Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
Mr Ford: Disciplinary records held by the Prison Service indicate that no outside agency has explicitly
made a recommendation that disciplinary action be invoked against a Northern Ireland Prison Service
(NIPS) staff member, in the last five years.
The Northern Ireland Allowance
Mr Allister asked the Minister of Justice whether he has any plans to introduce and back date the
Northern Ireland Allowance to ex-members of the RUC or PSNI Full Time Reserve, to ensure equality
with officers who served as regular members.
(AQW 13641/11-15)
Mr Ford: The Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance (NITA) has been paid since 1978, originally to
recognise the special difficulties faced by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
The NITA was reduced in 2007 following a comprehensive review. It was never the case that this
allowance was removed completely.
Earlier this year, having carefully considered representations made to me, I agreed to increase the rate
of NITA from £2,730 to £2,994, back-dated to September 2010. I made this decision to reflect the
Chief Constable’s assessment of an increase in the level of security threat and to take account of a
specific recommendation in Tom Winsor’s first report on police terms and conditions.
The pay remit for Full Time Reserve NITA payment is currently being progressed. All members of the
PSNI, including Full Time Reserve, who were serving police officers at September 2010 should receive
the increase.
Police Investigation into the Events of ‘Bloody Sunday’
Mr Allister asked the Minister of Justice whether he will make representations to the Chief Constable
that any police investigation into the events of ‘Bloody Sunday’ should cover all alleged criminality,
including the possession of illegal weapons by some of those present.
(AQW 13670/11-15)
Mr Ford: The scope and remit of criminal investigations is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is
accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational
independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board. You may therefore wish to
direct your question to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Report into the Closure of the Prisoner Assessment Unit
Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice, pursuant to AQW13452/11-15, and given the length of time
already allowed on this report and that any preparations or redactions should have been completed
before the end of June 2012, and that the inconvenience due to flooding lasted two days, (i) for his
assessment of the explanation provided by the Northern Ireland Prison Service; (ii) whether he can
provide a definitive deadline for publication of the report; and (iii) if this deadline is missed, whether he
will authorise disciplinary action.
(AQW 13681/11-15)
Mr Ford: I am satisfied that the redactions were completed by Prison Service
and agreed with Departmental Solicitors before the end of June. I believe that, in the unforeseen and
wholly unprecedented circumstances, where NIPS had to vacate Headquarters in Dundonald House
and to then focus on the delivery of essential services and the relocation of around 180 staff, it was
entirely appropriate to make publication of the PAU report a lower priority.
Given the fluidity of the existing problems faced by NIPS, I am not prepared to give a definitive
statement on when the report will be published. As stated, disciplinary action would be entirely
inappropriate.
WA 602