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30 Jan 2004 : Column 548W—continued

Rural Payments Agency

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of appeals against the Rural Payments Agency were successful in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03. [151957]

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency is responsible for the administration of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Appeal Procedure in England. The procedure was introduced on 1 April 2002 to provide IACS scheme applicants with easy access to an independent review of decisions on their claims. Those appellants who are unsuccessful at the first stage of the procedure have the opportunity to progress to a second stage. The percentage of successful appeals under each stage of the appeal procedure is as follows:

	2002–03	2003 to date
Number of appeals completed stage 1	50	48
Percentage successful/partially successful	30	27
Number of appeals completed stage 2	5	18
Percentage successful/partially successful	20	33

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to pay interest on the late settlement of rural payments due to appeals. [151959]

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency will consider on a case-by-case basis requests for the payment of compensation in lieu of interest in successful appeals.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) total number and (b) average value of appeals under consideration by the Rural Payments Agency is. [151960]

Alun Michael: There are currently 28 Stage 1 and three Stage 2 appeals under consideration by the Rural Payments Agency under the Integrated Administration and Control System Appeal Procedure in England. Information on the average value of appeals under consideration can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Thames Gateway (Flood Risk)

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment of flood risk in the Thames Gateway Development Area has been made by the Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement. [150902]

30 Jan 2004 : Column 549W

Mr. Morley [holding answer 26 January 2004]: The Thames Gateway Development area is currently protected from flooding to a standard in excess of 1:1000 (or a 0.01 per cent. chance).

This standard will be maintained until 2030 by the existing defences. The Environment Agency is now starting to consider the longer-term strategy for the whole Thames estuary beyond this date including mitigation for the impacts of climate change.

Warm Front

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rationale is behind the cut-off point of £14,200 for household income above which a family in receipt of working tax credit will not qualify for assistance through the Warm Front scheme. [150436]

Mr. Morley: This cut-off point was established to help target those on low incomes and therefore more likely to be in fuel poverty.

The eligibility criteria for Warm Front are broadly in line with the low income priority group for the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). In a consultation document on the changes to the tax credit system affecting the priority group for the EEC, published by the Department in December 2002, a cut-off point of around £14,000 was proposed for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Following that consultation and consideration of the responses received, a cut-off point of £14,200 was set for the EEC. To maintain consistency, this was also introduced to the eligibility criteria for Warm Front.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Office of the Speaker

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the monthly cost of the Office of the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly (a) was in the six months before suspension and (b) has been since suspension, broken down by (i) staff costs and (ii) administration costs. [150833]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the six months prior to suspension—from 1 May 2002 to 31 October 2002—was £15,234 of which staff costs accounted for £12,067 and administrative costs for £3,167. For administrative purposes figures have been included for the period up to and including 31 October 2002.

The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the eight months following suspension—from 1 November 2002 to 30 June 2003—was £18,881 of which staff costs accounted for £13,392 and administrative costs for £5,489. This included the costs of a number of events already planned prior to suspension of the Assembly.

The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the last six months—from 1 July 2003 to 31 December 2003—was £13,401 of which staff costs accounted for £12,846 and administrative costs for £555.

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Children's Homes

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of children's home places in the province. [151185]

Angela Smith: In recent years the total number of available residential places has increased from 332 (2001) to 409 (January 2004). Plans for a further increase in the number of residential places and a continuing programme of replacements for unsuitable and substandard facilities are currently being developed but have not yet been fully finalised. It is expected that these further plans will involve an increase of around 50 in the number of residential places available over the next three years.

Civil Service

Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in negotiating a pay settlement within the Northern Ireland Civil Service following the recent industrial action; and what steps the Department of Finance and Personnel have taken to engage in pay negotiations with union representatives. [151621]

Mr. Pearson: Extensive negotiations over several months did not result in an agreed pay deal for the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration this year. Management Side presented an offer worth 3.67 per cent. on 5 November. As this could not be agreed, and Trade Union Side declined to negotiate within the 3.67 per cent. envelope, we took the decision to proceed to pay the award and communicated this to staff and Trade Union Side on 27 November . I have made clear to Trade Union Side that the 3.67 per cent. deal is the maximum that can be paid. We are however open to exploring other reasonable means of resolving the dispute. A further meeting of the Central Whitley Council between Trade Union and Management Sides has been arranged.

Classroom Assistants

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time classroom assistants were employed in Northern Ireland's schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on (i) the recruitment and (ii) the retention of classroom assistants in Northern Ireland. [150678]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows.

	Part-time	Full-time
1997(4)	2,181	705
1998(4)	2,696	748
1999(4)	3,019	793
2000(4)	3,273	815
2001(4)	3,558	886
2002	4,157	1,137
2003	5,133	1,178

⁽⁴⁾ Figures for Voluntary Grammar Schools and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools are not available for these years.

Recruitment and retention of Classroom Assistants does not pose any difficulties in Northern Ireland.

30 Jan 2004 : Column 551W

Armagh College Staff

Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the full-time equivalent staffing complement at Armagh College of Further and Higher Education was at the end of academic years (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [151620]

Jane Kennedy: The full-time equivalent staffing complements for Armagh College of Further and Higher Education for the specified academic years are:

(a) 2001–02: 95.31; and

(b) 2002–03: 95.11.

Dementia

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to improve services for those who develop dementia early in life. [151183]

Angela Smith: The Health and Social Services Trusts provide a range of hospital and community-based services to people with dementia, including those who develop this condition early in life. However there are some younger people whose needs are not being fully met and Trusts are therefore working with this group to determine their specific requirements. The emphasis will be on maintaining people with dementia at home with adequate support from qualified and trained staff.

Dementia services will be included in a comprehensive evaluation of policy and services being undertaken by the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability.

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