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Lighthouses
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Lights Advisory Committee, (b) the Marine Safety Agency, (c) Trinity House, (d) the Northern Lighthouse Board and (e) the Commissioners for Irish Lights concerning the advisability of constructing lighthouses in particular locations; and if he will make a statement. [37264]
Mr. Norris: All significant changes to the provision of aids to navigation around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, proposed by the general lighthouse authorities, are discussed with the Lights Advisory Committee and the Marine Safety Agency. Recent discussions have been held regarding the provision of leading lights at Corlis Point--Shannon estuary--by the commissioners for Irish Lights, construction of a major light at Haskeir island and minor lights at Monach and Gasker islands in the deep water route west of the Hebrides and marking of the south eastern extremity of the 8 m islet to the west of Eileanan Dubha by the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Cycling Accidents (Children)
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children received head injuries in cycling accidents in each of the past five years. [38234]
Mr. Norris: National statistics are not available.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children (a) died and (b) were injured in cycling accidents in each of the past five years. [38233]
Mr. Norris: The information is shown in the following table:
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child fatalities | 50 | 48 | 37 | 42 | 48 |
| Child injured | 8,132 | 7,677 | 7,349 | 8,033 | 8,085 |
| Total child casualties | 8,182 | 7,725 | 7,386 | 8,075 | 8,133 |
(21) The child casualties relate to those killed or injured while cycling and exclude children injured in cycling accidents who were not cycling.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Queen's University, Belfast
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many actions have been brought by the Fair Employment Commission against Queen's university, Belfast in each of the last 10 years. [36600]
Mr. Ancram: The Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland was established on 1 January 1990. Since that date, the commission has provided limited assistance to 35 complainants involving Queens university, Belfast.
The breakdown of cases lodged by calendar year is as follows:
| Year | Cases lodged |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 10 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | (22)0 |
(22) To date.
Drumcree, Portadown
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if razor wire is being used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Army at Drumcree, Portadown; and if he will make a statement. [37162]
Sir John Wheeler: The use of barbed wire in the Drumcree area was an operational decision taken by the Chief Constable and a direct result of the public order situation prevailing at that time. The security forces did not use razor wire.
Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if armed forces are deployed on the line between Drumcree cemetery and the Derryonville road, Portadown. [37127]
Sir John Wheeler: The Army was deployed in support of the RUC operation in the Greater Portadown area.
Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requirements are placed on members of the RUC to display their service numbers when on duty; for what reasons RUC officers serving at Drumcree parish church since Sunday 6 July have not been displaying their service numbers; if he will make arrangements to ensure that all officers of the RUC display service numbers when on duty; and if he will make a statement. [37160]
Sir John Wheeler: The display of service numbers is a matter for the Chief Constable. RUC directions require constables and sergeants to wear their service number on the epaulettes of all outer garments when in uniform. Officers of inspector rank and above display rank only on their epaulettes when in uniform.
Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets have been fired in the vicinity of Drumcree, Portadown since Sunday 6 July; how many civilians have been injured by the use of these bullets at Drumcree; and how many of the bullets have been fired at close range. [37161]
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Sir John Wheeler: Plastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland, but 90 plastic baton rounds were fired in the Portadown sub-divisional area between 6 am on Sunday 7 July and noon on Thursday 11 July. Four persons are alleged to have been injured as a result. The RUC has strict guidelines governing the use of plastic baton rounds, including the range of fire; their usage is carefully monitored as a matter of policy.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure the primacy of the RUC in operations in Portadown and district. [37128]
Sir John Wheeler: The fact that the police have complete primacy in operational matters has been well established throughout Northern Ireland.
Education and Library Boards
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his proposals for reducing the number of education and library boards will be implemented. [37217]
Mr. Ancram: In my statement of 25 June, I undertook to consult the education and library boards before finalising a date for the implementation of the new structure. Those consultations are continuing.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay his policy of appointing representatives to education and library boards. [37221]
Mr. Ancram: The present arrangements for appointments to education and library boards are set out in schedule 2 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money will be saved under his proposals for reducing the number of education and library boards; and if he will itemise the savings. [37168]
Mr. Ancram: My estimate is that the restructuring will save approximately £2 million, of which one half is expected to come from a reduction in senior management structures and central service functions and one half from efficiencies in the delivery of executive services. These estimates will be updated as detailed planning proceeds for the implementation of the new structure.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent to which his proposals for reducing the number of education and library boards ensure greater uniformity of provision for comparable schools. [37220]
Mr. Ancram: One of the objectives in reducing the number of education and library boards from five to three is to reduce the number of different school funding formulae presently used by the boards and to develop, in conjunction with the newly restructured boards, a greater uniformity of approach in allocating resources to similar schools under the local management of schools funding arrangements.
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Creches
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the capital expenditure on creche provision in further education in each of the last five years. [37165]
Mr. Ancram: Capital expenditure on creche provision has been an integral part of capital works at colleges of further education and is not separately identifiable.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 1 April, Official Report, column 68, on parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested. [37537]
Sir John Wheeler: To collate the information for the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office would require the examination of over 11,000 files dating back to 1989-90.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, columns 613-14, about parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested. [37536]
Sir John Wheeler: The method used by the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office would be an examination of over 15,000 files dating back to 1987-88.
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