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17 Nov 2003 : Column 475W—continued
Benefit Payments
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in (a) disability living allowance, (b) unemployment benefit and (c) incapacity benefit in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [138992]
Mr. Spellar: The most recent figures available are attached in the following table:
| Benefit | Expenditure from October 2002–September 2003 (£000) |
|---|---|
| Disability living allowance | 493,526 |
| Jobseekers allowance—income based | 89,249 |
| Jobseekers allowance—contributory based | 14,719 |
| Incapacity benefit | 319,061 |
| Total | 916,555 |
Note:
Unemployment benefit has now been replaced by jobseekers allowance, both income-based and contributory-based.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [138977]
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Mr. Pearson: The following table gives the number of deaths resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, registered in Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002.
| Deaths | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 627 |
| 1999 | 704 |
| 2000 | 610 |
| 2001 | 584 |
| 2002 | 553 |
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northern Ireland. [138978]
Angela Smith: Although there is evidence of some genetic component to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the majority of cases are associated with smoking, exposure to air pollution, including that caused by environmental tobacco smoke, and lung damage arising from respiratory infections.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety published a five year Tobacco Action Plan in July 2003. The Plan addresses a number of key issues, including prevention, helping smokers to quit and protecting the public from tobacco smoke. An Implementation Group, under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, is taking forward the 24 action points identified in the Plan.
Driving Licences
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which countries are on the list of those whose driving licence is transferable to a Northern Ireland one; what criteria are used in deciding whether a country's driving licence is transferable to Northern Ireland; for what reason South Africa is excluded from this list; and what plans he has to amend the arrangements to include South Africa. [138726]
Angela Smith: There are 14 countries and territories currently designated for the purposes of exchangeable licences in Northern Ireland, namely Australia, Austria, Barbados, the Republic of Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Zimbabwe, and the territories of Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.
In determining the suitability of a country for exchange purposes, the driver testing and licensing systems are assessed, to ensure that the drivers meet standards that are comparable to those in Northern Ireland. This includes an assessment of the driving test, the integrity of licensing system and the nature and format of the licence itself.
With regard to the Republic of South Africa (RSA), it is accepted that the nature of the driving test and the general driving standards are comparable to those in Northern Ireland. However, further consideration is being given to the integrity of the system for issuing licences. Furthermore, the RSA driving licence does not
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indicate whether it has been issued in exchange for a licence from a third country. This is important since the standards in that third country may not have been assessed against Northern Ireland standards.
The Department of the Environment is continuing to assess the suitability of licences from RSA for exchange. The Department is also developing proposals to amend the relevant legislation to enable selective recognition of licences from other countries so that, for example, licences which had been issued in exchange for a licence from a third country, which does not meet Northern Ireland standards, could be excluded from the exchange arrangements. This will bring exchange arrangements in Northern Ireland into line with those in Great Britain. Depending on the availability of legislative opportunities, it is hoped to have the amendment in place before the end of 2005.
Hare Coursing
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of illegal coursing on the population of the Irish hare; and if he will commission research on the size of the population. [138561]
Angela Smith: No assessment has been made of the impact of illegal coursing on the population of the Irish hare in Northern Ireland.
The Irish Hare Species Action Plan, published by the Department of the Environment in 2000, identifies the need to carry out regular surveys of the Irish hare population in Northern Ireland. The purpose of these surveys is to estimate the size of the population and make deductions about the causes of any movement in the estimated numbers. A baseline survey was completed in 1997; this was followed by "The Northern Ireland Irish Hare Survey 2002", carried out by Professor Montgomery's research team at The Queen's University of Belfast. The Department will carry out regular, similar research into surveys of the Irish hare population to measure progress against the Species Action Plan targets "to maintain the existing range and to demonstrate a population increase by 2005; and to double the present population by 2010 over as much of the range as possible". The next of the surveys will be commissioned in spring 2004.
Separate research is also under way at Queen's University into the status and population dynamics of the Irish Hare, using DNA techniques, and on the ecology of the Irish hare.
Copies of the documents referred to above have been placed in the Library.
National Employment Plans
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to implement and monitor National Employment Plans in Northern Ireland. [132790]
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Jane Kennedy: There is no separate Northern Ireland 'National Employment Plan' although our labour market plans are included within my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's 'Draft Priorities and Budget 2004–07' document and the Department for Employment and Learning's 'Service Delivery Agreement 2003–04'. Copies of these documents are available in the Library. Northern Ireland contributes, as do Scotland and Wales, to the National Employment Action Plan for the UK.
In Northern Ireland, Government programmes, and projects receiving European funding, address the key European Employment Strategy issues of employability, skills needs, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities in the labour market. Northern Ireland contributes information on the implementation of programmes and projects as part of the monitoring of national progress against the Employment Guidelines issued by the European Commission.
WALES
Departmental Costs
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was to his Department for (a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123073]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was created in July 1999.
(a) I refer the hon. member to the reply which he received from Mr. N Matheson of the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (a copy of which can be found in the Libraries of the House of Commons) which addressed this issue.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000(1) | 310 |
| 2000–01 | 1,266 |
| 2001–02 | 2,851 |
| 2002–03 | 796 |
| 2003(2)– | 912 |
(1) From July 1999
(2) To date
These figures exclude any amounts spent on taxis, black cabs and licensed hackney carriages outside departmental contracts and reclaimed by officials as travel and subsistence expenditure. That information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000(3) | 35,239 |
| 2000–01 | 62,121 |
| 2001–02 | 84,423 |
| 2002–03 | 124,035 |
| 2003– | 67,895 |
(3) From July 1999
(4) To date
(d) and (f) The Wales Office has never used helicopters or chartered planes.
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| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000(5) | 105 |
| 2000–01 | 6,851 |
| 2001–02 | 5,283 |
| 2002–03 | 695 |
| 2003(6)– | 95 |
(5) From July 1999
(6) To date
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