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18 Dec 2003 : Column 1079W—continued
Give as You Earn Scheme
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143899]
Mr. Pearson: Current figures show that 4,407 (14.8 per cent.) members of staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and the Northern Ireland Office, contribute to charity through the Give As You Earn scheme, although this is unlikely to fully reflect the charitable activity of employees.
The current monthly amount, in total, paid over through the scheme, via payroll, is £34,814.
Since 2000, a promotion company, "Sharing The Caring", has had the operational responsibility for promoting the Give As You Earn scheme within the
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Northern Ireland Civil Service and Northern Ireland Office. Through Sharing The Caring, staff can contribute to any charity they choose, provided it is a registered charity. Sharing The Caring representatives follow an on-going programme of visits to civil service buildings/locations during which they engage with staff to encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Since 2000, 308 such visits have been carried out.
Northern Ireland Civil Service
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the strike action undertaken by the Northern Ireland Civil Service. [144672]
Mr. Pearson: Best available estimates indicate that just over 11,000 staff were absent without authority on 11 December 2003, equivalent to around 40 per cent. of the total non-industrial workforce. There was some disruption to a number of services including, for example, social security, child support, and driver and vehicle licensing and testing. On the whole, however, departments' contingency plans served to minimise inconvenience to the public.
Palliative Care
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to increase the number of palliative care beds in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [144451]
Angela Smith: In March 2003 the Department asked Health and Social Services Boards to undertake an assessment of need for additional capacity in inpatient palliative care. This work is expected to be completed by autumn 2004. In addition, the Regional Cancer Services Framework Steering Group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, will be considering, among other things, the future development of palliative care, including the level of inpatient palliative care.
Ports
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total tonnage of cargo brought into (a) Larne and (b) Belfast ports was, including both bulk and unit loads, in each of the last five years. [144237]
Mr. Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
| Larne | Belfast | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2,902 | 9,168 |
| 1999 | 3,074 | 9,740 |
| 2000 | 2,236 | 9,736 |
| 2001 | 1,852 | 9,804 |
| 2002(15) | 2,212 | 9,197 |
(15) The most recent year for which figures are available
A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection
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methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the weight of cargo leaving (a) Larne and (b) Belfast ports was in each of the last five years; and what the percentage change was in each year. [144238]
Mr. Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
| Larne | Belfast | Larne% change | Belfast% change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2,296 | 3,066 | ||
| 1999 | 2,504 | 3,122 | 9.1 | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 2,271 | 2,748 | -9.3 | -12.0 |
| 2001 | 1,668 | 3,598 | -26.6 | 30.9 |
| 2002(16) | 2,083 | 3,628 | 24.9 | 0.8 |
(16) The most recent year for which information is available)
A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) inward and (b) outward traffic at Northern Ireland's ports comprised foreign unit load cargo in each of the last five years. [144239]
Mr. Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
| Inward traffic | |
| 1998 | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 2.9 |
| 2000 | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 3.4 |
| 2002(17) | 4.0 |
| Outward traffic | |
| 1998 | 3.7 |
| 1999 | 3.8 |
| 2000 | 3.9 |
| 2001 | 4.0 |
| 2002(17) | 4.0 |
(17) The most recent year for which information is available
A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.
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Public Transport
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average age is of (a) Ulsterbus and (b) Citybus vehicle stock. [144225]
Mr. Spellar: Translink has advised that at 15 December 2003 the average age of the Ulsterbus fleet was 11.95 years and the average age of the Citybus fleet was 8.46 years.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to (a) improve access to public transport and (b) encourage the use of public transport by older people. [144231]
Mr. Spellar: The Department for Regional Development is funding the purchase by Northern Ireland Railways of 23 new trains which will comply with the requirements of the Rail Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Department is also providing grant aid to assist Translink to purchase 190 new buses which meet the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. All new developments at bus and railway stations include any necessary work to improve access for people with disabilities. Older people are encouraged to use public transport by the provision of Senior Smartpasses, which enable those over 65 to travel free.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to support the provision of park and ride facilities outside Greater Belfast; what plans he has to develop secure interchange sites at Trooperslane and Corrs Corner; and if he will make a statement. [144276]
Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop bus lanes and quality bus corridors outside Greater Belfast. [144277]
Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to promote the development of park and ride facilities; and if he will make a statement. [144402]
Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Rail Freight
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tonnes of rail freight were carried from Northern Ireland to (a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland and (c) other European destinations in each of the last five years. [144216]
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Mr. Spellar: Translink has advised that all rail freight carried from Northern Ireland in the last five years went to the Republic of Ireland. The quantities carried in each of the last five years were as follows:
| Tonnes | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 52,300 |
| 1999 | 72,200 |
| 2000 | 48,700 |
| 2001 | 43,900 |
| 2002 | 26,500 |
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