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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Staff Numbers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in her Department in each of the last four years. [23801]
Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 256W.
Correspondence
David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 15 November regarding fireworks. [24358]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I replied to my hon. Friend on 19 December 2001.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the target on routine procurement of goods to be conducted electronically was achieved. [23157]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 597W.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target on the overall
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international ranking of the science and engineering company base in terms of quality, relevance and cost-efficiency. [23171]
Ms Hewitt: The most recent measurements of the international ranking of the Science and Engineering Base (SEB) in terms of quality, relevance and cost-effectiveness indicate that, the UK continues to maintain its position relative to other G7 nations. The details are as follows:
- The quality of the science and engineering base is measured by the UK's world ranking in terms of citations of published papers. Over the period 1981–2000 the UK received a 9.1 per cent. share of the citations in the international Science Citation Index, second only to the US. The UK was second in 'citation shares' for 15 out of 20 scientific fields with the lowest placing being fifth.
One measure of relevance is the UK's world ranking in terms of the proportion of university research funding from non-governmental sources. For the latest year for which data are available (1997), the UK was again ranked first among the G7 countries.
Cost-effectiveness is measured by the UK's world ranking in terms of the number of papers published per £1 million of public expenditure on science. In 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1999, the UK was the leading country in the G7. For the latest year (2000) the UK was again ranked first.
While the public service agreement targets described here provide a valuable indication of the strength of the UK science base relative to our competitors, other indications are also available. The results of the latest Research Assessment Exercise were published on 14 December and show that, since 1996 when the last study was carried out, many university research groups have significantly improved their performance.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Armed Theft (Belfast)
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment has been made of responsibility for the armed theft of electrical goods from a warehouse near Belfast on 21 November; [24141]
(2) what assessment has been made of responsibility for the armed robbery of cigarettes at Belfast docks in June. [24097]
Jane Kennedy: The police believe that the robberies involved well-organised criminal gangs with association to republican paramilitary groups.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the PSA target to limit the number of prison escapes. [24830]
Jane Kennedy: There have been no escapes from any Northern Ireland Prison Establishment during the period 1 April 2001–27 December 2001.
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There have been three escapes involving medium/low risk prisoners during this period from external hospitals. To reduce the likelihood of further escapes the following action has been taken:
- Trained prison staff are deployed to outside hospitals when it is necessary to produce prisoners for medical treatment. These staff are now given more detailed briefings.
The procedures relating to the escorting of prisoners at outside hospitals have been reviewed and the operating instructions to officers have been revised.
In consultation with the Commissioner for Nursing and Heads of Nursing in relevant hospitals we are carrying out a review to ensure that the maximum use of medical facilities in prisons is made and that hospital escorts are restricted to essential cases only.
Prison security managers and hospital staff are reviewing the physical security of wards used for accommodating prisoners.
The Key Target for medium/low risk prisoners is 99.7 per cent. security and the current rate is 99.6 per cent. security, therefore the target is not currently being met.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target to increase overall confidence in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. [24833]
Jane Kennedy: The Public Service Agreement target requires that an annual survey measure the level of confidence of both main parts of the community in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. The Community Attitudes Survey, which is conducted independently of the Northern Ireland Office, will provide baseline figures during this year for both sections of the community's level of confidence in the Northern Ireland criminal justice system.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the PSA target to reduce the rate of increase of overall crime. [24831]
Jane Kennedy: Baselines to monitor the target of a reduction in the rate of increase in overall crime are currently being established. Recorded crime figures for the current year, 2001–02, will be included in the calculation of the baseline to monitor this target. This baseline will be the average annual increase in crime from 1997–98 to 2001–02.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target to secure ongoing efficiency savings in core departmental administration costs for each year of the planning period. [24829]
Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Office's SR2000 PSA target 8 is:
- "To secure ongoing efficiency savings of 3 per cent. in core departmental administration costs for each year of the planning period while maintaining levels of quality of service".
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Anti-drugs Strategy
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the results of the use of the additional funding allocated in the 2001 Budget to tackle drug-related crime and drug abuse. [24835]
Jane Kennedy: The Chancellor awarded £9.347 million over three years to Northern Ireland in the 2001 Budget. Of this figure £6.23 million will be transferred to the NI Executive, the remainder being retained by the Northern Ireland Office. Both administrations are currently developing action plans to identify the key focus of the support programmes to tackle illicit drug use. It is too early to specify the impact of this additional funding.
Visiting Heads of State
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the protocol to be followed by visiting Heads of State to Northern Ireland in respect of (a) official visits and (b) private visits. [23567]
Dr. John Reid: When a Head of State makes an official visit to Northern Ireland full protocol is observed. The visitor is met by the lord-lieutenant of the county or county borough. The sheriff for the county or county borough, the mayor of the borough or chairman of the district council, the chief executive of the council and the Member of Parliament for the constituency are invited to take part in the presentation lines. Northern Ireland Office Ministers and devolved Ministers are also invited to take part in presentation lines as appropriate.
Where a visit is private, there is no requirement for protocol.
When a visit is classed as a working visit, a lord-lieutenant greets the Head of State. Members of Parliament, Northern Ireland Office Ministers and devolved Ministers are advised, for information only, of the Head of State's attendance at public venues within their constituency or areas of responsibility.
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