Wednesday Volume 502 16 December 2009 No. 17 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 16 December 2009 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2009 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 947 16 DECEMBER 2009 948 David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP): The Minister House of Commons will be aware that there has been an increase in burglaries right across the Province of Northern Ireland. In my constituency, there have been at least 15 burglaries in Wednesday 16 December 2009 three weeks in the town of Portadown, and in Lurgan and Banbridge. Does he agree that the reduction of 90 officers in Upper Bann and the closure of the Portadown The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock police station are unacceptable at this time? PRAYERS Paul Goggins: I share the hon. Gentleman’s concern about any crimes that take place in his constituency, or indeed anywhere. However, he has referred to the loss of 90 posts in H district, but these are not police officers [MR.SPEAKER in the Chair] who are being cut out of the police provision for his area. These are 90 police officers who have been identified by the Chief Constable as officers whom the hon. Oral Answers to Questions Gentleman’s constituents never see because they do jobs in the back office. The Chief Constable wants to get them out of the back office and into the community, where they will be more visible and able to deliver a more personal policing service. NORTHERN IRELAND Weapon Decommissioning (Loyalist Paramilitaries) The Secretary of State was asked— 2. Mr. Eddie McGrady (South Down) (SDLP): What recent assessment he has made of progress on Older People (Security) decommissioning of weapons by loyalist paramilitary organisations. [306251] 1. David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire) (Lab/Co-op): What steps he is taking to increase the security of older The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Shaun people in Northern Ireland. [306250] Woodward): The Government remain optimistic that, building on the success of decommissioning already The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Paul this year, further acts will be completed before the Goggins): I recently launched the “Safer Ageing” strategy deadline of 9 February 2010. for older people, which was developed in partnership with representatives from older people’s groups, the Mr. McGrady: I thank the Secretary of State for his Police Service of Northern Ireland, and the Policing reply. Will he tell the House what approaches have been Board. The strategy sets out how Government and made to the Northern Ireland Office by, or on behalf of, partners will work together to reduce the crime and the Ulster Defence Association for funding in anticipation antisocial behaviour experienced by older people in of decommissioning? Is he aware of loyalist paramilitaries Northern Ireland. making similar approaches to the Irish Government for multi-million pound funding? David Taylor: While I welcome the new “Safer Ageing” strategy, is it not the case that the recent spate of Mr. Woodward: The hon. Gentleman will appreciate burglaries and attacks on older people in Northern that my focus is on decommissioning, and that my Ireland has had a devastating impact on the individuals concern is to ensure that decommissioning takes place affected, and will it not in turn have created a deeper by 9 February of next year. As for discussions between fear of crime across the older population? What practical those engaged in legitimate political activity and the measures are there in the new plan to reduce that Northern Ireland Office, we will of course be happy to corrosive level of fear? talk to people who are wholly engaged in legitimate political activity and who have eschewed violence of Paul Goggins: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. every kind. There has been considerable public concern in Northern Ireland about the spate of attacks on older people there, Mr. Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): and the impact on individual older people is devastating. Obviously, the entire community wants there to be He is also right to say that not only does it have an further progress on loyalist decommissioning. However, impact on them as victims, but that it has a wider will the Secretary of State continue to work in the impact in terms of the fear of crime. loyalist working-class estates, where some paramilitary Two elements are very important here. The first is to groups have had a stranglehold in the past, to try to have highly visible policing, which is certainly happening ensure that the young people in those communities are in the wake of the attacks. The second is the practical not weaned into paramilitarism, but are weaned away initiatives to which my hon. Friend referred, and I draw from it in favour of the democratic principles that we all his attention to one in particular—the HandyVan scheme, espouse? which provides free locks, door chains, smoke alarms and other safety devices for older people. It helps them Mr. Woodward: The hon. Gentleman makes a very to feel safer, and it is an important initiative that my important point about the grip in which some communities Department supports. were held in the past by the activities of those who do 949 Oral Answers16 DECEMBER 2009 Oral Answers 950 not respect the rule of law and order. Regrettably, The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Paul communities in some areas are still held in that same Goggins): Since the introduction of the temporary grip. We will do everything that we can, including recruitment provisions in November 2001, there have encouraging and working with the Northern Ireland been 3,751 appointments to the Police Service of Northern Executive, to help all communities that have been held Ireland. Catholic composition within PSNI regulars in the grip of violence. We will continue to work with currently stands at 27.69 per cent. We remain on track them so that they too are able to enjoy the fruits of a to reach the target of 30 per cent. Catholic composition normal society. by March 2011. Lady Hermon (North Down) (UUP): In its discussions Mr. Mackay: That is extremely good news and everybody with loyalists about decommissioning, can the Northern involved should be congratulated. It has not been easy. Ireland Office explain to the House what efforts it has Can the Minister give an assurance to the House that made to glean any information about the whereabouts once we reach the 30 per cent.—the sooner, the better—the of Lisa Dorrian, a constituent of mine who was murdered special arrangements will cease and we will return to and disappeared almost five years ago by people with straightforward recruiting? loyalist connections? Paul Goggins: I welcome the endorsement from the Mr. Woodward: The hon. Lady has on many occasions right hon. Gentleman. That is deeply appreciated. It is a raised constituency issues, not least but not only that of mark of how far things have come that we have gone Lisa Dorrian. I remember dealing with this when I was from 8 per cent. Catholic representation to 27 per cent. a junior Minister, and the hon. Lady never gives up on and on to 30 per cent. I give him the assurance that he behalf of the family. It is a tribute to her that she seeks. We intend to come to the House in March next continues to work so hard for her constituents. Of year to ask for a renewal of the temporary powers for a course that remains an ongoing case. Decommissioning further year. We are confident that we will get to 30 per is a matter for the Independent International Commission cent. within that year. Indeed, if we reach that level on Decommissioning. We may set the framework and before the end of the year, Ministers intend to come the deadline of 9 February, but when that deadline back to the House and rescind the special arrangements. comes to an end, I can promise the hon. Lady that our interest and concern for the family of Lisa Dorrian will Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab): In a reply to a continue. parliamentary question that I received yesterday, the Minister informed me that there are currently 5,305 Mr. Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): Given Protestant police officers and 1,904 Catholic police that this is the last Northern Ireland questions before officers. Does my right hon. Friend agree that more the end of the arms amnesty on 9 February, can the needs to be done to correct this imbalance? Secretary of State give reasons for his reported belief that the UDA will decommission some weapons over Paul Goggins: I repeat to my hon. Friend the progress Christmas, when it is also reported that the UDA is that has been made. There were only 8 per cent. Catholic seeking assurances on the future of power-sharing before officers in 1998; that figure is now 27 per cent. and it does so? Does the Secretary of State agree that laying moving to 30 per cent. It was essential that we got a down such conditions is unacceptable, because there is more representative police service in Northern Ireland no reason or excuse for illegal arms to exist in any part so that there could be confidence in all sections of the of the United Kingdom? community.