocated to festival and community celebrations in each year since 2000; to whom such funds have been allocated; and for what purpose.
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BRO—Belfast Regeneration Office
NWDO—Northwest Development Office
VCU—Voluntary and Community Unit
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