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NORTHERN IRELAND
Tax Advice
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of her Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if she will make a statement. [13272]
Mr. Murphy [holding answer 5 November 1997]: The policy is that when tax advisers are used it should only be to enable Northern Ireland departments to fulfil their statutory tax obligations rather than for tax avoidance purposes.
Parades and Marches
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total cost of policing the marches, demonstrations and associated disturbances during July and August; [15046]
- (2) what was the total cost of policing the parades which took place in Northern Ireland from 1 April to 30 September. [15052]
Mr. Ingram: Policing marches and demonstrations is part of normal police duties and as such separate costings for these activities are not held centrally.
Terrorist Offences
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged with terrorist offences other than those in connection with paramilitary beatings in 1997. [16032]
Mr. Ingram: Between 1 January 1997 and 2 December 1997, a total of 334 persons were charged with terrorist type and Serious Public Order offences within Northern Ireland.
Glassdrummond Band
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to her Answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 692, what was the rank of the officer to whom notice was given by the Glassdrummond Band on 2 November. [17031]
Mr. Ingram: The rank of the officer to whom notice was initially given by the Glassdrummond Band on 2 November 1997 was Reserve Constable. The Constable consulted with his Sergeant who granted permission.
Appointments
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list (a) those public bodies to which she makes appointments, (b) the number of persons whom she appoints and the total number of the members of each body, (c) the period of each appointment, (d) the remuneration of each appointment and (e) the sums of public money available to each body in the last year for which figures are available. [17321]
Mr. Murphy:
Information relating to parts (a), (b), (d) and (e) of the question can be found in the Cabinet Office
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publication "Public Bodies 1996". The 1997 version of this document will be available on 16 December 1997. Information in the form requested at (c) is currently being assembled, and will be made available as soon as that exercise has been completed.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to her answer of 20 November 1997, Official Report, column 272, who made the decision not to fly the Union flag at the Southern Area Health and Social Services Board, Tower Hill, Armagh, on 9 November; and if she will make a statement. [17820]
Mr. Worthington:
A letter was sent to all Health and Social Services Boards on 1 May 1997 advising them of the days in 1997 on which the Union Flag should be flown on Central Government Buildings. There is, however no requirement for the Boards to fly the Union flag on these dates. It is at the discretion of each organisation whether the flag should be flown on those buildings occupied by their staff.
There was no specific decision made to fly or not to fly the Union Flag at the Southern Health and Social Services Board Tower Hill, Armagh on 9 November 1997.
Rev. Martin Smyth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place to train the skilled staff required for the district cancer centres. [17765]
Mr. Worthington
[holding answer 25 November 1997]: The Cancer Working Group (CWG) Report "Cancer Services--Investing for the Future" recommended a minimum target of 13 consultants in non-surgical oncology by the year 2005. Currently there are eight consultant clinical oncologists in post. To move towards the recommended target the number of trainees in Clinical Oncology has been increased from four to five in 1997-98. Also, a new training post in Medical Oncology is planned for next year.
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the shortest period spent on a waiting list for (a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of an arm in the last year for which figures are available. [17896]
Mr. Worthington:
No one has had to wait longer than the three week timescale for the fitting of a prosthesis during the past 12 months.
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prostheses the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has contracted for in the current financial year; and what funds have been committed to purchase these services. [17903]
Mr. Worthington:
The information is not available in the form requested. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board's contract with Green Park Healthcare
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Trust is for prosthetic services not the provision of a specified number of prostheses. The value of the contract in the current financial year is £1,005 million.
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the longest current waiting time for (a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of (i) an arm and (ii) a leg. [17898]
Mr. Worthington:
No one is currently waiting outside the three week timescale for the fitting of a prosthesis.
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the allocation of resources of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board for the purchase of clinical procedures for (a) the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of a leg and (b) breast reconstruction following a mastectomy; and what account was taken of policy appraisal and fair treatment guidelines in determining these allocations. [17895]
Mr. Worthington:
It is for the Eastern Health and Social Services Board to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to purchase the level of services necessary to meet the needs of its population. The Board requires that all patients are treated on the basis of clinical priority.
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account the Eastern Health and Social Services Board took of the Government's Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines in deciding on the allocation of resources for the purchase of procedures for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of a leg; and what steps were taken to ensure that women and men were treated equally in the purchase of these services. [17911]
Mr. Worthington:
When allocating resources for the fitting of prostheses, the Board requires that all patients are treated on the basis of clinical priority.
39. Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the recent appointment of a drugs tsar. [17131]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
Keith Hellawell will take up his post early in the New Year. His immediate priorities will be to review existing action against drug misuse across the board and to submit proposals to Ministers for a new strategy as quickly as possible, aimed at tackling drug problems through effective enforcement, treatment and education.
40. Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the current programme of work being undertaken by her Inter-Departmental Committee on Drugs. [17132]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
It is not normal practice to give details of the work of Cabinet Committees, but the Committee will in due course be considering plans for a
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new anti-drugs strategy, on the advice of the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the budget proposed for the office of Drugs Tsar in relation to the purposes intended; and if she will make a statement about how that money will be spent. [18218]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and his Deputy are special advisers to the Government. Accordingly they have no direct responsibility over any budget. The issue of resources for the Co-ordinator's work will be examined further as the Government consider plans for the next phase of the anti-drugs strategy.
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