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17 Sept 2003 : Column 821W—continued
Housing Adaptations
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to abolish the means test for housing adaptations in families with disabled children. [130268]
Mr. Spellar: The review group that was set up to look at the issue has just recently sent its report to me. I will write to the hon. Member for Strangford once I have had the opportunity to consider its recommendations.
Mental Health
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many elderly mentally infirm unit places there are in Northern Ireland. [130258]
Angela Smith: Information on the number of elderly mentally infirm unit places is not available. However, at 31 March 2003, there were approximately 700 elderly mentally infirm persons in residential homes and approximately 1,000 elderly mentally infirm persons in nursing homes, whose care was funded by Health and Social Services Trusts.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals aged 18 and younger are receiving (a) antidepressants, (b) antipsychotics and (c) amphetamines in each health trust in Northern Ireland. [130265]
Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.
MOT Tests
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he intends to take to address the backlog of MOT appointments at the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency. [124558]
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Angela Smith: The principal causes of the current waiting time difficulties have been a significant increase in demand and the temporary closure of test centres for the installation of new test equipment.
The programme of refurbishment will be completed in September this year. In the meantime, a number of steps are being taken to alleviate the position. These include: continuing efforts to recruit additional staff; increased overtime working; the introduction of extended day working into additional centres to increase capacity; diverting technical staff from other duties to testing; working with the equipment supplier to secure higher levels of productivity; better public information and awareness, so that customers have the option of choosing centres with a lower waiting time; and relocating staff in order to match capacity and demand as closely as possible.
Physiotherapy
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recruitment of physiotherapists. [130251]
Angela Smith: The recruitment of staff, including physiotherapists, is a matter for individual Health and Social Services Trusts taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. The Department however has a role in ensuring that sufficient suitably qualified staff are available to meet the needs of the service throughout the health and personal social services.
The Department has looked at ways of improving regional workforce planning mechanisms and in August 2001 a series of comprehensive workforce reviews was launched. These reviews are across the main HPSS professional groups and the physiotherapy staff group is included in this initiative. The first report on the review of the physiotherapy workforce has been completed and its findings indicated that there are currently sufficient physiotherapists in training to meet the needs of the service.
The position however is being kept under review, particularly in light of probable increasing demand that will result from developments in physiotherapy services
Planning
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many enforcement notices were issued by each of the planning divisions in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; how many were issued between 1 April and 9 May; how many are still in operation; and what the timescale is for the act of enforcement to be implemented. [116832]
Angela Smith: Although statistical records maintained by the Planning Service have historically taken account of enforcement procedures, it is only since 1999 that separate data specifically relating to enforcement action has been recorded. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of enforcement statistics by Division.
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Presented in the table is the total number of enforcement notices issued for each year since 1999. These figures are published in the Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the years 1999–2002.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 82 |
| 2000–01 | 54 |
| 2001–02 | 50 |
| 2002–03 | 40 |
| 1 April to 9 May 2003 | 8 |
Note:
The enforcement notices issued since 1 April 2003 remain in effect. Under Article 68(8) of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, each enforcement notice should specify the period for compliance. The period allowed for compliance depends on the circumstances of each case.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial resources were allocated to the implementation of planning enforcement cases in each of the planning divisions in each of the last five years; how many officers are employed to undertake enforcement work in each of the planning divisions in Northern Ireland; and how many there were in 1997. [116833]
Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment's Planning Service's annual expenditure on salaries for officers employed in enforcement work, during the last five financial years, was:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 338,100 |
| 1999–2000 | 353,300 |
| 2000–01 | 369,200 |
| 2001–02 | 385,800 |
| 2002–03 | 403,200 |
There are currently 20 officers devoted to enforcement work. These officers are deployed by Divisional Planning Office as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Belfast Division | 3 |
| Ballymena Division | 3 |
| Craigavon Division | 3 |
| Downpatrick Division | 3 |
| Londonderry Division | 4 |
| Omagh Division | 4 |
The additional officers in the Londonderry and Omagh Divisions are based in the Coleraine and Enniskillen sub-offices.
This dedicated staffing complement was put in place in 1998. Prior to this, enforcement work was taken forward as an integral part of development control casework and it is therefore not possible to provide comparison figures for 1997.
A number of measures to enhance enforcement powers were included in the Planning (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, to simplify, streamline and strengthen the Department's existing enforcement powers.
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Planning Service is also reviewing the resources dedicated to enforcement as part of the Modernising Planning Processes Implementation Plan, and is seeking substantial additional resources to address enforcement and other priority areas. Views on whether the costs of enforcement action should be recovered from planning fees will also be sought in a consultation paper on planning fees, which is due to be published shortly.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is towards third party appeals in relation to planning applications in Northern Ireland. [130216]
Angela Smith: I am conscious of the potential implications that the introduction of third party appeals would have for the operation of Northern Ireland's planning system and economy. That is why I have commissioned a Regulatory Impact Assessment of the impact that third party appeals would have, if introduced. When complete, I will wish to give that assessment the most careful consideration before making a decision on how to deal with this important issue.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what criteria are applied in determining planning applications in areas of townscape character; [130217]
- (2) what steps he has taken to ensure compliance with development guidance notes in relation to planning applications in areas of townscape character; [130218]
(3) if he will take steps to ensure that planning applications in areas of townscape character are carefully monitored pending the determination of policy on third party appeals. [130219]
Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment is obliged by law to have regard to the Development Plan, so far as it is material, and to any other material considerations in determining planning applications. In relation to Areas of Townscape Character, other material considerations includes the Regional Development Strategy, Planning Policy Statements in particular PPS1, PPS6 and PPS7 and advice in the form of supplementary planning guidance.
All proposals in Areas of Townscape Character are carefully assessed to ensure compliance with published policy and guidance taking account of any other relevant matters. As with all planning applications, proposals in Areas of Townscape Character are processed in an open and transparent manner. This allows an opportunity for the receipt of public representations and involves consultation with the relevant district council and other statutory bodies.
To afford additional protection for Areas of Townscape Character, I intend later this year to introduce control over demolition within these areas. When the relevant statutory provisions are concerned, I will publish an addendum to Planning Policy Statement 6, which will set out my Department's policy for the control of development in Areas of Townscape Character.
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