United Kingdom Yearbook - 2000

BRITAIN AND ITS PEOPLE
Kong and former Northern Ireland Minister.
The Commission considered the appropriate
role the police service should play in a society
free from the threat of terrorist violence, while
fully commanding the support of both
communities. The UK Government is
considering the recommendations made in the
Commission’s report, which was published in
September 1999. There is a parallel review of
the criminal justice system, which will report
by autumn 1999 (see p. 232).
Release of Prisoners
The Agreement committed both
Governments to making arrangements for an
accelerated programme for the release of
paramilitary prisoners. Legislation was passed
in the Westminster Parliament in July 1998
establishing the independent Sentence Review
Commission, which looks at individual
prisoners’ cases to determine eligibility for
release on licence. The first prisoners to
qualify under these new arrangements were
released in September 1998.
The New Northern Ireland Assembly
Following the referendum held in May 1998
(see p. 16), which resulted in a majority voting
in favour of the Good Friday Agreement, the
new Northern Ireland Assembly was
constituted under the Northern Ireland
(Elections) Act 1998.
Assembly Elections June 1998: Results by
Party
Party
Seats
Ulster Unionist 28
Social Democratic & Labour 24
Democratic Unionist 20
Sinn Féin 18
Alliance 6
United Kingdom Unionist 5
Progressive Unionist 2
Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition 2
Others 3
In June 1998, 108 members were elected to
the Assembly by proportional representation
(single transferable vote) from the existing 18
Westminster constituencies.
The Assembly met for the first time in July
1998 and elected the First Minister
(Designate) and Deputy First Minister
(Designate) on a cross-community basis. It has
since established several committees, including
one to advise on Standing Orders for the
future operation of the body and another to
advise the initial Presiding Officer of the new
Assembly. Other cross-party committees have
advised on the procedural consequences of
devolution and the future of Belfast Port.
Human Rights
Economic and social deprivation persists on
both sides of the Northern Ireland community.
However, on all major social and economic
indicators, Roman Catholics generally
experience higher levels of disadvantage than
Protestants, leading to feelings of
discrimination and alienation which in turn
influence attitudes to political and security
issues. Government guidelines aim to promote
fair treatment by ensuring that policies and
programmes do not discriminate unjustifiably
against, for example, people of different
religious beliefs or political opinion, women,
disabled people, ethnic minorities and people of
different sexual orientation. The Government
provides funding for local government
programmes designed to encourage mutual
understanding and appreciation of cultural
diversity; support is also given to the Cultural
Traditions Programme, which attempts to
show that different cultures do not have to lead
to division. The aim of these initiatives is to
encourage a more pluralistic and tolerant
society with equal esteem for unionist and
nationalist traditions.
Equality Commission
Under the Fair Employment and Treatment
(Northern Ireland) Order 1998, which came
into operation in March 1999, a new Equality
Commission has been set up, taking over the
functions of the Fair Employment
Commission, the Equal Opportunities
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