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9 Dec 2002 : Column 46W—continued
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was discussed at the meeting between the National Employers and the Fire Brigades Union in London attended by the Chairman of the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland and referred to in the authority's minutes of 22 January; and if he will make a statement. [85721]
Mr. Browne: The Xmeeting" referred to in the authority's minutes of 22 January 2002 was in fact an informal dinner arranged to acquaint the National Employers with recently appointed representatives of the Fire Brigades Union. No official record was kept of their discussion.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which occasions the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland has received a report on the meetings of National Joint Council for Fire Brigade Personnel since 22 January in accordance with the undertaking given to the authority at its meeting on 22 January recorded in minute number 6; and if he will make a statement. [85722]
Mr. Browne: The Fire Authority received a report on National Joint Council meetings at each of its monthly meetings from February to date.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the circumstances relating to, and the matters referred to, in
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(a) the HELM Report on Navigator Blue and (b) the Quality and Audit Manager's Report on the same subject provided to the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland. [85723]
Mr. Browne: Shortcomings identified in the Fire Authority's management of its media services contract with Navigator Blue have been addressed. The Authority now has in place open and accountable tendering procedures for these services. Its new procedures have been quality assured by the sponsoring Department's internal auditors, and are in line with the policies of the Government Purchasing Agency.
The Authority's contract with Navigator Blue was terminated in May this year.
Fire Dispute
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 2 December, ref 84475, if he will discuss the Fire Brigade dispute with Mrs. Rosemary Craig and Professor James Shields; and if he will make a statement. [85714]
Mr. Browne: No. Officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety have been maintaining close contact with the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about the dispute, and they will continue to do so.
Fishing
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of Northern Ireland's fishing fleet has been decommissioned under European Union regulations since 1990. [85687]
Mr. Pearson: In March 1990 there were 450 fishing vessels in the Northern Ireland fleet, compared with 318 vessels in December 2002. Since 1990, 102 Northern Ireland fishing vessels have been decommissioned with assistance from European Structural Funds.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many commercial fishing vessels were registered in Northern Ireland in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002. [85688]
Mr. Pearson: The number of commercial fishing vessels registered in Northern Ireland in January 1997 and December 2002 was 350 and 318 respectively.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. [85689]
Mr. Pearson: The latest available data relate to 2001 and are as follows:
| Full time | Part time | |
|---|---|---|
| Catching | 933 | 148 |
| Processing | 989 | 208 |
| Others | 57 | 30 |
| Total | 1,979 | 386 |
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Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the impact on the Northern Ireland fishing industry of the most recent proposals from the European Union to ban cod and prawn catches in the Irish Sea. [85691]
Mr. Pearson: No such proposals have come from the European Union. I am making representations to make sure the concerns of the Northern Ireland fishing industry are fully heard and I shall give detailed consideration to the implications for the industry when the Commission advances its detailed proposals.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the representations made to Her Majesty's Government by fishermen in Northern Ireland concerning European Union proposals to ban cod and prawn catches in the Irish Sea. [85692]
Mr. Pearson: I have met representatives of the catching sector who have briefed me in considerable detail on the responsible efforts that they have made in recent years to secure sustainable fisheries in the Irish Sea, and on the potential social and economic consequences of further cuts in fishing effort.
Home Expulsions
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many people have been forced from their homes by (a) Loyalist and (b) Republican paramilitary organisations (i) since the signing of the Belfast Agreement and (ii) during the year 2002; and if he will make a statement. [82017]
Jane Kennedy: From 1 April 1998 to 31 October 2002, 6,646 persons presented themselves to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as being homeless due to intimidation. Information for the year 2002 cannot be supplied in the form requested but from 1 April 2002, 983 persons presented themselves to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as being homeless due to intimidation.
It is a deplorable situation where people have been forced from their homes and this has strengthened the Government's resolve to work with communities to find a resolution to this problem.
IFI/Richardsons Plant
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about (a) the pension scheme, (b) redundancy payments and (c) outstanding holiday pay entitlements for employees of the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast. [84750]
Mr. Pearson: As well as meeting with Richardsons' management and Unions representing the work force, I have written to the company shareholders, including the Irish Government, expressing my concern over the treatment of the work force. I have met with ICI and a representative of the Irish Government. Furthermore I hope to meet Mary Harney TD Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shortly.
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The issues relating to pensions are complex. There are four different pension schemes and the shareholders have asked the trustees of each scheme to establish the facts and options to mitigate the impact on members. The shareholders are proposing to meet with the four pension fund trustees and while the government's influence in relation to the operation of private pension schemes may be limited, I will await the outcome of this meeting with interest.
In relation to redundancy payments, applications from 151 employees of Richardsons for statutory entitlement have been received by the Department for Employment and Learning. All claims will be handled and, where payable, payments processed within normal timescales.
Outstanding holiday pay owed to employees forms part of the debt owed to them by their former employer and is a matter for the liquidator.
Marie Star Cafe
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the PSNI Aliens Branch checked individually the passports for workers at the Marie Star Cafe. [82444]
Jane Kennedy: The PSNI do not individually check passports for the workers at the Movie Star Cafe. This is an immigration matter.
Official Travel
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03. [84935]
Jane Kennedy: The total budget for official travel in 2002–03 is:
| Department | Travel budget (#) |
|---|---|
| NIO | |
| (a) Core Department (excluding Commissions as we do not have a breakdown of their budgets) | 3,526,000 |
| (b) Agencies (excluding NDPBs) | 1,313,000 |
| Total | 4,839,000 |
The total travel budget for the Northern Ireland Departments in the financial year 2002–03 is (a) #9,501,038 and (b) for its agencies the budget is #8,492,862:
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