§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) funds and (b) benefits in kind have been provided from public funds to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland in the past two years; what rules govern the Federation and its staff; how many staff are employed by the Federation, at what cost; what payments have been made by the Federation to assist the Daily Telegraph Defend the RUC campaign; and what payments were made by the Federation to cover the expenses of staffing phonelines associated with the campaign. [101759]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: No contributions are made to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland from public funds. The body, which currently employs six staff, is governed by Federation Rules drawn up in accordance with the provision of the Police Association for NI Regulations 1991.
I am advised the Federation has not made any payments to the Daily Telegraph or Defend the RUC campaigns.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of(a) installing and operating for one quarter the additional 412W telephone lines and 0845 number and (b) printing by the Police Federation in connection with its campaign against the Patten Commission. [101762]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that the estimated total cost of the 0845-telephone number, which has now been discontinued, was £1,947. There were no additional telephone lines installed. I am also advised that the printing costs in connection with Patten Commission issues cannot be readily disaggregated from overall Federation printing costs.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many advertisements entitled, "Where Patten Got it Wrong", have been placed in which newspapers by the Police Federation; and what the cost of each was. [101760]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that the Police Federation for Northern Ireland placed advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News and The Belfast Newsletter at a total cost of £1,688.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times since 1 September the Police Federation of Northern Ireland has met; and what decisions have been made concerning the allocation of funds for a public campaign against the findings of the Patten Commission. [101761]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: The Central Committee of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland meet under the rules for three days bi-monthly although this may be split with the approval of the Chief Constable. I am advised that one additional meeting was held to approve the response to Government on the findings of the Patten Commission and a special one day meeting of all representatives was held with the approval of the Chief Constable on 24 September. The use of funds for a public campaign was approved by the Central Committee and at the direction of the special meeting of representatives.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been received in donations by the Police Federation since 1 September; and what arrangements have been made for financial oversight of the allocation of these funds. [101763]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: I am advised that no donations have been received by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland since 1 September 1999.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what body has responsibility for overseeing the financial arrangements entered into by the Police Federation; and what powers he has to prevent the Federation from making ultra vires payments. [101764]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: The financial arrangements of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland are governed by the provisions of Regulations 18 to 22, inclusive, of the Police Association for NI Regulations 1991.
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