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30 Oct 2003 : Column 332W—continued
Human Organs
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the National CJD Unit in Edinburgh monitored all imports and exports of brains and brain material between Belfast and Dublin. [132411]
Angela Smith: Brain and brain tissue samples which have been sent between Belfast and Dublin relate only to Multiple Sclerosis and related demyelinating disorders of the brain and not to suspected cases of CJD. The National CJD Unit in Edinburgh therefore does not monitor the movement of these samples.
Cancer Services
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional (a) specialist medical, (b) nursing and (c) other staff have been employed since March 2001 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland. [133870]
Angela Smith: A table showing the number of additional specialist medical, nursing and other staff employed by Health and Social Services Trusts between 31 March 2001 and 30 September 2003 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland is shown in the following table.
(7) Health and Social Services
(8) Whole Time Equivalent
(9) Craigavon area hospital has increased the hours of an existing member of specialist medical staff to improve cancer services within the trust—that is why the headcount is 0 but whole time equivalent is 0.30
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Illegal Arms/Explosives
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the amounts of illegal arms and explosives held by the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) Real IRA, (c) Continuity IRA, (d) UVF, (e) UDA, (f) LVF and (g) INLA. [135443]
Jane Kennedy: This information is only available from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment. The Government and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning will resolutely continue to pursue complete decommissioning by all paramilitary organisations to ensure that there is a permanent end to paramilitary activity in all its forms.
Northern Ireland Fire Authority
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the Northern Ireland Fire Authority is complying with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in relation to equality of opportunity. [134247]
Angela Smith: We are satisfied with the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland's commitment to the requirements of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Authority submits annual reports to the Equality Commission setting out its compliance with section 75.
PSNI (Facilities)
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the accessibility of Police Service of Northern Ireland sporting and social facilities and premises to former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [135444]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson) on 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 727W, in respect of access to PSNI sporting facilities. This is a matter for the Chief Constable.
With regard to access to PSNI social facilities, this is a matter for the Council of the RUC Athletic Association, however I am advised that under rule 5 of the Association, retired RUC officers are full members along with serving officers of the PSNI.
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Regeneration Funding (Belfast)
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has in relation to allocation of Belfast Regeneration Office Action Plan resources for Belfast. [134615]
Mr. Spellar: The Belfast Regeneration Office Action Plan is currently under consideration by Government.
Salmon
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon fish farms have been operating, and how many fish were produced, in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [135446]
Mr. Pearson: The information is as follows:
| Number of licensed salmon fish farms | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
Due to the fact that there has been only one salmon fish farm operating in Northern Ireland for the past five years, the production figures for each of the last five years is not in the public domain as it would be too easy to identify the company involved.
Waiting Times
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are waiting for (a) hip and (b) knee replacement operations; how many of these have been waiting (i) less than 12 months, (ii) between 12 and 18 months, (iii) between 18 and 24 months and (iv) longer than 24 months; what steps he is taking to reduce these figures; and if he will make a statement. [134830]
Angela Smith: Information on people waiting for treatment is collected on the basis of specialty rather than the type of operation. The number of patients in Northern Ireland awaiting admission to hospital, as either an inpatient or day case, in the trauma and
30 Oct 2003 : Column 335W
orthopaedic specialty is detailed in the following table. Figures are representative of the position at the end of June 2003 (the latest information available).
| Time waiting (months) | Number |
|---|---|
| 0–11 | 4,132 |
| 12–17 | 721 |
| 18–23 | 325 |
| 24+ | 611 |
| Total waiters | 5,789 |
Source:
CH1
I am aware that there are significant waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery at present. This reflects a general increase in demand over recent years for orthopaedic services and waiting lists have grown as a result.
A number of measures are being taken to deal with this increase in demand including increasing the number of orthopaedic surgeons in training and the recent building of two modular theatres, costing £3.8 million, on the Musgrave Park Hospital site. The provision of these new theatres will increase theatre capacity, increase capacity for fracture services, stabilise and reduce waiting lists, and facilitate the mix of elective, trauma and out-patient work of consultant orthopaedic surgeons.
TRANSPORT
A14
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on (a) consulting on, (b) designing and (c) advertising the Highways Agency's proposal for grade-separated junctions along the A14 between Brampton and Thrapston; who decided to stop the proposal; what evaluation of project was originally undertaken; how that changed before the decision was taken to stop the proposals; what the alternative schemes are; how the value for money of the alternative schemes has been evaluated; for what reason the alternative schemes were not produced when the original proposal was withdrawn; what low cost safety improvements are planned; and when they will be made. [134862]
Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Stephen Hickey, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mr. Jonathan Djanogly, dated 30 October 2003:
- I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A14 Thrapston to Brampton Grade Separation Scheme and the decision to suspend further work on the project following a recent re-evaluation of scheme benefits under the continuous value management process.
- I know that you have been in correspondence with the Agency's Bedford office on this matter and that a meeting with officials has been arranged for Friday 31 October 2003 The information you seek will be made available at that meeting.
30 Oct 2003 : Column 336W
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 21 October, Official Report, column 472W, on air travel (compensation) when his Department will produce an updated Regulatory Impact Assessment reflecting changes made during negotiation; and if he will place it in the Library. [135368]
Mr. McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2003, Official Report, columns 257–58W.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received sufficient information on possible new runway sites at (a) Birmingham (alternative runway proposal), (b) Gatwick (alternative runway proposals by BAA), (c) Redhill, (d) the Marinair site, (e) Severnside, (f) Sheppey and (g) Thames Reach, to enable consideration to be given to them in the forthcoming White Paper on Air Transport. [135191]
Dr. Howells: As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, has made clear on many occasions, we will consider carefully all serious, worked-up proposals submitted as responses to the consultation.
The Department held discussions with several promoters of proposals for new airport capacity that are alternatives to, or variants of, options set out in the Government's consultation document. The aim has been to provide guidance on the methodology used to appraise options in the SERAS study and on the information that will be needed by the Department in order to appraise alternative ideas submitted as part of the consultation.
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