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Sanitation/Water

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of families in each developing country are without access to water supplies or basic sanitation. [139533]

Hilary Benn: Information on the percentage of the population without access to an improved water supply and improved sanitation is set out in the 2003 World Development Indicators Book, published by the World Bank. I have placed a table called "Improved Water and Sanitation" in the Libraries of the Houses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Moylinn Medical Centre (Security)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to respond to attacks on medical staff at the out-of-hours GP co-operative based at Moylinn, Craigavon; and what plans he has to relocate the co-operative. [138972]

Angela Smith: The Southern Health and Social Services Board (SHSSB) and the Association of Southern Areas Doctors On Call (ASADOC), which runs the Moylinn Medical Centre, are collaborating to improve security at the centre. Fencing around the centre has already been improved and both CCTV and alarm systems have been installed. Meetings have also been held with the local police with a view to improving security and local representatives have been asked to do all they can to minimise attacks in the future.

The SHSSB and ASADOC are currently considering several options to relocate the centre and final decisions are expected in the near future.

British-Irish Interparliamentary Conference

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the (a) matters discussed and (b) decisions taken at the 27th British-Irish Interparliamentary conference; and if he will place in the Library the report on Sellafield discussed at the conference. [134410]

Mr. Spellar: The British-Irish Interparliamentary Body (BIIPB) held its 27th Plenary session between 19–21 October this year. As an Interparliamentary Body, the BIIPB is independent of Government and, as such, it would not be appropriate for me to offer a statement on the matters discussed nor on the decisions taken. The minutes and a full verbatim account of the

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open sessions will, I understand, be posted on the body's website in due course. A copy of the report on Sellafield has been placed in the Library.

Carpets International

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the use of the land occupied by Carpets International (UK) Ltd. in Donaghadee, should it be unsuccessful in attracting a buyer. [132463]

Angela Smith: In considering the current use of this site, the need to provide an appropriate level of employment opportunity in Donaghadee, and the lack of readily available alternatives, the Department of the Environment proposed that the land should be retained for industrial use. This is reflected in the recently published Draft Ards and Down Area Plan 2015.

Coagulometers

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2003, Official Report, column 420W, on anti-coagulants, what effect the results of the home use trial of coagulometers by Roche Ltd. will have on current practice. [139262]

Angela Smith: Further work is being undertaken nationally to assess the effectiveness of self-testing and to develop clinical guidelines on the appropriate selection of patients suitable to undertake self-management. The Department will not be issuing guidance about the further development of self-monitoring until this work has been completed.

Decommissioning

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent (a) meetings and (b) discussions he has had with (i) Unionist politicians and (ii) others on decommissioning of arms held by Loyalist terrorists; and if he will make a statement. [137344]

Mr. Spellar: We have talked about the issue of decommissioning by paramilitary organisations at a large number of meetings and discussions regarding the political process in Northern Ireland over recent weeks. Individual meetings and discussions are confidential, but we have consistently made clear our view that all paramilitary groups should engage with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning with a view to putting arms beyond use in a manner which is conducive to creating public confidence.

Devolved Government

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent discussions with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland on the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. [134844]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the remarks my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made on this subject at Northern Ireland oral questions in the House on 29 October.

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Employment Tribunals

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been awarded since 1 November 2002 in Northern Ireland in costs as the result of employment tribunals; and what the average sum awarded was. [138982]

Jane Kennedy: The equivalents of Employment Tribunals in Northern Ireland are the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal. Costs may be awarded against any party if a tribunal decides that the party has acted scandalously, frivolously, vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably.

The information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Costs are awarded infrequently by the tribunals and they have normally been in the range £50 to £500.

Equality Commission

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions the Equality Commission has had with the Northern Ireland Office on the legality of the exclusion of Irish nationals from reserved posts. [132213]

Mr. Pearson: There has been contact at official level between the Northern Ireland Office and the Equality Commission concerning the progress of the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill, which was introduced on 28 January 2003.

EU Fisheries Council

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development will be present throughout the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council meeting. [137526]

Mr. Pearson: I propose to attend the whole of the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting, although I should much prefer Northern Ireland's interests to be represented by a locally elected Minister.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what lines of communication will be provided between the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of the Northern Ireland fishing industry during the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council. [137527]

Mr. Pearson: If a locally elected Minister cannot represent Northern Ireland at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council, my senior officials and I will make every effort to keep local fishing industry representatives informed of developments throughout the proceedings.

General Practitioners

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners to develop special interests. [138987]

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Angela Smith: My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners in Northern Ireland to develop an interest in the area of family planning. [138988]

Angela Smith: My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests, including family planning. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage experienced senior house officers in hospitals in the Province to remain in Northern Ireland to complete their GP registrar year. [138990]

Angela Smith: Vocational Training for General Practice consists of three years, made up of two years in approved Senior House Officer posts in hospitals followed by one year in a GP Registrar post.

The Department currently funds 40 GP Registrar posts per year, all of which, from this year, will be allocated to doctors participating in a three year integrated training programme. This means that there will be no new GP Registrar posts available for other Senior House Officers who are not in the three-year scheme and no arrangements are in place for such posts.

At present there is no shortage of GPs in Northern Ireland and the numbers in training meet current demands. However, the number of GP Registrar posts available will be kept under review as part of the Department's workforce planning process.

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