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161
Written Answers
24 JULY 1990
Government Departments. It consists of the same sort of enquiries as those made for a PV(TS) background investigation, but to a greater depth. 3. In addition security checks may also be carried out in the following circumstances:
(a) for the protection of classified information. Basic security checks, known as Reliability Checks, may be carried out in the interestes of national security before:
(i) individuals are granted unescorted access to premises or areas where highly classified information or material is held and where there is a risk of accidental access to that information or material; and
(ii) individuals are authorised to have access to certain categories of information classified CONFIDENTIAL, mostly in the fields of defence and foreign affairs.
The aim of such checks is primarily to ensure that the character of the individual concerned is such that they can be trusted in circumstances where they may gain access to information of importance to national security
(b) for the protection of public figures and military and civil establishments at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations. Irrespective of the degree of access to classified information security checks. known as Counter Terrorist Checks, may be carried out in the interest of national security before:
(i) individuals take up posts which involve proximity to public figures at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations, or which to information or material give access assessed to be of value to terrorists; (ii) individuals are granted unescorted access to certain military and civil establishments assessed to be at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations.
The aim of such checks is to prevent individuals who have connections with terrorist organisations, or who may be vulnerable to pressure from such organisations, from gaining access to certain posts and, in some circumstances, premises where there is a risk that they could exploit that position to further the aims of a terrorist organisation.
4. A check against the National Collection of Criminal Records is an invariable feature of a Reliability Check clearance; and criminal record information may also be taken into account in a Counter Terrorist Check clearance. Other security checks may be carried out as necessary.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Firearms
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many requests for (a) renewals and (b) variations of firearms certificates have been refused in each of the Royal Ulster Constabulary divisions in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
(2) how many applications for a firearms certificate for (a) shotguns, (b) rifles, (c) handguns and (d) other firearms have been refused in each Royal Ulster Constabulary division in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available, or as much of such information as is available to him;
(3) if he will publish a table to show by reference to Royal Ulster Constabulary division how many firearms certificates have been withdrawn in each of the last three years; and if he will specify, by type and number of firearms, the firearms to which such certificates related and indicate how many of the certificates were withdrawn because the holder had been convicted of (a) terrorist
81 CW91/2) Job 6-1
Written Answers
162
activity and (b) other illegal actions for which he was sentenced in a court of law. or as much of such information as is available to him.
Mr. Cope: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not held in a manner which makes the statistics asked for readily available and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State' for Northern Ireland how many (a) shotguns. (b) rifles, (c) handguns and (d) other firearms have been stolen from the legal owners in each Royal Ulster Constabulary division in Belfast in each of the last three years for which figures are available, or as much of such information as is available to him.
Mr. Cope: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not recorded in the format sought. The following information is available however for the past two years:
A Division
1988 1989
B Division
1988
1989
1988 1989
D Division
E Division
+
1988 1989
Builet firing
weapons
16
6
24
'00 e
Shotguns Other weapons (including air
weupons;
1
1
4
0
0
8
16
2
2
4
4
3
1
24
Na
Education Board Tribunals
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date did each of the appeals tribunals of the five education area boards commence their work in connection with the new transfer procedure; how many appeals have been received in each of the five education areas: and when he expects all appeal hearings to be completed.
Dr. Mawhinney: The information is as follows:
Education area
board
Date appeals tribunals commenced work
Belfast Western
19 July 1990
16 July 1990
North-Eastern
16 July 1990
South-Eastern Southern
Expected to be 26 July 1990 Expected to be 7 August 1990
Number of appeals received
105
121
116
91
77
I expect appeal hearings to be completed by the end of August.
Grammar Schools
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grade 2 pupils were refused places in grammar schools; and how many grade 3 and 4 pupils, including those already attending the preparatory