HC Deb 08 May 2001 vol 368 cc42-4W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to consult victims' organisations over the acceptability of alternatives to the plastic baton round.[158792]

Mr. Ingram

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made clear that he would welcome representations from any group or organisation on this issue. Naturally, when it is appropriate to do so, we will consult widely on the question of acceptability.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means he advertised for the post of project manager for the Project Board of the Steering Group set up to examine alternatives to the plastic baton round; and what the(a) job description, (b) personal specification for the appointment and (c) remuneration for the post is.[158791]

Mr. Ingram

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has approved the appointment of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Michael Messinger as programme co-ordinator, on a part-time basis. The position was not advertised. I will publish a copy of the terms of reference for the post when they have been finalised.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has participated in with the objective of incorporating an independent element in his research into a less potentially lethal

Applications/acceptances to RUC from 1995–98 by gender and community background
Regulars—Applications
CB1 CB2 CB3
M F T M F T M F T Total
Comp C 1995 838 611 1,449 296 171 467 113 29 142 2,058
Comp D 1995 1,113 661 1,774 269 169 438 158 30 188 2,400
Comp E 1996 983 588 1,571 236 133 369 129 26 155 2,095
Comp F 1996 1,312 741 2,054 261 145 406 242 27 269 2,729
Comp G 1997 1,368 804 2,172 253 159 412 188 25 213 2,797
Comp H 1998 1,332 802 2,134 270 161 431 228 32 260 2,825
Comp I 1998 1,414 898 2,312 470 280 750 246 51 297 3,359

Regulars—Acceptances
CB1 CB2 CB3
M F T M F T M F T Total Percentage of total applications
Comp C 1995 84 14 98 18 2 20 8 1 9 127 6.2
Comp D 1995 124 14 138 20 4 24 15 0 15 177 7.4
Comp E 1996 103 22 125 10 3 13 5 0 5 143 6.8
Comp F 1996 75 19 94 13 1 14 14 0 14 122 4.5
Comp G 1997 79 17 96 13 2 15 9 0 9 120 4.3
Comp H 1998 80 45 125 9 3 12 7 0 7 144 5.1
Comp I 1998 72 38 110 9 9 18 4 1 5 133 4.0

Full-time reserves—Applications
CB1 CB2 CB3
M F T M F T M F T Total
Comp B 1995 635 407 1,042 167 115 282 105 25 130 1,454
Comp C 1996 654 421 1,075 154 101 255 90 11 101 1,431
Comp D 1997 753 402 1,155 109 75 184 113 22 135 1,474
Comp E 1997 376 236 612 60 46 106 43 12 55 773
Comp F 1997 709 423 1,132 119 78 197 104 24 128 1,457

alternative to the plastic baton round and commissioning a social impact assessment of alternatives to the plastic baton round. [158790]

Mr. Ingram

In line with the Patten Commission report, full account will be taken of public acceptability and all other relevant issues in our continuing efforts to identify alternatives to the baton round. The project board established to lead the research project will continue to consult widely and I will be meeting various interest groups concerned with this issue over the coming months.