HC Deb 03 April 1995 vol 257 cc923-4W
Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the chairman of the Northern Ireland police authority has communicated directly with individual members of the RUC in respect of his community consultation. [17050]

Sir John Wheeler

I understand that the chairman has written to every serving officer in the regular RUC and the RUC reserve, full-time and part-time, to explain the police authority's community consultation process and its view of the future. He has also written to the civilian staff.

Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what formal invitations to present oral or written evidence to his community consultation the chairman of the Northern Ireland police authority has issued to Northern Ireland's constitutional political parties, the various RUC staff associations, the trade unions, the churches and employers' organisations. [17049]

Sir John Wheeler

I understand that the chairman of the authority has written to each Member of Parliament and each local council in Northern Ireland seeking their written views on the future of policing in the Province, by 2 May 1995. Written views have also been sought from the staff associations and organisations referred to, together with a wide range of community groups. In addition, the authority is in the process of holding a series of informal discussion seminars on policing, at venues throughout Northern Ireland, which all locally elected representatives and representatives from local businesses, churches, schools, charities and community groups have been invited to attend.

Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the requirement by the chairman of the Northern Ireland police authority in terms of full-time and part-time staff engaged in his community consultation exercise; what has been the total number of man days expended; and whether he is eligible for extra remuneration or allowances in respect of the exercise. [17047]

Sir John Wheeler

I understand that three members of staff within the authority's existing personnel complement have been deployed directly on the community consultation programme. A number of tasks have been undertaken by other authority personnel as part of their existing overall remit. No additional staff have been employed by the police authority as a result of the community consultation exercise.

It is not possible to calculate precisely how many man hours have been expended on the project to date by all staff in the authority; however, the three units of staff directly employed on the project have expended a total of 67 working days up to 17 March 1995.

The chairman does not receive extra remuneration or allowances in respect of the exercise.

Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has received from the chairman of the Northern Ireland police authority on how the evidence given during his community consultation is to be verified, collated and assessed; when the exercise is to be completed; and what is the next stage in the process. [17051]

Sir John Wheeler

The chairman of the authority has kept my officials fully informed about each stage of the consultation process. I understand that the first stage of the consultation process ends on 2 May 1995, by which date all submissions should be received in writing by the authority.

The second stage involves the submissions being examined and, where appropriate, organisations or individuals being invited to expand or explain their submissions in further detail, either in writing or in an oral submission. The second stage should be completed by October or November. However, this stage of the process will be dependent, to a large extent, on the total number of submissions received and their content. Submissions are currently being analysed by authority officials and information is being collated. Once all the submissions have been reviewed, the third stage of the process will be implemented; this will involve preparing a written report for the Chief Constable and the Secretary of State. The authority hopes to issue a report by the end of this year or at the beginning of 1996.

Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost of the various elements in the chairman of the Northern Ireland police authority's community consultation exercise, including all printing, postage, administration and public hearings, up to 17 March. [17048]

Sir John Wheeler

The cost of the community consultation process up to 17 March amounts to £72,012.11, excluding VAT. This does not include staff costs, as the authority did not recruit additional personnel for the exercise.

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