---

16 Sept 2003 : Column 719W—continued

Irish Hares

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of whether the Biodiversity Species Action Plan to double the number of Irish Hares by 2010 is likely to be achieved. [129533]

Angela Smith: The target to double the population by 2010 is one of three challenging targets contained in the Species Action Plan for the Irish Hare published in 2000.

The Plan is based primarily on the need to increase the extent, and improve the quality, of habitats favoured by the Irish Hare. While there are specific plans in place for these habitats, demonstrable effects on hare numbers cannot be expected for several years.

At this stage it is not possible to predict whether the target to double the population by 2010 will be achieved. Estimates of the Irish Hare population were made in 1997 and 2002 and suggested that the population

16 Sept 2003 : Column 720W

remained stable between those dates. Further estimates will be made as the Plan progresses, but it should be recognised that the margin of uncertainty associated with these estimates is high, and the detection of population trends is therefore difficult.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has received the report on the status of the Irish Hare for the review of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985; and if he will make a statement. [129534]

Angela Smith: My Department has commissioned a study of changes needed to the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. The study is being carried out to complement aspects of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy and local Species Action Plans. One of its objectives is to examine the case for changes in the legal status of certain species, including the Irish Hare.

A draft report was received by the Department of the Environment on 30 June. It puts forward a number of legislative options in relation to the status of the Irish Hare. The final report is expected to make specific proposals. Before I consider whether to take these proposals forward, I will seek the advice of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group and the Department's statutory advisory committee, the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.

Irish Language

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been made to the policy on the use of the Irish language in (a) the Department of Health and (b) the Department of Education in Northern Ireland since suspension of the devolved Assembly. [121088]

Jane Kennedy: There has been no change in either Department's policy on the use of Irish since the suspension of the Assembly. This is in line with the Secretary of State's decision on 9 December 2002 that Departments should maintain their existing practices with regard to the use of Irish and Ulster Scots. The position was reviewed subsequently and the Secretary of State agreed on 19 March that existing practices should continue for a further period subject to another review in September 2003.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs have been incurred by the Department of (a) Health, Social Services and Public Safety and (b) Education as a result of their Irish language policy in each of the last five years. [120977]

Jane Kennedy: The costs incurred by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in the last five years are as follows.

16 Sept 2003 : Column 721W

	£
1998–99	nil
1999–2000	17,604
2000–01	61,261
2001–02	119,823
2002–03	107,500

The costs incurred by the Department of Education in the last five years are as follows:

	£
1998–99	Nil
1999–2000	2,928
2000–01	10,461
2001–02	18,074
2002–03	16,339

Multiple Sclerosis

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 966W, on multiple sclerosis, how many sufferers of multiple sclerosis have commenced (a) beta interferon and (b) glatiramer treatment in Northern Ireland since 1 January. [122344]

Angela Smith: Since 1 January 2003 20 patients have commenced treatment with (a) beta interferon and one patient has commenced treatment with (b) glatiramer.

Neurosurgery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Early Day Motion 1382 (Neurosurgery in Northern Ireland). [121405]

16 Sept 2003 : Column 722W

Angela Smith: Pressures on the neurosurgery service have arisen mainly as a result of a need for more theatre time, and shortages in experienced nursing staff. This is not a problem unique to Northern Ireland—there are similar problems with this service throughout the NHS.

The Royal Group of Hospitals, in liaison with the four boards, has been working hard to improve the situation, both in the short-term, and with regard to the longer-term development of the service.A task force was established by the trust to lead the effort in addressing the problems faced by the service;

Extra theatre lists have been introduced;

A twin-track approach to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses has been implemented to restore nursing levels and enable more beds to be opened. This has involved:

the appointment of a 'clinical educator' to enhance training


opportunities and to support and increase the number of nurses in training; and


the recruitment of additional nurses, allowing the phased opening of beds from June 2003, with all beds re-opening by January 2004.


A clinical careers framework for nurses has also been launched to improve opportunities for personal development and career pathways;


In addition, treatment has been provided for some suitable patients in units outside Northern Ireland.

These measures should make a significant contribution to addressing the problems in this service. I have asked my Department, in liaison with the boards and the trust, to keep me apprised of progress.

Nurse Recruitment

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses have been recruited in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [123806]

Angela Smith: Figures are provided in the tables.

Bank nurses ⁽¹³⁾ who have been recruited to work in trusts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 (headcount figures given only)

Trust	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
South and East Belfast HSS Trust	1	19	0	5	3	9
Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust	2	5	3	8	7	14
Southern Board HQ	0	0	0	0	0	0
Homefirst Community HSS Trust	Unable to provide
Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust	1	20	16	7	37	41
Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust	26	37	35	22	33	26
Blood Transfusion Service	0	0	1	0	0	0
Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust	26	31	35	45	23	21
Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust	11	11	7	9	8	8
Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust	6	8	17	34	17	38
Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust	20	10	32	32	29	29
Down Lisburn HSS Trust	33	23	22	32	55	39
Regional Medical Physics Agency	Not applicable
Foyle Community HSS Trust	27	53	45	24	14	27
Royal Hospitals	12	3	32	31	19	22
Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust	14	12	21	9	14	9
North and West Belfast HSS Trust	4	13	3	7	15	18
Newry and Mourne HSS Trust	0	0	0	0	14	72
Causeway HSS Trust	27	25	22	8	14	14
Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust	4	0	3	1	2	4
United Hospitals HSS Trust	15	9	15	32	15	14
Total	229	279	309	306	319	405

⁽¹³⁾ Bank nurses are staff who cover for staffing shortfalls and fluctuating workloads in order to maintain service delivery

16 Sept 2003 : Column 723W

Non-bank nurses ⁽¹⁴⁾ who have been recruited to work in trusts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 (headcount figures given only)

Trust	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
South and East Belfast HSS Trust	26	44	41	18	48	59
Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust	5	11	10	10	14	25
Southern Board HQ	0	0	1	1	0	1
Homefirst Community HSS Trust	144	114	195	225	141	312
Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust	30	165	81	115	144	191
Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust	47	75	54	58	34	77
Blood Transfusion Service	1	0	0	0	1	1
Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust	96	86	72	80	81	63
Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust	22	23	35	28	34	22
Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust	20	37	98	82	46	110
Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust	81	71	150	189	248	333
Down Lisburn HSS Trust	39	62	59	57	105	102
Regional Medical Physics Agency	0	0	0	0	0	1
Foyle Community HSS Trust	40	26	46	42	60	36
Royal Hospitals	160	191	253	281	289	341
Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust	74	111	71	39	63	92
North and West Belfast HSS Trust	25	19	22	16	51	30
Newry and Mourne HSS Trust	26	27	18	30	38	47
Causeway HSS Trust	84	61	85	66	72	84
Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust	13	24	36	21	48	85
United Hospitals HSS Trust	107	103	93	120	74	82
Total	1,040	1,250	1,420	1,478	1,591	2,094

⁽¹⁴⁾ Bank nurses have been excluded from these figures—they cover for staffing shortfalls and fluctuating workloads in order to maintain service delivery

---