| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 749
about the case of Private Clegg in the last three months; and what response he has made to them. [24638]Sir John Wheeler: Private Clegg's case has generated very great interest, including a number of petitions and over 4,000 individual letters from the public. Approximately half the correspondents have been sent replies.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
20. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to restructure the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [24640]
Sir John Wheeler: None at present. The Government published proposals for reform of the tripartite structure in 1994. The Police Authority and the RUC are currently conducting public consultations on policing services. The RUC is engaged in a detailed consultation process, both within the force and externally, which will identify future policing strategy. Any change to the structure of the RUC will be based on careful professional evaluation of policing needs, and take into account the consultation processes.
Terrorist Disarmament
21. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made over the handing over and destruction of terrorist arms and explosives in Northern Ireland. [24641]
Sir John Wheeler: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).
Abortion
22. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many right hon. and hon. Members representing Northern Ireland constituencies have made representatives (a) supporting and (b) opposing extension to the Province of the Abortion Act 1967. [24642]
Mr. Ancram: In the last three years, no Northern Ireland Member has made representations supporting the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland. Seven Northern Ireland Members have made representations to Ministers expressing their opposition to the extension of the Act.
Police (Seat Belts)
23. Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if police officers will now wear seat belts in cars. [24643]
Sir John Wheeler: The Royal Ulster Constabulary will keep its policy on the wearing of seat belts under review, but it must continue to be a matter of judgment as to whether or not a police officer wears a seat belt according to the prevailing circumstances and assessment of the security risk.
Benefit Applications
24. Mr. Clifford Forsythe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken to apply the parity of treatment arrangement between Northern
Column 750
Ireland and Great Britain to ensure equality of treatment between identical social security benefit applicants residing in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. [24644]Mr. Ancram: Although social security benefits are available in Northern Ireland on the same basis as they are in Great Britain, Northern Ireland has its own social security legislation and the independent adjudication authorities are obliged to apply this in deciding on applications for benefit having regard to the particular circumstances of the applicant only. The statutory appeal procedures can be invoked if the applicant is dissatisfied with the decision in their case.
Inward Investment
25. Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what effort are being made to attract inward investment into the Province. [24645]
Mr. Ancram: The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland acting through the Department of Economic Development has overall responsibility for attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland. It has representative offices in Great Britain, Germany, the United States and Asia. In light of a more positive business climate in Northern Ireland, the IDB plans substantially to increase its overseas representation. Already, an office has been opened in Atlanta, Georgia and a person has been appointed in Singapore to research and to identify foreign investment potential.
26. Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of inward investment in Northern Ireland since the ceasefires. [24646]
Mr. Ancram: Investment inquiries have risen dramatically since the ceasefires to 743 in the six months ended 31 March compared to 189 in the corresponding period last year. First-time visits also rose from 146 in 1993 94 to 163 in 1994 95. However, because of the long lead time on decisions by companies about their internationally mobile investments, it will be some time before the practical benefits of the ceasefires are seen in terms of much needed additional jobs on the ground.
Industrial Disputes
27. Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of days lost in industrial disputes in Northern Ireland. [24647]
Sir John Wheeler: In Northern Ireland the number of days lost due to industrial disputes has fallen significantly in recent years. It fell to a record low of nine days per 1,000 employees in 1994 from an average of 76 days over the previous 10-year period.
Irish Constitution
28. Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Taoiseach to discuss articles of the Irish constitution. [24648]
Mr. Ancram: My right hon. and learned Friend last met the Taoiseach at a memorial ceremony at Islandbridge on 28 April. The purpose of the ceremony was to pay tribute to those Irish people who fought and died in the British forces in the last war.
Column 751
The Irish constitution and any possible changes to it are a matter for the Irish Government, Parliament and people. "A New Framework for Agreement" sets out the Irish Government's commitment to remove any jurisdictional or territorial claim of legal right over the territory of Northern Ireland contrary to the will of its people.Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to persuade the Government of Ireland to declare that they have no selfish, political economic or strategic interest in Northern Ireland. [25954]
Mr. Ancram: The Irish Government have made it clear that, as part of a wider agreement, they will introduce and support changes in the Irish constitution. The Taoiseach has said that those changes would remove any jurisdictional or territorial claim of legal right over the territory of Northern Ireland contrary to the will of its people.
Energy Costs
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce to discuss energy costs in the Province. [24649]
Sir John Wheeler: There are no plans for such a meeting.
Police Complaints
Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will lay before Parliament copies of the annual report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Patrick Mayhew: The commission's report for 1994, which is the seventh annual report to be produced by the commission since its establishment in 1988, was laid before Parliament on 26 April. The report sets out the purpose and values of the commission. It provides details of the commission's work during the year in supervising the investigation of complaints against the police and of its role in disciplinary proceedings.
The report shows clearly the valuable work which is carried out by the commission in ensuring that complaints against the police are dealt with independently and in effective manner.
I am grateful to the chairman and members of the commission for the important work they do to sustain and increase public confidence in the police complaints system.
Tape-recorded Interviews
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last discussed the tape recording of interviews with suspects with the Chief Constable of the RUC; and what plans he has to bring practice in Northern Ireland into line with that elsewhere in the UK. [24634]
Sir John Wheeler: My right hon. and learned Friend and I have regular meetings with the Chief Constable.
Tape recording of interviews under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 follows guidelines similar to the English PACE codes. I intend to replace these guidelines in a revised set of codes for Northern Ireland in early 1996.
Column 752
Housing Executive
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the existing Housing Executive developments which have been transferred for management purposes to housing associations. [25923]
Mr. Ancram: A number of housing executive properties in the streets listed have been transferred to housing associations for management purposes:
South Region (Portadown)
Corcain park
Millington park
Moeran park
North-east Region (Coleraine)
Glenvarra drive
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Housing Executive new build schemes which will be transferred to housing associations for implementation and management. [25924]
Mr. Ancram: The new build schemes, which it has been agreed will transfer from the Housing Executive to housing associations for implementation and management, are as follows:
Maphoner road, Mullaghbawn, phase 2, Co Armagh
Ballygowan road, phase 2, Banbridge, Co Down
Bowtown road, phase 5, Newtownards, Co Down
Camphill, Newtownbutler, phase 6, Co Fermanagh
Ballyekelly, phase 1, Co Londonderry
Burnside road, Coleraine, Co Londonderry
2 20 Charleville street, Belfast
Market Testing
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what considerations underlay the requirements on health authorities to submit quarterly reports on competitive tendering; and what consideration was given to adopting the English model of an annual report. [25239]
Mr. Ancram: The White Paper "Competing for Quality" requires all UK health Departments to monitor and report annually on progress by their agent bodies in market testing. The Department of Health and Social Services has therefore adopted this process. In addition, the Department has asked for the co-operation of boards and trusts in providing interim quarterly updates of the same information as is contained in the annual returns, to assist in responses to inquiries and to meet the reporting requirements of the efficiency unit.
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what instructions his Department has issued to health boards and health trusts regarding competitive tendering. [25236]
Mr. Ancram: Health and social services boards and trusts have been advised that they must implement Government policy set out in the White Paper "Competing for Quality". In addition, and in keeping with the NHS in Great Britain, there is a management requirement to market test the specific services of domestic, laundry and catering.
RUC Drug Squad
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average number of officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the drug squad in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement
Column 753
about the presence of illegal drugs in Northern Ireland. [24957]Sir John Wheeler: Every operational RUC officer is aware of the drugs issue and is a resource in combating drugs offences within Northern Ireland. At sub-divisional level, there are some 70 officers operating within 30 drugs liaison units whose sole responsibility is to address the problems of drug offences at a local level. The headquarters drugs squad itself over the past 10 years has had on average 36 officers, arising from 34 in 1985 to a present strength of 44 officers, including the recent upgrading to Detective Superintendent of the post of head of drugs squad.
Northern Ireland, like other parts of the UK and Europe, does have an identifiable problem in the availability of illegal drugs, although it does not yet suffer the widespread abuse of drugs found elsewhere. One indicator of the availability of illegal drugs is the rate of seizures by the RUC; the Chief Constable's report for 1994 gives full details of drug seizures by the RUC and other agencies, which show a clear upward trend.
