§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the recommendation made by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in their second52W report published in March 2001 in which they called for greater transparency in the procedures adopted by the Parades Commission. [80667]
§ Jane KennedyThe commission is currently attempting to achieve greater transparency in the light of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) recommendation. Where the commission considers a parade in depth, it is prepared to make known, to those expressing interest, the substance of arguments and information presented to it, while continuing to adhere to its statutory rules on confidentiality.
This aspect of the commission's work has, for some time, been the subject of an application for judicial review. While both the Government and the commission would be keen, circumstances permitting, to see greater transparency (amending the Procedural Rules if necessary), neither would wish to pre-empt a judicial ruling on the subject.
Following the Weston Park talks, John Reid appointed Sir George Quigley to review the Parades Commission and the legislation under which it was established. Sir George's report, which addressed the issue of transparency, was issued for consultation on 7 November 2002.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out the total costs incurred by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the Review of the Parade's Commission carried out by Sir George Quigley. [83098]
§ Jane KennedyThe total costs incurred by the Northern Ireland Office in respect of the Review of the Parade's Commission are:
£ 2001–02 38,572.43 2002–03 1102,156.53 1 At end of October 2002