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14 Apr 2003 : Column 492Wcontinued
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the grants paid by (a) his Department and (b) Northern Ireland Government Departments to non-government bodies in the last year for which information is available. [109033]
Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
In financial year 200203 my Department made a large number of grant payments to non-government bodies under various schemes and activities including the following:
Scheme | Description |
---|---|
Regional Selective Assistance | Grant for fixed capital expenditure in Assisted Areas. |
Electronics Design Programme | Grants to enhance awareness and adoption of advanced design methods by SMEs in the sector. |
Acorn | Grants to develop and trail a manageable, staged approach to the adoption of codified best practice environmental systems by SMEs |
EUROIM II | Grant to Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) to provide information and advice to help businesses find partners and prepare proposals for R&D support from EC programme |
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment (HEVACR) | Grant to Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) to kick-start an industry driven self-help initiative aimed at raising competitiveness in the sector. |
Digital Test Bed | Grants to projects to promote take-up of digital broadcasting and prevent market. |
Fast Track | Funding to promote and support innovation, knowledge management and knowledge transfer in the construction sector. |
Manufacturing for Biotechnology Initiative | Grants to highlight the possibilities and strategic importance of the sector e.g. advisory service; training grants. |
Basic Technologies Programme | Grants to co-ordinate activities aimed at the uptake by industry of new and improved technology. |
CARAD | Direct grants for civil aerospace sector to assist with research and technology. |
Cleaner Coal Technology Programme | Grants for R&D on cleaner coals technologies in collaboration with industry. |
LINK | LINK is a generic framework enabling Government Departments and Research Councils to fund research. |
New and Renewable Energy Programme | Grants to encourage uptake of renewable. |
Partners in Innovation | Grants for collaborative innovation research projects relating to the construction industry. |
Faraday | Grants to partnerships of business and research institutions to employ "technology translators". |
Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) | Grants to fund undergraduates working with SME/community organisations undertaking projects specified by business. |
Partnership Fund | Grants to stimulate a step-change in the way employers and employees work together. |
UK Online for Business | Grants to businesses to address the "e-productivity gap" to make the UK a world leader in take-up of information and communication technologies. |
Industry Fora | Grants for projects devised by industry to transfer best practice in various sectors. |
Manufacturing Advisory Service | Advisory service introducing manufacturing best practice and for a national network of Centres of Manufacturing Expertise |
Regional Enterprise Grants | Grants to firms with growth potential for investment in assisted areas. |
Building Up Biomaterials | Grant to establish R&D and knowledge transfer. |
Digital TV Initiative (Part of Digital TV Action plan) | Grants to projects to provide groundwork on barriers to switchover. |
Britech | Bilateral collaborative R&D programme between UK/Israel. |
Smart | Grants to feasibility and prototype projects to encourage investment in small, early-stage technology projects. |
Teaching Companies Scheme | Grants to fund graduates (TCS Associates) working within a firm/group of firms on a specific technology transfer project. |
ICT Carrier Programme | Grants to projects designed to improve process and product in engineering businesses. |
Science and Engineering Ambassadors | Grants to provide external consultancy services to support management of a network of science and engineering ambassadors. |
SETNET (including STEM) | Grants to draw together existing and develop new initiatives aimed at fostering the teaching and learning of engineering-related subjects in schools. |
ITEC Skills Programme | Grants to programmes designed to improve information technology, electronics and communications skills in schools and the workforce, and to promote diversity in these professions |
Sustainable Technologies Initiative | Part of this scheme is delivered through LINK (see above). There is also additional funding for wider collaborative R&D activities. |
Bio-wise | Grants to improve awareness of the potential of the biotechnology industry and to facilitate the take up of biotechnology. |
Applied Genomics | Extension of existing Applied Genomics LINK programme to fully utilise unspent Research Council funds |
Corn-met 2005 | Grants to Mechanical and Metal Trades Confederation (METCOM) for research into sector's competitive deficiencies and for programmes to address these. |
14 Apr 2003 : Column 493W
I am unable to give details of individual grants paid under these schemes for reasons of third party's commercial confidences.
My Department is not responsible for grants paid by Northern Ireland Government Departments.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are for a teenage cancer unit in Northern Ireland. [109217]
Mr. Browne: In January 2003 the Department agreed that the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust should prepare an Outline Business Case for the development of services at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The Trust is currently preparing the Outline Business Case, which includes a proposal for the establishment of a dedicated multi-disciplinary adolescent unit containing provision for teenagers with cancer.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teenagers with cancer in Belfast South were treated on wards for children or old people in each of the last three years. [109218]
Mr. Browne: The following table shows the number of teenagers from the Belfast South parliamentary constituency who were admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland when the primary diagnosis was cancer.
Number of admissions | |
---|---|
19992000 | 36 |
200001 | 15 |
200102 | 20 |
Source:
Hospital in-patients system
Information about the type of wards in which patients are treated is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps primary care trusts in South Belfast are taking to tackle late and mis-diagnosis of teenagers with cancer. [109219]
Mr. Browne: Most young people with suspected cancer are usually seen by a specialist within 24 hours of referral by their GP. Cancers in teenagers are very rare and are mostly haematological malignancies. The Department's Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer is currently developing regional guidance on haematological malignancies, including paediatric malignancies, which will be issued to all relevant clinicians, including doctors in primary care.
The Department and the Eastern Health and Social Services Board are not considering any further specific action at this time in relation to late diagnosis or misdiagnosis of teenagers with cancer.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Government does not recognise teenagers as a separate category for delivery of health services. [109220]
14 Apr 2003 : Column 494W
Mr. Browne: The Government do recognise that in many areas of health care adolescents have particular needs. Work is being taken forward in areas such as cancer, mental health, learning disability, drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy to address, where possible, the particular needs of teenagers.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what reasons underlie the increase in staff employed by his Office between 1998 and 2002. [108948]
The Prime Minister: The main changes to my office are outlined in the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 March 2003, Official Report, columns 12527W.
The number of staff has increased in response to the changes made following the June 2001 election, as outlined in the press notice which I placed in the Library of the House at the time, and in order to cover additional pressures on my office which include operational matters and dealing with more correspondence, over one million letters over the last year alone.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on hospitality by the (a) strategic communications unit and (b) corporate communications division in 200102. [108949]
The Prime Minister: During 200102, the units spent £730 on hospitality, including refreshments at meetings and seminars for government officials and other external visitors. All hospitality was provided in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".
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