HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 cc713-4W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information she has obtained on the clear-up rates for murders committed by Loyalists and Republicans since 1969. [79993]

Mr. Ingram

From 1969, to March 24 1999, there have been 882 murders attributed to Loyalist groups. Murder charges have been brought in relation to 421 of these, a clear up rate of 49.5 per cent.

Salaries for Ministers and Office-holders (Paid in addition to a Member's salary) £
Ministerial Salary for First Minister for Scotland, First Secretary for Wales, and First Minister for Northern Ireland 62,556
Ministerial Salary for Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland 47,504
Salary for Ministerial duties in the Executive of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly 32,451
Office-holder Salary for Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly 32,451

The Government have decided that they will accept all of these recommendations with the exception of that for the Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. In view of the unique political situation in Northern Ireland and the joint responsibility which the Deputy First Minister is expected to exercise with the First Minister, the Government believe that there should be parity of salary between these two posts. Consequently, the salary for the Deputy First Minister will also be £62,556.

In accordance with the Review Body's recommendation on an annual pay review for the salaries in the devolved institutions, these figures will be uprated with effect from 1 April 1999 and annually thereafter by the same percentage as the average of the movements in the mid-points of the nine Senior Civil Service pay bands below Permanent Secretary. This is the same mechanism as is used for Westminster Parliamentary salaries.

On the recommendations on allowances which the Review Body makes in the two Reports, the Government has decided that they form a useful starting point for the development of comprehensive and tightly controlled

With regard to Republican murders, out of 1,926 murders murder charges have been brought in relation to 515 cases, a clear up rate of 28 per cent.