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Nursery Vouchers

Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost will be for each of the next five years for administration of nursery vouchers for Northern Ireland. [1180]

Mr. Ancram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 1 November 1996, Official Report, column 282.

GCSE Passes

Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of pupils in Northern Ireland achieved passes in GCSE mathematics in each of the last five years. [1178]

Mr. Ancram: Information is not available in the form requested. The percentage of pupils entered for the GCSE mathematics examinations of the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and

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Assessment and its predecessor bodies, and achieving grades A* to G (A to G in 1992 and 1993), in each of the last five years, are:


Belfast Airport (Sale)

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on whose advice and by what criteria the price of Belfast international airport at Aldergrove was set when originally sold; and by what actual and percentage amount that price was bettered when the airport was subsequently sold. [1202]

Mr. Moss: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland engaged the services of consultants for the privatisation process. Details of the appointment remain commercial in confidence. The valuation exercise formed part of that process. The criteria used to value the airport were those applicable to a transaction of this type.

The airport was sold by means of a trade sale in a competitive bidding situation which generated a considerable degree of price tension. The purchase price was £32.75 million and the Government withdrew a further £15.51 million in cash from the former company, giving a total return on the transaction of £47.9 million.

We understand that in August 1996 TBI plc acquired the shares in Belfast International Airport Holdings Ltd.--BIAHL--for £72.4 million. In addition, BIAHL paid a dividend of £4.5 million to shareholders. As part of the deal, TBI repaid £28 million of BIAHL's bank borrowings and transaction costs of £2 million. This resulted in a total purchase consideration of £106.9 million.

This figure represents an increase of £59 million on the amount received by Government from the sale of Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. In percentage terms, the increase is equivalent to 123 per cent.

Area Plans

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if the reviews of the area plans in respect of the Down and Newry and Mourne district council areas will be included in the Planning Agency's business case for the financial year 1997-98; [2384]

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Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to a Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 5 November 1996:


Tuberculosis Vaccination

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of school leavers in Northern Ireland have been vaccinated against tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement. [1627]

Mr. Moss: The information is not available in the form requested; however, I would refer the hon. Member to the statistical information contained in the publication "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics 1 April 199--31 March 1994" issued by the Department of Health and Social Services which is available in the Library. The Government recommend that BCG vaccine to protect against tuberculosis should be routinely offered to all school children between the ages of 10 and 14 years.

Prisoners (Terrorist Offences)

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his policy in relation to the (a) release, (b) transfer, and (c) repatriation of prisoners detained in Northern Ireland and convicted of terrorist offences; and if he will make a statement; [2051]

Sir John Wheeler: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

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Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. Max Madden, dated 5 November 1996:


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