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Nerve Centre, Londonderry

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Nerve Centre, Londonderry, was formed; what has been the public funding of the Nerve Centre in each of the past three years; what public funding has been committed to the CD-Rom concerning (a) the Battle of the Somme and (b) the Bogside Disturbances; and if he will make a statement. [94825]

Mr. McFall: I am advised by the Chief Executive of the Arts Council that the Nerve Centre was first opened in 1989 as an alternative educational initiative aimed at encouraging young people to explore their cultural traditions through multi-media technology.

Public funding of the Nerve Centre through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland was £23,000 in 1996-97, £11,000 in 1997-98, and £11,000 in 1998-99. Funding though the Northern Ireland Film Council was £57,000 in 1997-98 and £57,000 in 1998-99.

I understand that the project 'Symbols' is based on a CD-ROM which includes material on the Battle of the Somme and a number of other historical events including the Bogside disturbances. The project received funding of £150,000 from the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and £50,000 from the Community Relations Council. As the CD-ROM covered a wide range of issues, it is not possible to disaggregate the costs relating to any individual element. The detailed content of the CD-ROM is a matter for the Nerve Centre.

Museums

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the 1998 visitor levels at (a) Armagh County Museum, (b) the Ulster and Transport Museum, (c) the Ulster American Folk Park, (d) the Ulster Museum and (e) the Navan Centre; for what reason these figures were not published in the 1998-99 Annual report of the Northern Ireland Museums Council; and if he will make a statement. [94815]

Mr. McFall: I am advised by the Northern Ireland Museums Council that the figures provided in the Council's 1998-99 Annual Report refer only to regional, local and independent registered museums within its membership and not to the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland which is directly financed from Government. The Armagh County Museum, the Ulster American Folk Park, the Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum all form part of National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland which was established on 1 April 1998. The Navan Centre is not included as it is not a Museum.

The 1998 visitor figures were:

Visitor levels at Museums and Galleries in Northern Ireland

Museum	Number
Armagh County Museum	(2)14,175
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum	169,794
Ulster American Folk Park	111,221
Ulster Museum	235,694
Navan Centre	36,436

(2) The figure for the Armagh County Museum relates to 10 months of 1998 since the Museum was closed for two months in that year.

4 Nov 1999 : Column: 259

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 26 July 1999, Official Report, column 17, what characteristics of the flag flown adjacent to the Royal Ulster Constabulary checkpoint at Garvaghy Road, Portadown indicate that the flag commemorated the formation of the original Ulster Volunteer Force in 1912 and not a proscribed organisation as covered by section 31 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. [95348]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The flag in question is purple and orange with the name Ulster Volunteer Force and the year 1912 emblazoned on it.

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers in the RUC part-time reserve, broken down by district council area. [95889]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 28 October 1999]: It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested as records are maintained by RUC Sub- divisional area. The following table shows the breakdown of full-time Reserves by Sub-division.

	Number of full-time reserves
'A' Division
Musgrave Street	80
Donegall Pass	53
Dunmurry	57
Mountpottinger	30
'B' Division
Grosvenor Road	146
Woodbourne	86
Lisburn	96
'D' Division
Antrim Road	60
North Queen Street	57
Tennent Street	16
Newtownabbey	37
Carrickfergus	58
Antrim	71
'E' Division
Strandtown	39
Castlereagh	71
Bangor	96
Stormont	134
'G' Division
Newtownards	63
Newcastle	43
Downpatrick	43
'H' Division
Armagh	89
Newry	106
'J' Division
Portadown	40
Lurgan	41
Banbridge	40
'K' Division
Cookstown	50
Dungannon	78
'L' Division
Enniskillen	78
Lisnaskea	61
Omagh	60
'N' Division
Strand Road	65
Strabane	63
Waterside	51
'O' Division
Coleraine	49
Limavady	40
Magherafelt	69
'P' Division
Ballymena	32
Larne	33
Ballymoney	32

4 Nov 1999 : Column: 260

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers in the RUC full-time reserve broken down by district council area. [95892]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 28 October 1999]: It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested as records are maintained by RUC Sub- divisional area. The following table shows the breakdown of part-time Reserves by Sub-division.

	Number of part-time reserves
'A' Division
Musgrave Street	39
Donegall Pass	39
Dunmurry	40
Mountpottinger	58
'B' Division
Grosvenor Road	--
Woodbourne	--
Lisburn	40
'D' Division
Antrim Road	29
North Queen Street	37
Tennent Street	48
Newtownabbey	68
Carrickfergus	40
Antrim	26
'E' Division
Strandtown	66
Castlereagh	34
Bangor	70
Stormont	--
'G' Division
Newtownards	101
Newcastle	8
Downpatrick	28
'H' Division
Armagh	21
Newry	3
'J' Division
Portadown	19
Lurgan	41
Banbridge	45
'K' Division
Cookstown	9
Dungannon	7
'L' Division
Enniskillen	30
Lisnaskea	19
Omagh	46
'N' Division
Strand Road	3
Strabane	11
Waterside	7
'O' Division
Coleraine	37
Limavady	8
Magherafelt	8
'P' Division
Ballymena	54
Larne	32
Ballymoney	11

4 Nov 1999 : Column: 261

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of tenure in the RUC Special Branch. [95895]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 28 October 1999]: There is no set tenure. The average period of tenure within Special Branch is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

4 Nov 1999 : Column: 262

Health and Social Services Pensions

Mrs. McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the report by the Government Actuary on his investigation of the Health and Personal Social Services Superannuation Scheme in Northern Ireland 1989 to 1994. [97600]

Mr. George Howarth: I have accepted the report and today placed copies in the Library.

The report concludes that it would be prudent to increase the rate of contribution required from employers to meet the scheme's future liabilities. The current rate is 4 per cent. of pensionable pay. The Government Actuary is content with our proposals that the rate should increase 5 per cent. from 1 April 2001, with a further increase to 7 per cent. from 1 April 2003.

The cost of index linking National Health Service pensions is currently met by the Exchequer. As the report notes, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Finance and Personnel have agreed in principle that the scheme should assume its pensions increase liabilities from 1 April 1994 under a financial restructuring. Officials are discussing the basis of such changes and I will inform the House when final agreement is reached. In the meantime, the Government Actuary considers that the proposed increases in employer contribution rates are consistent with the nature of the changes likely to be required under the restructuring.

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