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Carers
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has ensure that carers are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9239]
Mr. Moss: Nominations to serve as non-executives on health boards and as members of health councils are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups, a number of whom will represent the interests of carers.
Responsibility for appointments to health boards and health councils in Northern Ireland rests with the Department of Health, which seeks to ensure that a broad representation of community interests is available through the appointment of members.
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Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that the Department of Education endorses all statements from education boards, placing children in the Buddy Bear conductive education centre. [9931]
Mr. Ancram:
Under article 31(3) of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986, a proposal by an education and library board to arrange for the special educational provision for a child to be made otherwise than at a grant-aided school is subject to the approval of my Department. My Department considers each proposal made under this legislation on its merits, taking into account the professional advice, parental representations, proposed costs and any other circumstances relevant to each case. There are, however, proposals currently before Parliament to change this legislation: under these proposals, my Department's approval role in individual placements would be replaced by a power to approve institutions other than grant-aided schools as suitable for the placement by boards of children with special educational needs.
Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a statement will be approved, and appropriate fees and costs authorised, by the Department of Education for Anna Marie Treanor and Daniel Murphy, currently attending the Buddy Bear conductive education centre in Dungannon. [9932]
Mr. Ancram:
The two proposals referred to, which have been made by the Southern education and library board, are still under consideration. These have been submitted to my Department in the form of a proposed pilot scheme and further information is being sought from the board about the scheme, including its proposed structure, costs and duration.
Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the educational statement issued by the North Eastern education and library board for James Agnew was approved by his Department; and from what date the fees and transport costs of his placement at the Buddy Bear conductive education centre in Dungannon will be paid. [9933]
Mr. Ancram:
The proposal made by the North-Eastern board to place this child in the Buddy Bear school was approved by my Department on 20 November 1995. I understand that the board will be meeting the associated fees and transport costs with effect from May 1995, when the school received final registration as an independent school.
Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the pilot conductive education project proposed by the Department of Education, with particular reference to (a) the date when the proposal was completed, (b) the reasons for abandoning the proposal and (c) the reasons for questioning the basis of the pilot proposal presented by the Southern education and library board. [9934]
Mr. Ancram:
My Department has not proposed a pilot conductive education project. A pilot project was the subject of discussions between my Department and the North-Eastern education and library board in 1992, and
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subsequently discussions about possible pilots took place with the Southern education and library board and the Buddy Bear trust. It was however decided in April 1994 not to proceed with a pilot project. In coming to this decision, particular regard was had to resource considerations and the potential value of the pilot projects in the form proposed in the light of the findings of a Government-funded research project carried out at the Birmingham Institute for Conductive Education which became available during the course of 1993.
The Southern board has recently sought approval to place two children with special educational needs at the Buddy Bear school in Dungannon for a four-term pilot scheme, but no information was given as to the nature of the proposed pilot. In order to form a view on the value for money which would be obtained from the significant additional expenditure which would be incurred through the proposed pilot, my Department therefore sought further information from the board as to the nature, objectives and operation of the proposed pilot, and its relationship to another pilot which I understand the board has also been considering at one of its own special schools. Some information has been provided, and discussions with the board are ongoing.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many prison officers are currently employed in (a) HMP Maze, (b) HMP Maghaberry and (c) HMP Belfast; [10341]
(3) how many prison officers and staff will be made redundant in the proposed round of staff reductions in the Prison Service in Northern Ireland; [10343]
(4) what percentage of the proposed reductions in staffing in the Prison Service will occur in Northern Ireland; [10344]
(5) how many prison staff in Northern Ireland will be eligible for redundancy packages accompanying staffing reductions in the Prison Service; [10345]
(6) when HMP Belfast will close; how many of its prisoners will go to other prisons in Northern Ireland; and if he will list the prisons concerned. [10346]
Sir John Wheeler:
Responsibility for the subjects in question have been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. D. Shannon to Ms Marjorie Mowlan, dated 22 January 1996:
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(10) Includes 27 female prisoners.
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Mr. Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10965]
Sir John Wheeler:
A range of projects across all Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office are under consideration, but none are yet at the invitation to tender stage. The administration costs incurred to date in the tendering process are part of the normal work of departments and are not separately identified.
Mr. Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10963]
Sir John Wheeler:
A range of projects across all Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office are under consideration, but none are yet at the invitation to tender stage. However, the following external consultancy costs have been incurred in 1995-96 in moving towards this position:
(2) how many prisoners are currently in (a) HMP Maze, (b) HMP Maghaberry and (c) HMP Belfast; [10342]
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to the Parliamentary Questions in which you asked:
(i) the number of prison officers who are currently employed in certain Northern Ireland prisons;
(ii) the number of prisoners in certain Northern Ireland prisons;
(iii) the number of prison officers and staff who will lose their jobs in the proposed round of staff reductions in the Prison Service in Northern Ireland;
(iv) the percentage of the proposed reductions in staffing in the Prison Service which will occur in Northern Ireland;
(v) the number of prison staff in Northern Ireland who will be eligible for redundancy packages accompanying staffing reductions; and
(vi) when HMP Belfast closes, how many of its prisoners will go to other prisons in Northern Ireland; and to list the prisons concerned.
Sir John Wheeler recently announced the closure of HMP Belfast and the construction of new prisoner accommodation at HMP Maghaberry. The inmate population of HMP Belfast will be reallocated to other accommodation some of which is currently vacant and un-staffed. The staffing implications of this decision are currently being assessed, but preliminary studies suggest that around 15 Governor posts, 200 officer posts and 25 civilian posts will no longer be required. It is hoped that the reductions can be achieved through natural wastage and voluntary redundancies.
The recent announcement of staffing reductions in HM Prison Service does not have any impact on the staffing levels of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, which is a separate organisation.
The management of the NIPS is currently consulting with the relevant Staff Associations about the precise terms of any redundancy package which may be offered. The extent of the application of any package forms part of this consultation and has yet to be agreed.
On 18 January 1996 the staffing and inmate figures for each of the prisons was:
Staffing
Inmates Prison Officers Others
HMP Maze 588 1,241 86
HMP Maghaberry (10)293 618 65
HMP Belfast 254 400 46
HMP Magilligan 258 448 45
| £ thousand | |
|---|---|
| Legal | 58 |
| Publicity | 2 |
| Accountancy | 1 |
| Management consultancy | 97 |
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