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14 Oct 2003 : Column 206W—continued
Food Expenditure
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on food by his Department and by each agency for which it is responsible in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance he has issued to encourage the procurement of home-grown food; and if he will make a statement. [129379]
Mr. Pearson: Expenditure on food in NICS Departments is generally limited to official hospitality and staff catering subsidies of approximately £700,000 per annum in both 2001–02 and 2002–03. Staff catering services have been contracted out since the early '90s and the purchase of food is therefore the responsibility of the private sector catering service providers.
Departments do not have detailed information to identify what proportion of that food by value was produced in the Untied Kingdom other than statements from catering service providers that, where possible, the majority of fresh food would be sourced in Northern Ireland.
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No guidance has been issued encouraging the procurement of home produced food; however, my Department is liasing with the Departments of Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland and nationally with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in developing policy and best practice guidance on food procurement to ensure quality standards and value for money. This process has also involved consultation with stakeholders including the World Wildlife Fund, Livestock Marketing Commission and Ulster Farmers Union.
Forensic Service
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding he intends to make available, following the completion of the evaluation phase, to support the acquisition of new premises for the Forensic Science Agency. [130335]
Mr. Spellar: I await the outcome of the current accommodation review before making decisions on the most appropriate funding and procurement routes to secure necessary facilities for the Agency.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps have been taken (a) to put an adequate maintenance and refurbishment programme in place for and (b) to replace the current premises and facilities of the Forensic Science Agency. [130336]
Mr. Spellar: FSNI continues to service and maintain its facilities. Following the outcome of the current accommodation review, I will be making decisions on the future accommodation requirements of the Agency. Alongside this, consideration will also be given to any further action needed to maintain facilities in the interim.
Foster Carers
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what allowances are made available by local authorities for foster carers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [131372]
Angela Smith: In Northern Ireland, Health and Social Services (HSS) trusts pay fostering allowances, which are agreed each year in consultation with the four HSS boards. The standard rates known as the 'Model Scheme' in Northern Ireland are currently lower than the average amount paid by local authorities in England. However, boards and trusts have increased allowances within the Model Scheme by 5.5 per cent. for 2003–04. Different rates are payable for children of different ages ranging from £285.88 per four weeks for children aged 0–4 to £513.52 per four weeks for children aged 16+ . The scale of foster care allowances is set out in the following table. Enhanced allowances are also available to cover, for example, expenses incurred at Christmas and birthdays and the cost of school uniforms and educational holidays.
My Department is currently developing a Strategy for Children in Need which will include children in foster care. It is intended that we will work closely with HSS boards, trusts and the fostering network to develop a three-year plan for fostering in Northern Ireland. This will have regard to the issues raised in the Strategy for
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Foster Care Services in Northern Ireland which has already been developed by the four HSS boards in association with the fostering network, including those which relate to remuneration of foster carers.
| Age group | Per week | Per four weeks | Per annum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 71.47 | 285.88 | 3,716.44 |
| 5–10 | 81.41 | 325.64 | 4,233.32 |
| 11–15 | 101.36 | 405.44 | 5,270.72 |
| 16+ | 128.38 | 513.52 | 6,675.76 |
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered foster carers there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the recruitment of foster carers in Northern Ireland. [131374]
Angela Smith: The routine collection of data by my Department on the numbers of registered foster carers in Northern Ireland commenced in 2001 and the returns from that date are presented in the following table. In addition a figure is available for 1997 from a fostering inspection report published by the Social Services Inspectorate. This, too, is presented in following table.
There are difficulties with the recruitment and retention of foster carers. Despite numerous recruitment campaigns by Health and Social Services (HSS) Boards and Trusts, problems with the recruitment of foster carers continue to exist.
The success in recruitment and retention of foster carers is dependent on many factors including remuneration, training, the status that foster carers receive and support, particularly in times of crisis. My Department is currently in the process of developing a strategy for all children in need including those in foster care. It is intended that, as part of that strategy, the Department will work in liaison with HSS Boards and Trusts and the Fostering Network to develop a three year costed fostering plan. The plan will, of course, take account of the issues raised in the Strategy for Foster Care Services developed by the four HSS Boards in conjunction with the Fostering Network, which I understand will be published soon.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,380 |
| 1998–2000 | (40)— |
| 2001 | 1,155 |
| 2002 | 1,132 |
| 2003 | 1,192 |
(40) Data not routinely collected.
Further Education
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he plans to allow all children who wish to remain in education until age 19 to do so. [130256]
Jane Kennedy: The Government encourage young people in Northern Ireland to continue in full-time education beyond the compulsory school leaving age of
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16 and as far as possible facilitate the decisions of those who wish to do so subject of course to the entrance requirements of the specific institution.
Gransha Road, Dundonald
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on claims made by members of the public in 2002 about tarmac laid on the Gransha Road, Dundonald. [130986]
Mr. Spellar: On 25 July 2002 routine surface dressing work was carried out on behalf of the Department at Gransha Road by its measured term contractor, Tullyraine Quarries Ltd.
On 29 July 2002 reports were received about the failure of the surface dressing and of a substantial number of vehicle damage claims caused by this failure.
The failure was investigated by the Department and these investigations led to the Department referring all the Gransha Road vehicle damage claims then known, approximately 400, to the contractor, Tullyraine Quarries Ltd., in accordance with proper legal and audit practice and procedure.
The Department maintains its position that legal responsibility for the claims lies with its contractor, Tullyraine Quarries Ltd. The contractor has not to date conceded responsibility and the claims remain outstanding.
One of the motorists, who sustained vehicle damage on 29 July 2002, issued legal proceedings on 22 July 2003 against the Department, Tullyraine Quarries Ltd. and Lagan Services Ltd. This on-going court action shall proceed as a test case.
The Department cannot comment any further as the legal issues are now sub judice.
Health Service (Sick Leave)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the longest time is that an employee has been on sick leave in each of the health trusts in Northern Ireland. [130862]
Angela Smith: The information is not readily available in the format requested. However the following table contains information, which Trusts were able to provide. The entitlement for paid sick leave for any employee is a maximum of 12 months, six months full pay and six months half pay. Employees can remain on the Trust payroll for a number of reasons; these include applications for ill health retirement, where the recovery period is longer or where a member of staff is terminally ill.
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Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sick leave days were taken in Northern Ireland by (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) other health professionals and (d) other employees in (i) 1998, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1988. [130863]
Angela Smith: Information on sick absence is not held centrally and not all trusts were able to supply full details in the required format. However, information supplied by individual trusts is set out in the following table.
(41) N/A
(42) All grades—breakdown not available
Note:
All figures are working days lost.
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Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general practitioners in Northern Ireland are on sick leave; and for what length of time each has been on sick leave. [130864]
Angela Smith: As a general practitioner is entitled to his or her full normal remuneration during absence on account of illness, not all GPs report when they are unable to attend work due to sickness. The total number of GPs on sick absence is therefore not known. However it is known that at 31 August 2003, 31 general practitioners have reported absent from their practice on account of sickness.
| Number of weeks | Number of GPs |
|---|---|
| Under 2 weeks | 5 |
| 2–4 weeks | 3 |
| 5–13 weeks | 11 |
| 14–26 weeks | 7 |
| Over 26 weeks | 5 |
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