The Government, together with the RUC and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, are committed to a robust multi-agency approach to tackle effectively all aspects of the drugs problem in Northern Ireland.
Sheep Subsidy
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers receive the subsidy of £39.80 per head for sheep which are neither kept for breeding lambs nor for having their wool shorn; and if he will make a statement on the practice of keeping non- productive sheep for the purpose of collecting the sheep subsidy. [24958]
Mr. Ancram: To be eligible for sheep annual premium, animals need only be females at least 12 months of age or have given birth to a lamb. Northern Ireland statistics on this scheme do not identify the purposes for which eligible animals are kept.
Retirements and Redundancies
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of his Department of staff leaving under redundancy/early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments,(ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments, including enhancements and (iv) any other special arrangements for (a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95, (c) projected for 1995 96 and (d) projected for 1996 97. [25469]
Sir John Wheeler: For staff leaving the Northern Ireland Office and other Northern Ireland Departments these costs are accounted for as non- departmental running costs, exempt, until 31 March 1994. From 1 April 1994, these costs are accounted for as departmental running costs as in the home civil service.
A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The total costs in respect of officers leaving the Northern Ireland Office and the other Northern Ireland Departments in 1993 94 and 1994 95 were £10,900,000 and £7,082,000 respectively.
The planning of early retirements which will take place in 1995 96 are still at an early stage, and for this reason it is not possible to provide projected costs although there
Column 754
is estimates provision for £3,000,000 expenditure at this time. Projections for 1996 97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff of (a) the Northern Ireland Office and (b) agencies for which the Northern Ireland Office is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993 94 and (2) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25501]
Sir John Wheeler: The information is as follows:
|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Took early retirement
NIO (excluding agencies) |2 |1 |0
Agencies |1 |0 |0
(ii) Took voluntary redundancy
NIO (excluding agencies) |13 |12 |0
Agencies |0 |0 |15
(iii) Took compulsory redundancy
NIO (excluding agencies) |0 |0 |0
Agencies |0 |0 |0
(iv) Were retired on medical grounds
NIO (excluding agencies) |11 |15 |n/a
Agencies |1 |2 |n/a
It is not possible to forecast the number of retirements on medical grounds.
Belvoir Park Hospital
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what hospital costs and what increase in revenue costs have been anticipated as a result of the decision by the Eastern area health board to remove the infectious diseases service from Belvoir Park hospital; [24963]
(2) if the fixed costs of the infectious diseases service at Belvoir Park hospital, following its closure, will be transferred to the other service at Belvoir hospital; what will be the consequences for all area boards and general practitioner fundholders who purchase cancer treatment services at Belvoir hospital; and to what extent these consequences were taken into consideration by the Eastern area health board prior to its decision to close down the infectious diseases service at Belvoir hospital; [24966]
(3) if he will make available the option appraisals and business case which identified benefits against the costs involved in the transfer of the infectious diseases service from Belvoir Park hospital; [24968]
(4) if the Eastern area health board consulted with the Northern and Southern area health boards prior to the decision by the Eastern board to close the infectious diseases service at Belvoir Park hospital; what representations he has received from the Northern and Southern health boards; and to what extent these area health boards presently use the infectious diseases service at Belvoir Park hospital; [24964]
(5) to which hospital the infectious diseases service at Belvoir Park hospital will be transferred; and what is the target date for completion of this transfer. [24967]
Column 755
Mr. Ancram: The Eastern health and social services board's original proposal concerning the transfer of the infectious diseases service was incorporated in its acute hospital services strategy, published in November 1993 after consultation with wide range of groups and individuals including the other three boards. The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss), has not had any representations from any of these boards about this proposal. The latest figures available show that in 1993 94 354 patients from the Northern board and 336 from the Southern board used this service at Belvoir Park.
My noble Friend Baroness Denton approved the board's strategy in March 1994. After detailed investigation and further consideration of the proposal for infectious diseases the board has now decided that the service should be split and that it should be provided by the Royal Group of Hospitals trust and the Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospital trust. A steering group is to be established to take this forward and to complete the transfer by June 1996. It is hoped to do so on a revenue neutral basis. Any capital requirements linked to the transfer will be for the two trusts to meet, within available resources, and in the face of competing priorities.
