§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the security grants scheme so as to make it more flexible, to assist the smaller business.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe scheme, which has been administered with considerable flexibility from the outset, applies to firms employing as few as 10 people. Below this level administration becomes difficult and the cost disproportionate. It is open to two or more smaller firms to put forward proposals for joint security arrangements. Such applications are sympathetically considered.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the security grants scheme to include staff employed part time on security work, and the costs incurred in providing items such as electric door opening and closing devices, or peepholes in doors, and items of a similar nature.
§ Mr. Peter MillsGrants under this scheme are normally paid only in respect of full-time security staff. However, sympathetic consideration is given to applications for grants relating to part-time security staff where there is a full-time member of staff in charge of security. It is not proposed to extend the scheme to meet the costs of providing security equipment.
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§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid out under the security grants scheme; and if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the details of the scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MillsGrants under the Security Staff Grants Scheme are claimed and paid quarterly. The total amount paid up to 30th September 1973 to approximately 800 firms was £665,000. The scheme, which came into operation on 1st September 1972, applies to practically every commercial business in Northern Ireland employing 10 or more people; public services and statutory undertakings are not eligible. Applications from firms employing fewer than 10 staff are considered for grant if satisfactory proposals for joint security arrangements—for example, for offices in the one building—are put forward.
The scheme was revised and extended from 1st March 1973, and the following grants are now paid for security personnel engaged because of terrorist activity:
- (a) A grant of 75 per cent. of the wages of each approved security officer with a maximum of £1,000 per person per year, such grant being restricted to one security officer per 100 or part of 100 employees up to a maximum of five security officers.
- (b) A grant of 50 per cent. of the wages of security officers additional to those qualifying for grant under (a) above, up to a maximum grant of £750 per person per annum.
A firm employing a security organisation for guard duty either exclusively or to supplement its own security staff can normally obtain a grant of 50 per cent. of the cost.
All applicants must satisfy the Ministry of Commerce that staff for whom grant is claimed are engaged on appropriate security duties and that the security arrangements are satisfactory. A police report is accordingly obtained on each application.