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9 Feb 2004 : Column 1160W—continued
Draft European Constitution
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Minister for Europe on the Draft Constitution for the European Union and its impact on Northern Ireland. [152582]
Mr. Pearson: I am a member of the Joint Ministerial Committee on the European Union, which is chaired by the Foreign Secretary and of which the Minister for Europe is also a member. The Draft Constitutional Treaty on the European Union has been discussed at previous meetings of the Committee.
Northern Ireland's position on European issues will continue to be represented through the appropriate channels at both official and ministerial levels.
Flood Defences
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what projects (a) have been completed, (b) are under way and (c) are planned to deal with flooding in North Belfast; and what the costs are of each project. [152584]
Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Water Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Kinnego Park
Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a map of the land in the vicinity of Kinnego Park in Derry that is in the possession of the Road Service. [151587]
Mr. Spellar: I have arranged for the relevant map to be placed in the Library.
Learning Difficulties
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what input the working group chaired by the Department of Education to consider future provision for young people with moderate learning difficulties has made to (a) the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability Services commissioned and led by the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety, (b) the Children's Strategy Review led by the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers and (c) the consultation exercise on Youth Services led by the Department of Education. [152143]
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1161W
Jane Kennedy: The Department of Education does not chair a group to consider future provision for the needs of young people specifically with moderate learning difficulties. It does, however, chair an Inter Departmental Working Group (IDG) that is looking at the transition of young people with statements of special educational needs to adult life.
(a) The Chair of the IDG is a member of the Promoting Social Inclusion sub-group of the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability Steering Group. The Education and Training Inspectorate is represented on both the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability Steering Group and the Children and Young People Task Group, as well as the IDG.
(b) The IDG has made no direct input to the development of the Strategy for Children and Young People. However, the Department is represented on the interdepartmental group which is overseeing the development of the strategy and through this forum will ensure that the strategy takes account of the various initiatives in which the Department is involved.
(c) It is not clear to which consultation exercise the question refers. Issues which have indications for the Youth Service will be drawn to the attention of the relevant authorities.
Management Consultants
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years. [148029]
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Mr. Pearson: The total expenditure on use of management consultants 1 for my Department (including the Northern Ireland Office, but excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies) in each of the last five years was as follows:
- 1 Defined as consultancy work relating to policy appraisal and review, strategic management, organisational development and performance management.
| (£) | |
|---|---|
| 1999–00 | (3)1,193,814 |
| 2000–01 | 2,541,618 |
| 2001–02 | 3,104,216 |
| 2002–03 | 2,642,657 |
| 2003–04 | 1,639,617 |
(3) Following devolution five new NI Departments came into existence in December 1999 (the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department of Employment and Learning, Department for Regional Development, Department for Social Development and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister). The first four months were largely taken up with the development of structures and strategies. Expenditure on consultancy was, therefore, relatively small.
North-South Implementation Bodies
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the current staffing figures for each of the North-South implementation bodies. [152591]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Details of the staff employed in the North/South Implementation Bodies as at 5 November 2003 are provided in the table below:
| Body | Permanent | Secondees | Temporary | Placements | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission | 35 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| Waterways Ireland | 314.12 | 1 | 11 | — | 326.12 |
| The Trade and Business Development Body | 38.6 | 1 | — | 2 | 41.6 |
| The Special EU Programmes Body | 36 | 2 | 6 | - | 44 |
| The North/South Language Body | 40.1 | 3 | 1.4 | 1 | 45.5 |
| The Food Safety Promotion Board | 19 | — | 9 | 1 | 29 |
| Grand total | 482.82 | 8 | 29.4 | 6 | 526.22 |
Paramilitary Activities
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many paramilitary shootings there were in 2003, broken down by paramilitary group. [152354]
Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to provide the information in the level of detail requested. However, I can advise that during 2003 there were 154 paramilitary style shootings: 99 attributed to loyalists and 55 to republicans.
- Note:
- 2003 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) police officers and (b) full-time reservists are attached to each district command unit; and if he will make a statement. [152526]
Jane Kennedy: The figures requested as at 30 January 2004 are shown in the table.
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1163W
The table represents those officers specifically attached to District Command Units. A further 2,654 regular and 173 full-time reserve officers are attached to headquarters and regions, many of whom (such as those within Tactical Support Groups, Regional Crime Squads and Road Traffic Policing) are also deployed to assist officers in individual District Command Units as necessary.
- Note:
- It should be noted that where officers are listed as, for example, .75 or .25 this equates to hours worked of full-time staff who have elected to work part-time.
Public Order
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been charged with an offence arising out of disturbances in North Belfast on 12 July 2003. [152395]
Jane Kennedy: No persons have been charged with public order offences in North Belfast on 12 July 2003.
Racism
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will attend the Anti-Racist Network rally in Belfast City Hall on 27 January; and whether his Department is providing financial assistance for the rally. [151137]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I was unable to attend the rally in Belfast due to commitments in Westminster. I understand that an official from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister's Race Equality Unit attended.
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