With regard to fixed costs, when a service is transferred from one provider to another, the original provider is expected to reduce so far as possible any fixed costs associated with that service over a reasonable period of time.
Finally, any option appraisal and business case in support of the decision are a matter for the Eastern board and the chairman has been asked to write to the right hon. Gentleman.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of infectious diseases used the service at Belvoir Park hospital in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these cases each year had to be sent to an intensive care facility at another location. [24965]
Mr. Ancram: The table shows the number of cases treated in the infectious diseases speciality in Belvoir Park hospital in the last 10 years. Information on the number of cases transferred to an intensive care facility at another location is not available.
|Number
----------------------
1984 |1,988
1985 |2,259
1986 |2,018
1987 |2,090
1988-89 |1,889
1989-90 |2,253
1990-91 |2,241
1991-92 |2,048
1992-93 |2,079
1993-94 |2,295
Government Cleaning Contracts
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Government cleaning remains on the approved list for tenders for contracts in the health sector in Northern Ireland. [25237]
Mr. Ancram: The health and personal social services in Northern Ireland do not operate an approved list system.
Housing, South Down
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps have been taken to replace the remaining Orlit dwellings in the constituency of South Down; [25325]
(2) how many Orlit dwellings have been replaced with new build in the constituency of South Down since 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1995; and how many have still to be replaced. [25326]
Mr. Ancram: These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that 163 Orlit dwellings have been replaced in the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1995 in the South Down constituency. A further 42 Orlit dwellings remain in Housing Executive ownership. The replacement of these dwellings at the end of their useful economic lives depends on a number of factors including housing need in the areas where the dwellings are sited. The Housing Executive has programmed for eight of these dwellings to be replaced in 1996 97.
Police Body Armour
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that all police officers are supplied with body armour. [25144]
Sir John Wheeler: The Royal Ulster Constabulary has provided body armour for its members since 1972. It is on issue at every station and is available to all officers.
Job Displacement Criteria
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the same rules are applied with regard to job displacement criteria when industrial development grants are paid to create additional manufacturing capacity in Northern Ireland, as are applied to projects in Wales, Scotland and England; and if he will make a statement. [25004]
Mr. Ancram: The rules applied in Northern Ireland regarding job displacement criteria are exactly the same as those applied in all other parts of the United Kingdom.
International Fund for Ireland
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the United States Government about the importance of Congress (a) maintaining and (b) increasing support to the International Fund for Ireland. [25728]
Column 757
Sir John Wheeler: The Government are very supportive and appreciative of the work of the International Fund for Ireland. Ministers use every opportunity, both at home and abroad, to express the Government's appreciation of the generous international contributions to the fund, in particular the donations made by the United States. We are most grateful to President Clinton for his continuing support and look forward to Congress ratifying an increased US donation of $30 million in 1996 and 1997.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Dr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farms (a) are eligible to have land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Northern Ireland and (b) have had land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Northern Ireland. [25792]
Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:
ESA |Eligible farms |Under agreement (25
|April 1995)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim Coast, Glens and Rathlin |1,200 |229
Slieve Gullion |808 |1
Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob |1,846 |321
West Fermanagh and Erne Lakeland |2,815 |303
Sperrins |2,170 |37
Roads, South Down
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the roads infrastructure within the constituency of South Down. [25748]
Mr. Ancram: In addition to a substantial programme of maintenance work, a number of minor improvement schemes will be carried out on the A2, A7, A22, A25, A50, B1, B2, B7 and B8 routes in the 1995 96 and 1996 97 financial years. Work on the Church street/Scotch street scheme in Downpatrick is programmed to start in the current financial year subject to the completion of the statutory processes.
Ambulance Response Times
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency calls for ambulances there have been in (a) Craigavon, (b) Newry and Mourne, and (d) Down districts from January 1995 to 30 April 1995; what has been the (i) longest, (ii) shortest and (iii) average time before the dispatch of an ambulance; and what has been the (1) longest, (2) shortest and (3) average time between the receipt of the call and the arrival of the patient at hospital. [24500]
| Next Section
| Home Page |