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3 Feb 2003 : Column 116W—continued

Dry Homes Scheme

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to implement a dry homes scheme, in parallel with the Warm Homes Scheme delivered by the EAGA Partnership, to low income households in Northern Ireland. [92095]

Mr. Browne: The Warm Homes Scheme offers a range of heating, draught proofing and energy efficiency measures to vulnerable people who own their home or rent from a private landlord. The homes of eligible people are surveyed by staff of the Eaga Partnership, and if it appears that works are required to repair or weather-proof the building, clients are advised to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive about its private sector grants scheme. There are currently no plans to implement further dry homes measures in parallel with the Warm Homes Scheme.

Home Start/Sure Start

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Home Start and (b) Sure Start projects supported by departmental or trust funding were provided in 2002–03 in each district council area of Northern Ireland; and at what cost. [93923]

Mr. Paul Murphy: With regard to Sure Start projects, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not provide funding directly to the individual 23 Sure Start projects but to the four Childcare Partnerships through the appropriate Health and Social Services Board. For financial year 2002–03, the Department allocated a total of £6.6 million across the four Childcare Partnerships. Information regarding allocations to each district council area is not available.

Information on resources allocated by trusts for Home-Start schemes is also not available on a district council basis. Details of allocations by trust area are set out in the table.

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£

Home-Start scheme	H&SS Trust	Funding secured by HSS Trust(18)
East Belfast	South and East Belfast	32,764
North Belfast	North and West Belfast	35,125
North Down	Ulster Community and Hospitals	45,000
Newry and Mourne	Newry and Mourne	40,656
Causeway	Causeway	36,550
Colin	Down Lisburn	17,500
Lisburn	Down Lisburn	17,500
Down District (includes Newcastle and Ballynahinch)	Down Lisburn	79,000
Armagh and Dungannon	Armagh and Dungannon	41,985
West Tyrone	Sperrin Lakeland	21,525
Antrim District	Homefirst	42,206
Carrickfergus	Homefirst	19,655

⁽¹⁸⁾ 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003

Hospitals (Trolley Waits)

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average trolley waits were in all hospitals in (a) November and (b) December 2002; and if he will make a statement. [93933]

Mr. Browne: Trolley wait information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean length of trolley wait. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point trolley wait.

The median length of trolley waits by hospital are provided in the following table:

	November		December
	Median hours waiting	Total monthly trolley waits	Median hours waiting	Total monthly trolley waits
Altnagelvin	3–4	1	0	0
Antrim	10–11	195	9–10	134
Belfast City	8–9	108	4–5	7
Causeway	12–13	120	16–17	93
Craigavon	16–17	329	16–17	215
Down	1–2	4	0	0
Lagan Valley	10–11	45	8–9	61
Mater	13–14	161	11–12	136
Mid Ulster	4–5	16	8–9	6
Royal Group	10–11	133	9–10	24
Sperrin Lakeland	0	0	6–7	1
Ulster	10–11	319	11–12	238

I am very aware of recent pressures on hospitals and the number of patients who have had to wait on trolleys before they can be admitted. A significant amount of planning was undertaken to ensure that additional services were available to help meet extra demand on services during winter and an additional £4.5 million was allocated for this. A wide range of primary and community care measures is also being taken to minimise the number of potential hospital admissions.

Capacity is also being expanded at key hospitals. An additional 20 beds opened at the Ulster Hospital in December and extra beds are planned for Antrim, Craigavon and the Mater. I recently announced an extra £17.4 million for hospital services next year, which will support this development and provide for further improvements in critical services such as cardiac surgery, renal dialysis, cancer and intensive care. An additional £6 million will also be allocated next year to pay for more than 500 extra community care packages,

3 Feb 2003 : Column 118W

which will help to maintain people in their own homes and communities and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken to prevent patients having to wait on trolleys in accident and emergency departments at (a) the Ulster, (b) Belfast City, (c) Antrim Area and (d) Craigavon Area hospitals on Wednesday 15 January. [93934]

Mr. Browne: A number of steps were taken by these hospitals to alleviate pressures on accident and emergency departments. In the Ulster Hospital, the hospital discharge team resettled 15 people on a fast-track basis to community care accommodation to make room for patients being admitted; they also utilised beds in Ards and Bangor Community Hospitals. At Belfast City Hospital, a 16-bed emergency receiving unit, which operates alongside the A&E department, was utilised to deal with emergency admissions and ensure that patients were admitted to the most appropriate wards. Antrim Area Hospital used its day surgery unit on a 24-hour basis to alleviate pressure and ensured as far as possible that patients were waiting on proper hospital beds rather than trolleys. In Craigavon Area Hospital, additional nursing staff were brought in to provide nursing care for patients on trolleys and the hospital also had a team of senior doctors assessing patients before admission.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been on hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland for (a) more than 12 months and (b) more than 18 months. [93987]

Mr. Browne: The most recent waiting list figures available reflect the position at 30 September 2002.

At 30 September 2002 there were 14,890 patients waiting more than 12 months, and 9,108 patients waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment at hospitals in Northern Ireland. 27,949 patients were waiting more than 12 months, and 16,107 patients were waiting more than 18 months for a first outpatient appointment in Northern Ireland at 30 September 2002.

3 Feb 2003 : Column 119W

Hub Arts Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the preferred developer will be paid for the Hub Arts Centre; and how the Government will ensure value for money. [92928]

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. There is no preferred developer for the proposed arts centre: the amount the developer will be paid cannot therefore be determined. The issue of the appropriate procurement route for the project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a preferred developer has been appointed for the Hub Arts Centre in the Cathedral Quarter; and what process is followed for making such an appointment. [92929]

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case, including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. There is no preferred developer for the proposed arts centre: the issue of the appropriate procurement route for the project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the proposals for the Hub Arts Centre in the Cathedral Quarter; what partnerships are envisaged to deliver the proposals; what the cost of delivery is; and what the completion date is. [92938]

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. The issue of the partnerships required to deliver the proposed project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council. As plans for the proposed project have not been finalised, it is not yet possible to determine the cost of delivery and the completion date.

Into The West Scheme

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether individuals will face disciplinary procedures following the departmental investigations regarding the Into The West scheme. [93927]

Mr. Pearson: Investigations are currently being finalised and should any disciplinary action be necessary this will be considered as appropriate when these investigations are complete.

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