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21 Oct 2003 : Column 528W—continued

Modern Apprenticeships

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the take-up rate of modern apprenticeships

21 Oct 2003 : Column 529W

in Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) industrial sector, (b) gender and (c) parliamentary constituency. [132794]

21 Oct 2003 : Column 530W

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is in the following tables.

Modern apprenticeships

Industrial sector	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	Total
Administration, Clerical & IT	127	135	286	255	218	1021
Creative, Educational, Recreational	34	20	45	43	43	185
Health Community & Personal Services	115	98	224	340	357	1,134
Selling & Storage	12	103	302	168	128	713
Hotel & Catering, Food Preparation	16	59	175	299	532	1,081
Agricultural & Related	39	21	44	48	37	189
Construction & Civil Engineering	377	95	823	973	729	2,997
Motor Vehicle Repairs & Maintenance	159	75	251	263	260	1,008
Printing	1	26	28	9	21	85
Processing	12	5	28	32	27	104
Engineering	274	505	893	894	734	3,300
Total	1,166	1,142	3,099	3,324	3,086	11,817

Note:

It is not possible to provide the data by parliamentary constituency

Gender	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	Total
Male	913	817	2,340	2,492	2,181	8,743
Female	253	325	759	832	905	3,074
Total	1,166	1,142	3,099	3,324	3,086	11,817

Multiple Sclerosis

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend (a) beta interferon and (b) glatiramer therapy for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers in Northern Ireland before the end of 2003. [132473]

Angela Smith: Extra staff have now been recruited specifically to enhance the delivery of services for Multiple Sclerosis patients. It is expected that a considerable number of the patients on the current waiting list will be started on treatment by the end of the current financial year. The suitability of a specific therapy for an individual patient is a matter for the clinicians concerned, in consultation with the patient.

Electoral Identity Cards

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electors had obtained photo identity cards by (a) 1 May, (b) 29 May and (c) 1 September. [133288]

Mr. Spellar: The number of Electoral Identity Cards issued by each of the dates specified is as follows:

(a) 1 May—55,024


(b) 29 May—66,605


(c) 1 September—79,762

Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which bodies were consulted prior to the laying of the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003 on 10 July 2003; and which bodies were consulted prior to its withdrawal during the summer recess. [133298]

Jane Kennedy: Prior to laying the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003, consultation took place with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Policing Board and the authorities at Belfast City Airport. The draft Order was withdrawn following consultation with the Chief Constable and the airport authorities.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003 was withdrawn. [133299]

Jane Kennedy: I agreed to withdraw this Order once I had been assured that the Belfast City Airport Authority would make provision for an armed policing presence in accordance with the Chief Constable's recommendation.

Post-mortem Information

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the post mortem information leaflet intended for supply to all households in Northern Ireland. [132477]

Angela Smith: Over 600,000 of the leaflets have now been issued. A further 2,952 leaflets will be sent out over the period 17–22 November. The Royal Mail has advised that the distribution of a leaflet to every household in Northern Ireland will be competed by 23 November 2003.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have commenced (a) Remicade and (b) Enbrel treatment during the current year in Northern Ireland. [132464]

Angela Smith: This year to date, six rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have commenced treatment with Remicade and a further six have commenced treatment with Enbrel.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend (a) remicade and (b) enbrel therapy for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in Northern Ireland before the end of 2003. [132474]

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Angela Smith: Extra recurrent funding has been provided, which has enabled the first phase of a three-phase project to commence, allowing a significant expansion in these therapies to suitable patients by the end of this year. The decision on the appropriate therapy for an individual patient is a matter for the clinician concerned, in consultation with the patient.

21 Oct 2003 : Column 532W

Social Housing

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new build social houses were commenced and completed in each of the last five years, broken down by location. [120153]

Mr. Spellar : The following table details the number of new build starts and completions by District Council Area for the five years 1998–99 to 2002–03.

Social housing: Starts and completions for past five years

	1998–99		1999–2000		2000–01
District Council	Houses started	Houses completed	Houses started	Houses completed	Houses started	Houses completed
Antrim	0	13	4	4	16	0
Ards	30	36	49	7	14	15
Armagh	98	25	4	102	15	10
Ballymena	69	80	2	11	46	60
Ballymoney	0	11	12	0	0	12
Banbridge	32	37	10	0	0	10
Belfast	691	542	649	542	367	483
Carrick	81	33	39	31	0	52
Castlereagh	84	0	20	0	0	84
Coleraine	43	16	0	62	10	27
Cookstown	12	21	0	12	7	0
Craigavon	108	71	16	53	11	58
Derry	236	242	420	188	305	135
Down	145	97	75	69	7	116
Dungannon	18	20	4	44	27	3
Fermanagh	50	42	15	67	27	35
Larne	0	49	0	0	0	0
Limavady	42	0	23	53	37	42
Lisburn	152	72	231	137	90	132
Magherafelt	16	13	8	24	9	6
Moyle	40	37	0	28	0	0
Newry & Mourne	31	91	95	46	25	80
Newtownabbey	86	34	27	20	12	32
North Down	50	9	18	97	0	4
Omagh	124	31	22	116	30	37
Strabane	59	66	77	25	72	75
Total	2,297	1,688	1,820	1,738	1,127	1,508

	2001–02		2002–03
District Council	Houses started	Houses completed	Houses started	Houses completed
Antrim	9	31	2	9
Ards	18	84	0	0
Armagh	4	19	0	0
Ballymena	0	27	20	33
Ballymoney	6	0	2	4
Banbridge	0	32	1	1
Belfast	611	681	447	392
Carrick	15	27	30	15
Castlereagh	0	20	0	6
Coleraine	7	10	45	0
Cookstown	0	7	0	0
Craigavon	0	13	18	0
Derry	103	336	45	334
Down	63	37	7	51
Dungannon	2	12	4	14
Fermanagh	6	38	55	5
Larne	15	15	0	0
Limavady	0	22	11	31
Lisburn	9	172	113	86
Magherafelt	5	2	6	5
Moyle	0	0	0	0
Newry & Mourne	36	25	33	38
Newtownabbey	18	27	0	12
North Down	100	56	31	44
Omagh	1	25	22	5
Strabane	2	62	8	50
Total	1,030	1,780	900	1,135

Note:

Figures include properties purchased or rehabilitated.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Analogue Transmission

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the timetable for the ending of the analogue system of television transmission. [132798]

Mr. Caborn: The Digital TV Action Plan sets out a series of actions to ensure that the criteria set for switchover are met so the Government can, if we choose, take the decision to proceed to full switchover by ordering the switching off by 2010 of analogue terrestrial transmissions. Details of the switchover criteria are contained in the Action Plan, which can be found on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

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