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Departmental Staff
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number of staff employed by his Department or related agencies in each of the travel-to-work areas of Carmarthen, South Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan on (a) 31 March 1979, (b) 31 March 1990, (c) 31 March 1992, (d) 31 March 1995, (e) the latest available figure and (f) the estimate for 31 March 1997. [13294]
Mr. Robin Squire:
The only part of the Department with staff in these areas is the Employment Service, for which this information is not available either in the form requested or before 1994. Full-time equivalent ES staff numbers of 14 April 1995, the nearest available to
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31 March 1995, and for 12 January 1996, are shown in the following table. The estimate for March 1997 is not yet available.
| 12 January 1996 | 14 April 1995 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cardigan(32) | 17 | 19 |
| Carmarthen | 20 | 19 |
| Haverfordwest(33) | 27 | 29 |
| Milford Haven | 17 | 17 |
| Pembroke Dock(34) | 27 | 28 |
| Total | 108 | 112 |
(32) Cardigan includes Llandysul ES jobcentre.
(33) Haverfordwest includes Fishguard ES jobcentre.
(34) Pembroke Dock includes Tenby ES jobcentre.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Concessionary Fares Scheme
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently issued with travel passes under the concessionary fares scheme in Northern Ireland, broken down by category. [12695]
Mr. Moss: This information is not currently available, but has been collected since July 1995 in respect of new passes issued.
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had, and with which bodies, over the possibility of making travel passes issued under the concessionary fares scheme in Northern Ireland valid in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa. [12696]
Mr. Moss: There have been no discussions on this issue at ministerial level. However, officials were involved in discussions with the Department of Social Welfare in the Republic of Ireland about the establishment of the Republic's free cross-border travel scheme for senior citizens, which came into effect on 1 July 1995. That scheme entitles concessionary pass holders in either Northern Ireland or the Republic to travel free on a journey from any point within one jurisdiction to any point within the other.
Fishing Industry (Portavogie)
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the impact of the weather conditions in the past two months on the fishing industry in Portavogie; what proposals he has for severe weather compensation for the fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement. [12515]
Mr. Ancram:
In November and December the total value of fish landed in Portavogie was lower than in recent past years, which is partly due to the reductions of vessels based at Portavogie of which 30 have been decommissioned since the UK introduced decommissioning schemes in 1993. However, the total value of landings in 1995 is only marginally less than that
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in 1993 and is in keeping with an overall general decline in the value of landings at Portavogie. There are no plans to give severe weather compensation. The vagaries of the weather is one of the several factors which fishermen have to take into account in the evaluation of their operations on a longer-term basis.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the costs of the Mitchell decommissioning body; what public money the Government paid towards those costs; and what arrangements have been made with the Eire Government for sharing those costs and in what proportions. [12823]
Sir John Wheeler:
The cost of providing office accommodation, equipment and furnishings in Belfast and Dublin for the international body on decommissioning is being met by the British and Irish Governments separately; all other costs are being met jointly and equally by the two Governments. It is not yet possible to give details of the costs; but as soon as they are available I shall write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will require the Cultural Traditions Group to include the word "Fowkgates" in its logo. [12824]
Mr. Ancram:
No. I am aware that the Cultural Traditions Group is keen to give greater expression to the Scottish strand in Northern Ireland's cultural heritage and I will give it every encouragement in this respect.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the adult male population in Northern Ireland holds a firearm certificate. [12845]
Sir John Wheeler:
At 30 November 1995, 88,092 persons held firearm certificates issued under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. A male/female breakdown of this figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, it represents approximately 15.65 per cent. of the adult population 1 of Northern Ireland.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he has taken, or proposes to take, to reduce the number of people who hold a firearm certificate. [12847]
1 Based on the General Register Office, 1994 mid-year estimate.
Sir John Wheeler: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not taken, nor is he proposing to take at this time, any measures specifically aimed at reducing the number of people who would otherwise be permitted to hold firearm certificates. The current review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 aims to ensure that the law strikes the right balance between individual and public safety and the maintenance of order, and reasonable expectations of those who wish to use firearms in a responsible and legitimate manner.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many holders of firearm certificates
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have used their weapons in incidents which led to their facing criminal charges in the past five years. [12848]
Sir John Wheeler:
This information is not available in the form requested and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost. However, the Chief Constable has advised that the number of incidents in which licensed firearm holders have used their own guns in the commission of a crime, within the past five years, is negligible.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors led to the woodlands known as "The Walks" at Moat street, Donaghadee being white zoned; and if he will review that decision. [12826]
Mr. Moss:
The woodlands, which are within the development limits of Donaghadee, are not zoned for a specific use but are referred to as "white land" in the North Down and Ards area plan 1984 to 1995. The Department proposes to commence preparation of a new plan for the Ards borough council area later this year, which will involve the review of existing land use zonings, development limits and planning policies.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the change in the number of people annually who will (a) not get action for community employment in North Down and (b) not obtain alternative employment as a result of proposed budget reductions. [12829]
Mr. Ancram:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 5 February 1996:
Rev. William McCrea:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average hourly wage earned by family heads in receipt of family credit in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales. [12545]
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Mr. Moss:
The average hourly wage earned by family heads in receipt of family credit in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland and Wales at 31 January 1995, the latest date for which comparable data are available, are shown in the table.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your questions about the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme.
(a) The Agency estimates that in North Down there will be 74 fewer places available for ACE workers in 1996/97 than were available in 1995/96;
(b) This is impossible to judge precisely. However, the performance of the Northern Ireland economy provides good cause for optimism. Unemployment is at its lowest level for 14 years and employment at record levels. Job vacancies being notified by employers to the Training and Employment Agency's local offices are at record levels--currently standing at 7,500. The opportunities for jobseekers to find work are better now than they have been for some considerable time.
I hope that you find this reply useful. I will of course be pleased to provide further information if you would find it helpful.
| Average hourly wage (£) | |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 3.22 |
| England | 3.63 |
| Scotland | 3.70 |
| Wales | 3.50 |
(35) Figures at 31 January 1995.
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