HC Deb 12 January 1998 vol 304 cc85-6W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will amend the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill to require the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to hold its meetings in public and publish minutes for public inspection. [21050]

Mr. Ingram

The Secretary of State has no immediate plans to amend the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill so that the Police Authority is required to hold its meetings in public and publish minutes for public inspection.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Police Authority for Northern Ireland is taking to prepare and plan for its meetings to be held in public. [21049]

Mr. Ingram

The Police Authority's Code of Openness and Accountability, published on 8 April 1997, sets out its policy on public access to meetings and minutes. The Code commits the Authority to holding a well-publicised annual meeting open to the public. In December 1997, two such meetings were held in Belfast and Londonderry. The minutes of the Authority's monthly meeting with the Chief Constable are made available for public inspection and copies are issued to the media.