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Drugs
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of (a) men and (b) women, convicted by courts, of drug offences in Northern Ireland during 1995. [39222]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. Member.
Parliamentary Questions (Meetings)
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions ministerial conference and meeting rooms in the parliamentary estate have been booked in his name, or that of other Ministers in his Department, for meetings with Conservative Members immediately preceding questions to his Department in the current parliamentary Session. [39527]
Departmental Vehicles (Traffic Violations)
Ms Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of traffic violations involving departmental vehicles, the nature of the violations, and the total amount of fines arising from those violations, in each year since 1986. [39303]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. Member.
Northern Ireland Forum
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Northern Ireland Forum have submitted their resignations; and if he will make a statement. [39330]
Mr. Ancram: I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.
24 Jul 1996 : Column: 468
Housing Benefit (Abbeyfield Society)
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Abbeyfield Society regarding recent changes in housing benefit. [39592]
Mr. Moss: I have received six letters from elected representatives on behalf of the Abbeyfield Society.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed changes to housing benefit on residents of Abbeyfield homes with particular reference to the increases in fees for residents; and if he will make a statement. [39593]
Mr. Moss: The Government have carefully considered all representations on this matter and have concluded that the sudden removal of this source of income may cause significant difficulties for many vulnerable people in supported accommodation.
On 8 July my right hon. and learned Friend withdrew the proposed draft regulations and has commissioned a review of the arrangements for funding supported accommodation.
No decision to proceed with the proposed legislation will be taken in Great Britain or Northern Ireland until the Government have considered the findings of the review and taken account of all matters raised by interested organisations.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to abolish the three-for-two rule on Ulsterbus buses used for the transport of school children. [39597]
Mr. Moss:
There are no plans to abolish the rule. However, under the Public Service Vehicle (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995, which came into operation on 24 January of this year, the three-for-two concession for buses no longer applies where seat belts are fitted.
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that Ulsterbus is paid by the education and library boards only for passes which are used; and what plans he has to ensure that Ulsterbus is paid for each journey undertaken by schoolchildren with passes. [39598]
Mr. Ancram:
The current contractual arrangements whereby boards pay to Ulsterbus Ltd. an average sessional ticket price for pupils incorporates a reduction in the actual cost to reflect non usage. There are no plans to alter these arrangements.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much Government funding has been provided in total to Rathgael training centre in each of the last 20 years; and what is the breakdown of this funding under care and justice functions; [39564]
24 Jul 1996 : Column: 469
Sir John Wheeler:
Records readily available of Government funding at St. Patrick's or Rathgael training schools date only from 1987-88. Funding provided to the two training schools was as follows:
(2) how much Government funding has been provided in total to St. Patrick's training school in each of the last 20 years. [39565]
| Rathgael | St. Patrick's | |
|---|---|---|
| £000 | £000 | |
| 1987-88 | 3,200 | 1,852 |
| 1988-89 | 2,907 | 2,247 |
| 1989-90 | 3,511 | 1,931 |
| 1990-91 | 3,314 | 2,237 |
| 1991-92 | 3,996 | 2,558 |
| 1992-93 | 3,874 | 3,077 |
| 1993-94 | 3,971 | 3,835 |
| 1994-95 | 4,209 | 4,015 |
| 1995-96 | 6,154 | 3,225 |
Funding levels are primarily based on average occupancy levels at the training schools. It is not readily possible to distinguish between care and justice functions.
Planning Applications
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for dumps in the Ballygowan area have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in the last five years; [39590]
- (2) how many objections have been received in respect of planning application 0408 relating to 35 Magherascouse road, Ballygowan; and what is the current status of this application. [39589]
Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subjects in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 24 July 1996:
Mr Moss has asked me to reply to your questions about how many applications for dumps in the Ballygowan area had been approved or rejected in the last 5 years, and how many objections had been received in respect of Planning Application 0408 relating to 35 Magherascouse Road, Ballygowan.
During the last 5 years, The Planning Service has approved 4 and rejected no applications for dumps in the Ballygowan area. As regards Planning Application 0408, the application was received on 22 May 1996 and is at an early stage in the consultation process. To date, 23 letters and 1 petition have been received objecting to the proposal.
Water Fluoridation
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received regarding the proposed fluoridation of water in Northern Ireland; and how many have been (a) in favour and (b) against. [39594]
Mr. Moss: I have to date received a total of 158 representations, of which 30 have been in favour and 128 against the proposal.
Anglo-Irish Secretariat (Protests)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the formal protests lodged by the Irish Government with the Anglo-Irish secretariat since November 1985, with the subject matter in each case; [39577]
24 Jul 1996 : Column: 470
- (2) if he will list the protests lodged with the Irish side of the Anglo-Irish secretariat since 1985 and the subject matter. [39580]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.
Indecency Convictions
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many males (a) were convicted and (b) were cautioned in respect of the offences of gross indecency, indecent behaviour and indecent assault in 1995 which involved only males separately identifying those involving minors. [39578]
Sir John Wheeler: I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.
Belfast International Airport
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria will be used to decide (a) the price and (b) the buyer in the sale of Belfast international airport; and if he will make a statement. [39579]
Mr. Moss: The price offered for Belfast international airport is a matter for the commercial judgment of the existing owners and the proposed purchaser.
The Government retained a reversionary interest in BIAL the principal purpose of which was to enable it to retain, for security reasons, an element of control over the identity of the owners of the property. The control mechanisms can be exercised by means of a special share and a 999-year lease. The current management of BIAL, has complied with the requirements of the special share in consulting the department with regard to the identity of the proposed purchasers.
The Government welcome this important vote of confidence in the strength and potential of the Northern Ireland economy.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what access the Royal Ulster Constabulary has to the Phoenix criminal record system used in Great Britain; and what is the Northern Ireland equivalent of that system. [39581]
Sir John Wheeler:
The Royal Ulster Constabulary, through designated offices, can access the Phoenix criminal record system to:
(i) search and extract conviction details; and
Criminal records within the RUC are retained on computer; the system is called CIRS--criminal information retrieval system.
(ii) enter and extract details of wanted or missing persons.
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