HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 cc934-5W
Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the production of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. [95896]

Mr. Ingram

The Independent Commission on Policing (the Patten Commission) issued its report, "A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland", on 9 September 1999. The Commission arranged for 30,000 copies of the report to be printed at a cost of £90,000£3 per copy.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland have been requested by members of the public. [95888]

Mr. Ingram

It is difficult to put a precise figure on the number of copies requested by members of the public as the initial distribution was handled by the Patten Commission before it disbanded. In addition to the 21,000 copies distributed to libraries and each of the district councils, and each police officer and civilian members of PANI, approximately 5,000 copies were issued by the Commission to members of the public. Since 30 September there have been 404 requests from members of the public to the freephone number announced by the Secretary of State on 9 September 1999. The whole report is also available on the internet.

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