asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 June (WA 192–3) concerning income tax payments for members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, whether the Northern Ireland Office has inquired since it made the income tax payments whether the individuals had paid the income tax themselves; and, if so, what was the result. [HL4405]
No. This is a matter between the individuals and HMRC.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 June (WA 192–3) concerning income tax payments for members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, whether the Northern Ireland Office paid income tax for the commissioners in addition to the amount being paid by the commissioners. [HL4406]
The Northern Ireland Office was required to make a payment to HM Revenue and Customs for settlement of the department’s liability for the NI parades commissioner’s income tax and national insurance contributions.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 25 June (WA 254) concerning payments made by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, to whom the £102,570 for mediation was paid; how the mediators were selected; after what equality process; and how the results were monitored. [HL4505]
The commission engaged individuals who were prepared to supply mediation services to the commission on an ad hoc basis. Those who indicated a willingness to do so were called to interview by a commission panel. There was no formal equality process considered. Progress is monitored through oral reports from the mediators and authorised officers, and by the Commission's assessment of the impact of the mediation on the ground.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 24 June (WA 233–34) concerning the processing of invoices by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, as noted in its annual report for 2006–07, why the figure of 81.1 per cent of invoices paid inside 30 days was used in the annual report instead of the 94.2 per cent given in the Answer. [HL4510]
The figure of 81.1 per cent, as stated in the report, relates to the entire department’s performance under the Confederation of British Industry's prompt payers code. The figure of 94.2 per cent was provided in the previous Answer as a comparator.
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 7 July (WA 66) concerning the Northern Ireland Parades Commission’s payments to consultants, on what basis the consultants are paid on an approximate basis. [HL4939]
The consultants were not paid on an approximate basis; rather, the figures provided in response to the noble Lord’s Question were rounded and were therefore referred to as “approximately”. This is standard accounting practice.
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How the chairman of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission was selected; after what process; how and when the job was advertised; who made the selection; and what qualification they had to make the selection. [HL4954]
The chairman was appointed to the Parades Commission on 1 January 2006 after an appointments process that began on 25 July 2005. The appointments process was regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with Schedule 1, paragraph 2(1), the chairman of the Parades Commission is appointed by the Secretary of State.
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 July (WA 121), who were the individuals on whom the £1,200 was spent on hospitality by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission in 2007. [HL5011]
It would not be appropriate to provide the names of individuals.
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 July (WA 120-21), who have been used as monitors by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since its creation. [HL5012]
It would not be appropriate to provide the names of individual monitors.