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15 Sept 2003 : Column 566W—continued
Autism Services
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to standardise the services available to sufferers of autism in different parts of Northern Ireland, with particular reference to applied behaviour analysis provision for schoolchildren. [116374]
Jane Kennedy: Children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represent a continuum of need, ranging from mild impairments, to the more severe. The Education and Library Boards (ELBs) provide specialised support to schools with pupils with ASD and the Department of Education is aware that there is a degree of variation in assessment and provision across the Province. Work is currently under way between the Department and the ELBs in order to standardise practice by producing criteria which will be common across the board areas.
In line with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's "Priorities for Action 2003/04" the Health and Social Services Trusts, in consultation with the ELBs, are developing costed proposals to enhance diagnostic, assessment and support services.
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is one of a range of interventions used in working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and all of the Boards' Educational Psychologists receive training in ABA techniques as part of their degree qualification.
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The Report of the Task Group on Autism, published in May 2002 states that:
- "The Task Group finds preference for no single approach but concludes that single methods by themselves may not address effectively the triad of impairments associated with ASD. The Group concludes that intervention programmes should be child-centred rather than method-centred, and should address the observed and unique needs of the child and any variation in these which occurs over time and across settings and situations."
Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to offer respite care for parents and children with Autism at the proposed Centre of Excellence. The centre is planned as an educational facility.
Beef Exports
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total tonnage of beef exports in Northern Ireland was in each of the last seven years. [115272]
Mr. Pearson: There has been only limited exports of beef from Northern Ireland in each of the last seven years. Exports of 260 and 400 tonnes were made under the Export Certified Herd Scheme in 1998 and 1999 respectively. Northern Ireland companies have either recently been approved, or are at an advanced stage leading to approval, under the Date Based Export Scheme. To date, only an insignificant tonnage of beef has been exported but it is expected that volumes will increase as new contracts are secured and more companies are fully approved in the coming months.
BSE
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to achieve separate moderate BSE status for Northern Ireland. [115273]
Mr. Pearson: Until last week the definition of BSE moderate risk status was 100 BSE positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. Northern Ireland incidence of positive cases of BSE for the period May 2002 to April 2003 is 112 positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. In view of this incidence level it was not possible for Northern Ireland to seek separate BSE moderate risk status.
At the Annual General Meeting of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) in Paris on 18–23 May, the EU proposed and the OIE accepted that, taking into
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consideration the active BSE monitoring programmes in place, and their efficiency at detecting BSE cases, the definition of "moderate risk status" should be doubled to 200 cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months .
The current BSE incidence rate in the UK is above the 200 cases per million requirement but on current trends should drop below the 200 cases threshold by the end of the year. Taking Northern Ireland alone, we are already below the 200 threshold.
While the development at OIE is welcome, before the UK or any region can be classified as having moderate risk status, this needs to be recognised in EU legislation. This may not necessarily be straightforward.
Discussions are taking place with the European Commission on how best to present a case that all the criteria for moderate risk status are met. This is being taken forward on a UK basis but I will wish to consider making a separate case for Northern Ireland if progress on the UK case is delayed.
Causeway Health and Social Services Trust
Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments have been made by the Causeway HSS Trust to former employees of the Trust, by way of settlement for cessation of employment for reasons other than age retirement or retirement on medical grounds; when each payment was made; what the individual amount of each payment was; and for what the payments were made, in financial years (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [128345]
Angela Smith: The details requested are set out in the following table:
| Date of payment | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | ||
| January 2002 | 22,034 | Redundancy |
| March 2002 | 4,250 | Constructive dismissal settlement |
| 2002–03 | ||
| February 2003 | 1,500 | Unfair dismissal settlement |
| March 2003 | 1,750 | Constructive dismissal settlement |
| February 2003 | 750 | Unfair dismissal settlement |
Mature Students (Child Care Support)
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Irelands how many mature students are in receipt of child care grants in Northern Ireland. [128279]
Jane Kennedy: In the 2002/03 academic year, 135 mature students aged 25 or over and domiciled in Northern Ireland received the grant in accordance with the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland).
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Child Support Agency
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many instances the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland has recorded of (a) deliberate evasive action to prevent the agency securing maintenance payments through (i) deduction from earnings and (ii) deduction from benefits and (b) preventing court action for enforcement through non-co-operation. [116096]
Mr. Browne: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency. I have asked the chief executive to respond to the hon. Gentleman's question directly. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Freedom of Information
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the electronic document and electronic record management systems which have been procured by the public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which he is responsible. [116395]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The following NI public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which I am responsible have procured Electronic Document and Records Management Systems.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment purchased 50 licences for electronic document and record management (EDRM) software from Objective Corporation UK Ltd. in February 2003 to support the implementation of the Department's first major e-business project in Corporate Regulation Branch.
Invest NI, having tendered for supply of an EDRM system, have selected and purchased Meridio release 3.3 from Meridio Ltd. in March 2003.
Entrepreneurship/Education
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to promote greater integration of entrepreneurship and education in Northern Ireland. [128288]
Mr. Pearson: In March 2003, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, published "Enterprising Education"—the Entrepreneurship and Education Action Plan.
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Fully integrating entrepreneurship and education will take time and concentrated effort by a range of key stakeholders. The primary purpose of Enterprising Education is to establish an initial framework of action to provide a strong foundation for moving forward the integration process. The long-term goal is to ensure that every learner, including life-long learners, is given the opportunity to build the skills and develop the attributes which equip any individual to make a unique, innovative and creative contribution in the world of work.
The Action Plan, which will establish benchmarks, is the first stage in a longer-term process and will inform future decision-making. Progress will be reviewed on an annual basis and each Department will continue to promote the benefits of strengthening business/education links within their respective Departments and the wider circles in which they operate.
A copy of the Action Plan can be viewed or downloaded at www.detini.gov.uk.
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