HL Deb 09 January 2002 vol 630 cc109-10WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 3 December (WA 80) about the Police Service of Northern Ireland, what has happened to the candidates who are appealing decisions of the medical examiner; whether these candidates have proceeded without a physical competence assessment; and what proportions of these candidates are being treated as Roman Catholics and as non-Roman Catholics. [HLI971]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

As at 19 December, there are two medical appeals that remain to be dealt with. Those candidates who have been unsuccessful in appealing the decisions of the medical examiner have not proceeded further in the competition.

Also at 19 December, there are 28 candidates who have successfully appealed the decision of the medical examiner and are awaiting their physical competence assessment. Of those, four have declared themselves to be Roman Catholic and 24 have declared themselves to be Protestants or are non-determined. No candidate who successfully appealed the decision of the medical examiner has proceeded without a physical competence assessment.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 December (WA 202) indicating that there was no tendering process for the design of badges for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, why the details are confidential; why no tendering process was undertaken; who was the accounting officer; and how much was spent and from which budget. [HL2036]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The identity of the designers commissioned to produce draft designs is confidential, in accordance with a commitment given to them at the outset.

There were a number of reasons why no competitive tendering process was undertaken, including the comparative costs involved and the nature of the work. The Permanent Under-Secretary for the Northern Ireland Office is the departmental accounting officer. On the issue of costs, these details were set out in the answer I gave to Lord Kilclooney (WA 177) on 10 December. These costs were met from the NIO budget for the implementation of the recommendations of the Patten report on policing.