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31 Mar 2003 : Column 529W—continued
Entertainment
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on all forms of entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92358]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The estimated total spend by the Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs)on all forms of entertainment in each financial year from 1994–95 to 2002–03 is set out in the table:
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 1994–95 | 190,300 |
| 1995–96 | 195,205 |
| 1996–97 | 214,363 |
| 1997–98 | 214,473 |
| 1998–99 | 322,853 |
| 1999–2000 | 320,230 |
| 2000–01 | 246,517 |
| 2001–02 | 221,477 |
| 2002–03 | (12)255,875 |
(12) To date (full year estimate £325,000)
Entertainment at public expense is provided using very strict criteria. A necessary pre-condition for any entertainment or hospitality to be financed from public funds is that it will be in the direct interests of the Northern Ireland Office and/or its Agencies. The facility to offer official entertainment or hospitality is used sparingly and is carefully monitored.
The estimated total spend by the Northern Ireland Administration on all forms of entertainment in each financial year from 1994–95 to 2002–03 is set out in the table:
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 1994–95 | 245,377 |
| 1995–96 | 407,248 |
| 1996–97 | 466,995 |
| 1997–98 | 453,807 |
| 1998–99 | 480,317 |
| 1999–2000 | 493,729 |
| 2000–01 | 595,261 |
| 2001–02 | 534,712 |
| 2002–03 | (13)479,036 |
(13) To date
Further Education
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the information and communication technology strategy for further education has achieved its targets in terms of the number of full-time equivalent further education lecturers per networked PC. [103332]
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Jane Kennedy: The information and communications technology strategy set a target of one networked PC to every three full-time equivalent FE Lecturers. While there are variances between colleges, the target has been exceeded for the sector as a whole with one networked PC to every 1.94 FE lecturers.
Grammar Schools
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will instruct a Minister from his Department to meet representatives of the grammar school sector in Northern Ireland to discuss arrangements relating to selection and entry to those schools; and if he will make a statement. [104647]
Jane Kennedy: Diary pressures have restricted my meetings on the post-primary review to Northern Ireland political parties. However, in December I hosted a dinner for the main education sector interests, including the Governing Bodies Association representing the views of the voluntary grammar schools, to hear at first hand views on how best to take the review forward. In recent months my officials have met representatives of the GBA on four occasions and with representatives of grammar school principals on three occasions on this issue, most recently on Wednesday 26 March. My officials keep me fully advised of the views of the grammar school sector and I do not believe a meeting is necessary at the present time.
Laptops
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [97501]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office has purchased the following number of laptops:
| Year | No. Laptops purchased | Stolen | Cost of laptops stolen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 25 | ||
| 1997–98 | 28 | ||
| 1998–99 | 34 | ||
| 1999–00 | 55 | 1 | 1,500.00 |
| 2000–01 | 30 | ||
| 2001–02 | 18 | ||
| 2002–03 | 17 | 1 | 1,500.00 |
| Total: | 207 |
Records show that the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was provided with a laptop in 1999–2000. The current Secretary of State's special adviser has been provided with a laptop. Neither the current Secretary of State nor Ministers have laptops
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provided by the Northern Ireland Office. In the period from 1999 to date Ministers' offices were provided with a total of seven laptops. Detailed information prior to 1999 is not available.
No laptops have been reported as lost. Two laptops have been reported as stolen.Each cost in the region of £1,500.
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For the Northern Ireland Administration, the number of laptop computers used, lost and stolen in, each year since 1995 by Ministers, special advisers and officials are set out in the table . The information relating to Ministers and special advisers in the Northern Ireland Administration is for the periods of devolution only. In the case of one department figures are not available prior to 1998.
| Laptops used by: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Minister and special advisers(2 December 1999 to 11 February 2000 30 May 2000 to 14 October 2002) | Officials | Lost | Stolen | Cost of Laptopslost/stolen |
| 1995–96 | 297 | ||||
| 1996–97 | 314 | 1 | 1 | 2,000 | |
| 1997–98 | 367 | 2 | 2,675 | ||
| 1998–99 | 415 | 1 | 1,546 | ||
| 1999–2000 | 8 | 814 | 2 | 1 | 3,812 |
| 2000–01 | 13 | 931 | 8 | 17 | 35,494 |
| 2001–02 | 12 | 1,114 | 9 | 10,745 | |
| 2002–03 (to 17/02/03) | 13 | 1,040 | 7 | 1 | 4,750 |
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on ministerial travel (a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if he will make a statement. [92490]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office follow Cabinet Office guidance on this matter. The guidance states, "Since 1999 this Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
Information for 1997–98 was included in the 1999 list. The overall cost of Ministers' visits for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 was most recently provided with the 2001 list. The information for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.
Detailed information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
The estimated total expenditure by the devolved Northern Ireland Administration on ministerial travel between 2 December 1999—11 February 2000 and 30 May 2000—14 October 2002 was £363,630.69.
A breakdown of the figures for Northern Ireland Administration departments is shown in the table.
| UK | Abroad | |
|---|---|---|
| DOE | 2,554.50 | 1,010.17 |
| DFP | 281.00 | 5,253.00 |
| DETI | 6,591.35 | 102,912.19 |
| DRD | 2,879.00 | 10,375.00 |
| DARD | 1,749.28 | 19,445.02 |
| DEL | 2,447.35 | 9,031.70 |
| DHSSPS | 1,981.82 | 1,756.87 |
| DE | 1,683.90 | 10,683.01 |
| DSD | 00.00 | 00.00 |
| DCAL | 2,920.75 | 4,074.78 |
| Sub-Totals: | 23,088.95 | 164,541.74 |
| OFMDFM | ||
| 2000–01 | (14)60,000.00 | (14) |
| 2001–02 | (14)55,000.00 | (14) |
| 2002–03 | 21,000.00 | 40,000.00 |
| Sub-Totals: | 136,000.00 | 40,000.00 |
(14) The information is not held in the required format
Multiple Sclerosis
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress made in 2003 (a) to increase the number of multiple sclerosis sufferers commencing beta interferon treatment and (b) to provide more specialist staff for multiple sclerosis treatment. [105191]
Mr. Browne: There are several disease modifying medicines (three beta interferon products and glatiramer) currently available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). To meet the needs of all MS patients, including those who have been assessed as suitable for treatment with disease modifying drugs, there is also a requirement to secure the services of professionals with specialist expertise.
Such treatment is supplied through the regional neurology services based at the Royal Group of Hospitals (RGH). They recently advertised for MS specialist nurses and interviews are scheduled to take place in April 2003. It is anticipated that this will both sustain current services and enhance provision for MS sufferers.
RGH has appointed two additional pharmacists to commence in April 2003 and a pharmacy technician to enhance services for patients who receive specialist medicines, including disease-modifying drugs. Beyond
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this, two additional pharmacy members of staff have been appointed to specifically enhance delivery of pharmacy services for MS patients.
At the end of February 2003, the RGH pharmacy was supplying disease-modifying drugs to 444 patients. This figure does not include patients who are taking a break from treatment for clinical and other reasons, nor those who are being supplied drugs through third party commercial suppliers—for example, a number of additional patients in the Western Health and Social Services Board area have been offered treatment through a contract with a private sector organisation.
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