§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he took in response to the report of the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, presented to the United Nations in 1998. [103819]
§ Mr. George Howarth[holding answer 17 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam), then Secretary of State, met Mr. Param Cumaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers on 14 April 1999 to discuss the issues which he raised in his report presented to the United Nations in 1998. A copy of the statement that she issued afterwards is available in the Library.
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Property centre Property Location Wholly unoccupied Mainly unoccupied Date unoccupied from DETR(C) Concord House Paignton Yes — February 1999 Mullberry House Edinburgh Yes — March 1999 Westpoint Manchester Yes — June 1999 Highwood Pavilions Bristol Yes — April 1999 Seymour House Hemel Hempstead Yes — July 1999 Ogle Road Southampton Yes — May 1997 St. Clare House Ipswich Yes — July 1997 Caradog House Cardiff Yes — April 1997 Valuation Tribunals Lynton House Woking Yes — November 1999 34 St. Leonards Road Eastbourne Yes — November 1999 100–102 Winchcombe Street Cheltenham Yes — December 1999 Hamilton House Chester Yes — May 1999 The report called for an independent inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane. In February 1999 the Government took receipt of alleged new evidence into the murder. We undertook to consider this very carefully before deciding whether any further action was necessary. The DPP(NI) decided to ask the Chief Constable to look into the allegations and a further police inquiry was announced on 28 April into the murder and related issues. A person has been charged with Mr. Finucane's murder. We will be in a better position to decide what, if any, further action is needed when the police investigation and criminal proceedings have been completed.
Mr. Cumaraswamy refers in his report to the introduction of the new Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. On 11 October 1999, the Government announced the appointment of Mrs. Nuala O'Loan as Police Ombudsman Designate for Northern Ireland. The Ombudsman will have complete control over the Police Complaints system. She will be required to carry out independent investigations into serious complaints against the police. The Police Ombudsman has been appointed on a designate basis until the new office is established. This interim period will enable the Ombudsman Designate to have a direct say in the structure, staff and ethos of the office. This highlights the independence of the office.
The report also comments on audio/video recording in the holding centres. The police have a statutory Code of Practice which governs video recording and the detention, treatment, questioning and identification of terrorist suspects. A statutory Code of Practice on audio recording became mandatory on 24 May 1999. It is a disciplinary offence for a police officer to breach either of the Codes of Practice. Full audio recording and video recording of all interviews of persons in custody now takes place. The Chief Constable of the RUC has invited the Law Society to be involved in the training of Detective Officers who are involved in such interviews.