| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Food Poisoning
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much his Department has spent on research into (a) E. coli 0157 and (b) campylobacter in each year since 1990 and from 1 January to date; [7210]
- (2) if he will list the research applications his Department has (a) granted and (b) rejected to study (i) E. coli 0157 and (ii) campylobacter in each year since 1990 and from 1 January to date. [7209]
Mr. Horam [holding answer 2 December 1996]: Information on the amount spent by the Department of Health on research and surveillance into campylobacter and E. coli 0157 since 1990 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on funding since 1993 is available by financial year only and is given in the table:
| £000 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Financial year | Campylobacter | E. Coli |
| 1993-94 | 399 | 185 |
| 1994-95 | 405 | 397 |
| 1995-96 | 702 | 459 |
| 1996-97(10) | 608 | 797 |
(10) Amount committed to spend through contracts.
Lists of research and surveillance projects funded by the Department of Health into campylobacter and E. coli 0157 since 1990 have been placed in the Library.
In addition to the information provided in the tables, there are a number of projects which in part include research-surveillance on campylobacter and E. coli 0157. These are not included in the listings or the costings.
Many of the campylobacter and E. coli 0157 research and surveillance projects funded by the Department arose from recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. The ACMSF's interim report on campylobacter (1993) and the report on verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (1995)--copies are in the Library--made a number of recommendations for research and surveillance on these organisms. In response to these recommendations, the Department of Health held an open competition for proposals on campylobacter in 1994 and verocytotoxin-producing E. coli--VTEC--in 1995. In both competitions, projects were selected on the basis of a peer review which considered their relevance to policy objectives, feasibility, if they were of high scientific quality, did not duplicate published or currently funded work and represented good value for money.
After review, 10 of 39 campylobacter proposals and 13 of 49 VTEC proposals were approved for funding.
Since 1991, the Department of Health has rejected six E. coli and seven campylobacter research and surveillance applications which were submitted to the microbiological food safety research and surveillance programme outside the open competitions.
It would breach the applicants' confidentiality to list those applications which have been rejected.
5 Dec 1996 : Column: 762
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to alleviate the flooding of Ballybarnes road at Ballysalagh, Newtownards. [5844]
Mr. Moss:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Road Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 27 November 1996:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about flooding at Ballybarnes Road, Ballysalagh, Newtownards.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current average cost in Northern Ireland of processing a prosecution. [6914]
Sir John Wheeler:
This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of indictable offences was accounted for by those aged 14 to 25 years in each of the last five years. [6918]
Roads Service has no plans to improve drainage along this road. While there is some evidence of limited ponding following heavy rainfall, the problem is not prolonged and is not considered to be of sufficient priority to warrant remedial works.
| Total | Age 14 to 25 | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons proceeded against for indictable offences | |||
| 1991 | 10,016 | 6,017 | 60 |
| 1992 | 9,857 | 5,682 | 58 |
| 1993 | 10,384 | 5,998 | 58 |
| 1994 | 9,888 | 5,559 | 56 |
| 1995 | 10,273 | 5,711 | 56 |
| Persons found guilty | |||
| 1991 | 8,856 | 5,372 | 61 |
| 1992 | 8,540 | 5,009 | 59 |
| 1993 | 8,899 | 5,231 | 59 |
| 1994 | 8,345 | 4,784 | 57 |
| 1995 | 8,709 | 4,972 | 57 |
Burglaries
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of burglaries in each of the last five years was committed by people aged under 21 years. [6916]
5 Dec 1996 : Column: 763
Sir John Wheeler: The information is as follows:
| Total | Under 21 | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons proceeded against for burglary offences | |||
| 1991 | 1,330 | 676 | 51 |
| 1992 | 1,326 | 648 | 49 |
| 1993 | 1,310 | 613 | 47 |
| 1994 | 1,142 | 573 | 50 |
| 1995 | 1,107 | 552 | 50 |
| Persons found guilty of burglary offences | |||
| 1991 | 1,208 | 635 | 53 |
| 1992 | 1,149 | 589 | 51 |
| 1993 | 1,114 | 533 | 48 |
| 1994 | 979 | 501 | 51 |
| 1995 | 951 | 495 | 52 |
These figures relate to persons proceeded against and found guilty where burglary was the primary offence.
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the percentage change in the number of burglaries in Northern Ireland since 1979. [6915]
Sir John Wheeler: The number of burglaries recorded in Northern Ireland was 18,433 in 1979 and 16,457 in 1995. The change is therefore a reduction of 10.7 per cent.
Chinese Business Men (Attacks)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to deal with (1) the murders in 1996 of (a) Simon Tang in Carrickfergus and (b) Albert Leung in Antrim and (2) other violent attacks on Chinese business men and their families; and if he will make a statement. [6896]
Sir John Wheeler: 1. Since the murder of Mr. Tang at his business premises on 24 June, there has been a protracted investigation. HOLMES investigation facilities have been used in managing the investigation.
A number of specific appeals have been made for information, through the press and news media. On 5 November, a poster campaign was launched, appealing for information and offering a reward of £2,000--money raised by the Chinese Welfare Association. This information will shortly also be available on the RUC Internet site.
The inquiry continues, overseen by a detective superintendent.
Mr. Leung was not murdered; he died in hospital on 12 November. He had been the subject of a robbery at his home on 13 May, but received only minor injuries which did not contribute to his death. This case is being investigated as in 2 below.
2. All reported attacks on Chinese business men and their families have received full and proper investigations by the RUC.
On the directions of the then deputy chief constable (operations) a team of CID officers, under the command of the serious crime squad, was formed to conduct investigations into offences of robbery and aggravated burglary at the homes of Chinese business people.
5 Dec 1996 : Column: 764
On 13 May, an incident room was set up in Antrim RUC station, resourced by a HOLMES team and an investigation team. The team currently consists of one D/chief inspector, one D/sergeant and seven D/constables.
Inquiries into the attacks are continuing. They appear to be perpetrated by professional criminals.
On 28 May, a Chinese crime conference was held in Belfast, attended by Mr. Flanagan with representatives from community affairs, crime prevention and the serious crime squad. The police officers in attendance give advice on crime prevention measures and answered questions on all aspects of the police investigations into the attacks on the homes of the Chinese community.
Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been convicted and sentenced for scheduled offences committed since 31 August 1994. [6749]
Sir John Wheeler:
The number of people found guilty of scheduled offences, at 31 October 1996, committed from 1 September 1994 to 30 September 1996 is 183.
Ms Mowlam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of men in each age group by which figures are classified between 16 and 65 years have been (a) cautioned and (b) convicted for an offence. [6917]
Sir John Wheeler:
It is not possible to provide accurate figures.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |