Sectarian Harassment (Hansard, 21 March 1997)

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when(a) he and (b) the Under-Secretary first learned that a sum of money had been paid to a civil servant formerly in her private office for sectarian harassment; and if he had to approve the payment. [20402]
930W
the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21761]

§ Mr. Moss
The information is as follows:

Statutory base Admit public to board committee meetings Open meetings for the public

Health and Social Services Boards Yes No ¹Yes

Health and Social Services Councils Yes No No

Health and Social Services Trusts Yes No ¹Yes

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Agency Yes No No

Northern Ireland Central Services Agency Yes No No

Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency Yes ¹Yes No

Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency Yes No No

Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency Yes No No

¹ A statutory requirement.

§ Dr. Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [21727]

§ Mr. Moss
The information is as follows:

§ Sir Patrick Mayhew
[holding answer 20 March 1997]: I was not required to approve this payment, but I was advised of the key elements of the proposed settlement, and agreed that the case should be settled in January 1997. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State was advised at the end of December 1996 of the key elements of the proposed settlement.
931W

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Hayes inquiry into allegations of sectarian harassment in the office of the Economy Minister will be in public. [20403]

§ Sir Patrick Mayhew
[holding answer 17 March 1997]: No. Dr. Hayes has been invited to undertake a review, not a public inquiry. The nature of the personnel issues to be examined by Dr. Hayes are unsuitable for public hearings.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the report of the Hayes inquiry will be published in full. [20404]

§ Sir Patrick Mayhew
[holding answer 20 March 1997]: Yes, subject to such matters as may derive from security and personal confidentiality considerations.

	Statutory base	Admit public to board committee meetings	Open meetings for the public
Health and Social Services Boards	Yes	No	¹Yes
Health and Social Services Councils	Yes	No	No
Health and Social Services Trusts	Yes	No	¹Yes
Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Agency	Yes	No	No
Northern Ireland Central Services Agency	Yes	No	No
Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency	Yes	¹Yes	No
Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency	Yes	No	No
Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency	Yes	No	No
¹ A statutory requirement.