13 May 1999 : Column: 175
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 13 May 1999
NORTHERN IRELAND
Health and Social Services Estates Agency
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for 1999-2000 for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Estates Agency. [84333]
Marjorie Mowlam: The targets, which have been set for 1999-2000, are based on the corporate aims and objectives of the Agency as set out in section 5 of its Corporate and Business Plan and reflect in part a refinement of the previously set targets. The targets are in line with the Government's policy of seeking to improve the service provided to clients in terms of both quality and value for money and I am satisfied that they present a demanding challenge for the Agency. A copy of the Corporate and Business plan will be placed in the Library.
The targets are as follows:
13 May 1999 : Column: 176
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she intends to publish the report by Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation during 1998 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996. [84334]
Marjorie Mowlam:
Mr. Rowe's Report is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library. I note that Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation be renewed.
The UK's counter terrorism legislation is currently under review. The Government intend to bring forward, as soon as possible, new UK-wide legislation to replace the existing temporary provisions.
In December last year, the Government published a consultation paper entitled, "Legislation Against Terrorism". Around eighty responses have been received. The process of examining each contribution and preparing the Government's legislative response is well underway. The Government have made clear that during the period the new legislation is being prepared it will not leave the people of Northern Ireland without the protection of necessary counter-terrorism measures. For that reason I propose to continue the EPA in force for a temporary period and I shall lay before the House as soon as possible a draft Order for consideration which would have that effect.
The Government are committed to steadily transforming the security environment in Northern Ireland and achieving complete normalisation as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a whole. In such circumstances, the Government's position is that there will be no need for any temporary Northern Ireland specific powers. The Government will make a judgment about that nearer the time the new UK-wide legislation is introduced.
Mr. Pound:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the Review of the Valuation and Lands Agency. [84335]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
On 27 February 1998, Official Report, columns 413-14, I announced to the House the Review of the Valuation and Lands Agency. Each Agency undergoes a periodic review to evaluate performance and to reconsider whether agency status is the best way of doing the job.
I am pleased to announce that this Review is now complete. It has found that there have been substantial improvements in productivity and efficiency, and in the
13 May 1999 : Column: 177
overall quality of service to customers. The Review recommends that the Valuation and Lands Agency should remain an Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel.
The Review goes on to recommend that a feasibility study should be carried out into the possibility of a merger with the Rate Collection Agency. The decision, under devolved arrangements, to transfer the Rate Collection Agency to the Department of Finance and Personnel should facilitate such a study and I have commended the findings in the Review Report to the First Minister (Designate) and deputy First Minister (Designate).
I am placing a copy of the Report in the Library today. Work will continue on a revised Framework Document and this will become a matter for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland to approve in due course.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the Civil Service Code to take account of devolution for Scotland and Wales. [84171]
The Prime Minister:
There will continue, under the Devolution settlements, to be a unified Home Civil Service whose members will serve their respective Administrations in accordance with the well-established principles of integrity, honesty, impartiality and objectivity. A revised Civil Service Code is being issued to all civil servants to reflect the changes brought about by devolution to Scotland and Wales. Copies of the Code have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Prime Minister if the Intelligence and Security Committee has reported to him on Sierra Leone; and if he will publish the report. [84486]
The Prime Minister:
The Intelligence and Security Committee sent a Report examining the intelligence aspects of the counter-coup in Sierra Leone to me in February. Following discussions about which parts of the Report must be withheld for security reasons, the Report is being published today. The Government intend to publish a formal response to the Report in due course.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the eventual total cost of the M11 Link Road; and on what date it is expected to be fully completed. [83598]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
13 May 1999 : Column: 178
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 13 May 1999:
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many instances in each of the last five years for which figures are available, a request for change of the sex recorded on a driving licence was (a) received and (b) acted upon. [83571]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
No separate record is kept of applications. Provided the application is supported by appropriate documentation, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will accept the request.
Delivery of Services
1. Provide a regional support service to the HSSE and the Department on embedded systems and medical devices in relation to the Y2K problem in the HPSS estate. As a central part to this support service, obtain the compliance status of Northern Ireland utilities (electricity, water etc.) and provide guidance on the required level of contingency planning recommended for these utility services.
2. Provide the consultation draft of the Review of the Key Management Document in the Firecode suite "Policy and Principles", by March 2000.
3. Provide and Energy/Environment Report for the Minister on the progress of the DHSS and the HPSS is making towards meeting the Government's targets on green issues by November 1999.
4. Assess and advise the HSSE on 60 per cent. of capital investment business case submissions within 20 working days, subject to a maximum 24 business cases per annum.
5. Provide the HSSE with a Defects Centre in relation to the HPSS estate. Investigate and clear (60 per cent.) of all adverse incidents within six months (and 90 per cent. within two years) of notification to Health Estates subject to a maximum of 120 adverse incidents per annum.
6. 80 per cent. of clients to regard the Directorate's Client Support and Project Management Services as satisfactory or better in respect of:
Two projects being procured by the PFI/PP process with an estimated capital value of £2.6 million.
Preparation and completion of 5 Outline Business Cases with an estimate capital value of £15.35 million.
The completion of the tendering and contract award stages of 4 projects with an estimated capital value of £12.25 million.
Nine projects during the construction/completion stages with an estimated capital value of £134.85 million.
7. Complete 90 per cent. of periodic specialist sterilizer equipment tests by the programmed dates and 100 per cent. within 6 weeks of that date subject to a maximum client request for this service of 500 man days.
8. Complete 95 per cent. of diagnostic equipment and laboratory equipment acceptance tests, and other tests within 4 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks.
9. Complete 95 per cent. of the initial evaluations for Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Projects within 4 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks. Complete Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Projects within 10 months of clients providing their instruction to proceed.
Financial Management
10. Ensure that the Agency lives within its running cost allocation and demonstrates that its full costs are recovered, on a notional basis, through Service Level Agreements with clients.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road.
The current estimated total out turn cost of the scheme is £360 million.
We anticipate opening the road to traffic in phases, starting next month. The whole scheme should be open later this Summer, although finishing works will carry on until the Autumn.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |