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29 Jan 2004 : Column 450W—continued

Tax Credits

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters to the Paymaster General from honourable Members complaining about the operation of the new tax credits have been answered by (a) civil servants and (b) the Paymaster General. [150027]

Dawn Primarolo: Under long-standing arrangements, Members' letters to Treasury Ministers on operational matters are normally forwarded to the Heads of the Offices concerned to reply direct, unless the Member indicates that he or she requires a Ministerial reply.

Since March 2003 around 1,500 such letters from hon. Members to Treasury Ministers have been referred to the Tax Credits Office in Great Britain for answer by officials.

World Debt

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals for debt relief mechanisms for poor countries are being considered for the period after the highly indebted poor countries initiative has ended. [151543]

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Air Transport

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Department for Transport in relation to the implications for Northern Ireland of the Department's White Paper, The Future of Air Transport; and if he will make a statement. [151336]

Mr. Spellar: The White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, reflects the overarching perspective of the Northern Ireland administration on the key issues surrounding the development of air transport within the United Kingdom, as they affect Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland administration's input to the production of the White Paper reflected the cross-cutting and inter-departmental character of the issues previously consulted on during 2002. A senior official from the Northern Ireland Civil Service was a member, together with representatives from other regions and the Department for Transport, of the steering group that produced the White Paper. The implications of the White Paper for Northern Ireland's three commercial airports are currently being considered locally and in consultation with the Department for Transport within the 'balanced approach' of economic development, people's desire to travel, environmental impact, safety and security and the continuation of air services to the major London airports.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the availability of anti-social behaviour orders in tackling such behaviour in Northern Ireland. [151332]

Mr. Spellar: In considering measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in Northern Ireland, and the impact of this, I have been informed by Home Office research in England and Wales. Research found that in many areas anti-social behaviour orders were considered by those using them to be an effective response to such behaviour. Reported benefits were a reduction in the behaviour targeted and positive outcomes in relation to public confidence and improved quality of life.

Car Parking Charges

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what percentage car park charging has changed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [151327]

Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Roads Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of benefit fraud in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available; what the average sentence was; and if he will make a statement. [150662]

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Mr. Spellar: In the 2002–03 financial year a total of 325 people where prosecuted for benefit fraud and in the current year 2003–04 to date a further 200 people have been prosecuted. A breakdown of the sentences passed is shown in the table.

	Number of people	Average sentence/Fine
2002–03
Probation	9	6–12 months
Suspended sentences	21	6 weeks-18 months
Conditional discharge	83	12 months-2 years
Community service	43	109 hours
Fines(1)	178	£191
2003–04
Probation	8	2–18 months
Suspended sentences	12	1–5 months
Conditional discharge	78	6 months-3 years
Community service	20	126 hours
Fines	82	£209

⁽¹⁾ 9 of the 178 also received a fine in addition to either a conditional discharge or community service)

In 2002–03 a further 24 people received a formal caution and 67 people accepted administrative penalties totalling £18,255. In 2003–04 to date 22 people received a formal caution and 94 have accepted administrative penalties totalling £32,828.

Child Poverty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in Northern Ireland in reducing child poverty. [150674]

Mr. Spellar: New Targeting Social Need (TSN) is the Government's main policy for tackling poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland. New TSN aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion by targeting efforts and available resources within existing departmental programmes towards people, groups and areas in greatest social need.

An independent external evaluation of New Targeting Social Need has now been completed. This assessed the way in which the policy had been implemented and examined its impact. The outcome of the evaluation will feed into future thinking on New TSN and will soon be the subject of public consultation.

Presently in Northern Ireland, the Government are placing significant emphasis on initiatives that are focused on the early years of life, such as the Sure Start and Book Start and the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme. These complement mainstream service programmes.

Alongside these initiatives the Government are developing long-term strategies dealing with child poverty. To this end the Children's and Young People's unit of The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) is currently developing a 10-year strategy of which child poverty is one of the key themes. The focus of the strategy is poverty, participation, protection and provision. As part of the development of this strategy, a multi agency group in November 2003 produced a strategic objective and related measures and outcomes specifically tackling child poverty. The group also considered how to take this forward and how the

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Children's Strategy should dovetail with the wider New TSN strategy (current and future) for tackling poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland.

A total of £36 million has been made available through the Children's Executive Programme Fund with the specific aim of supporting children in need and young people at risk. £17 million has already been allocated for projects involving children and young people in areas including health, education, play and working with children at risk.

Recent research commissioned by OFMDFM entitled "Low Income Households in Northern Ireland" shows that the concentration (proportion of those in poverty who are children) of children in poverty between 1990–94 has dropped from 36 per cent. to 33 per cent. between 1999–2002. A copy of the report has been placed in the House Library and it can also be viewed on the internet at http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/research/lowincome/index.htm

Cot Deaths

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cot deaths there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what advice is given by his Department to prevent such deaths. [151340]

Angela Smith: The information requested, based on the latest years for which figures are available, is as follows:

	Number of cot deaths
1999	11
2000	12
2001	10

Since the early 1990s parents have been advised of the risk factors associated with cot deaths and how to avoid them through the Reduce the Risk Cot Death leaflets. Last July my Department issued an updated leaflet to parents on how they can reduce the risks. The new leaflet was developed after consultation with health professionals and the Foundation for Sudden Infant Deaths and contains advice on the safest sleeping arrangements for babies.

My Department continues to monitor research findings and will issue revised guidance as appropriate.

Digital Hearing Aids

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals were provided with digital hearing aids in 2003; and what estimate he has made of how many others would benefit from these devices. [151218]

Angela Smith: The phased introduction of Digital Hearing Aids (DHAs) commenced in October 2003. Information on the provision of hearing aids is not collected routinely by the Department. Health and Social Services Trusts with Audiology departments will shortly be asked to provide information on the provision of DHAs for the period October 2003 to the end of January. Information will thereafter be collected on a quarterly basis.

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It is estimated that there are over 100,000 hearing aid users in Northern Ireland. Research suggests that digital hearing aids (DHAs) may benefit 80 per cent. of hearing aid users.

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