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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

8 Jan 2002 : Column: 570W

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:


These measures were put in place at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review and were continued for the period of the 2000 Spending Review (2001–02 to 2003–04).

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]

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.

8 Jan 2002 : Column: 571W

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:


The Key Target for high/top risk prisoners as set out in the Northern Ireland Prison Service Corporate and Business Plan is 100 per cent. security and this target is currently being met.

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:


The Department is currently on course to meet this target.

8 Jan 2002 : Column: 572W

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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