§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which(a) individuals and (b) political parties he has (i) shown and (ii) given draft copies of the proposed Police Bill for Northern Ireland, indicating what undertakings he has given relating to incorporating (A) the name of the RUC in the name of the new police service and (B) part or all of the present insignia of the RUC or the George Cross in the insignia of the new service. [122799]
§ Mr. IngramThe drafting of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill has required consultation and discussion with a wide range of individuals, bodies and parties, as did the consultation process when Patten was published.
547WThe Government's position on the name and insignia has been made clear. On the name this was done in the Secretary of State's statement to Parliament on 19 January 2000, Official Report, column 848, and in response to an oral question from my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) on 17 May 2000, Official Report, column 319. On the badge, the Secretary of State said in the House on 19 January 2000, Official Report, column 848, that the badge would incorporate the new name in autumn 2001 and on 6 April 2000, Official Report, column 1221, he told the House that he was not convinced the badge need be entirely free of association with both traditions. The published Bill contains enabling provisions on both issues.