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23 Feb 2004 : Column 172W—continued
Post-primary Education
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) data and (b) methodology were used to produce the statistical tables which appear in the Costello Report. [154125]
Jane Kennedy: The information in the statistical tables in the Costello Report was drawn from a variety of sources including the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the Department of Education, the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment, and the Programme for International Student Assessment (OECD).
Provisional IRA/Sinn Fein
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 470W, in what ways the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein are inextricably linked; and on what evidence he judges that they are so linked. [154664]
Jane Kennedy: As I made clear to the hon. Member for South Antrim (David Burnside), the Government do not comment on intelligence matters.
Recruitment Advertising
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising. [155525]
Mr. Pearson: Information on expenditure by NIO is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Expenditure by the Recruitment Service on advertising vacant posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.5 |
| 2002 | 0.5 |
| 2003 | 0.5 |
Information broken down by publication is not held but most recruitment advertising is placed in the Belfast Telegraph, News Letter and Irish News.
23 Feb 2004 : Column 173W
Regeneration
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to regenerate under-populated residential areas. [154846]
Mr. Spellar: There a number of policies, both specific and general, designed to help regenerate under populated residential areas.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive actively seeks to revitalise areas that have experienced population loss and which may also suffer from unfit or vacant housing stock by the use of statutory powers to designate Redevelopment Areas and Urban Regeneration Areas, together with programmes of Renovation Grant activity. The NI Housing Executive is also currently engaged in developing a range of strategies and programmes which seek to facilitate regeneration and sustainable communities such as:
- Empty Homes Strategy.
- The Rural Strategy.
- Estate Renewal, Neighbourhood Renewal and Community Development Strategies.
- Living over the shop and town centre living.
- Arterial Routes Studies.
Additionally, the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland has the objective of creating sustainable communities and regenerating urban areas. It requires that 60 per cent. of future new build housing be sited within the existing urban footprint. The NI Housing Executive contributes to the Policy Planning Strategy 12 document in respect of Housing Need Assessments that are to be completed as part of each Development Plan. These highlight the housing needs required to achieve sustainable and affordable housing within settlements across Northern Ireland.
In addition, while not specifically targeting under-populated areas, the Department for Social Development's tools for regeneration clearly impact on such areas, and in particular, Northern Ireland's most disadvantaged communities. The Department's wide range of strategies and programmes such as the Urban Development Programme, Urban Development Grant, Environmental Improvement Schemes, and the recently launched Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, aim to revitalise areas of slower growth, promote social cohesion, and help build more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods.
Regional Rates
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage increases to the regional rate in Northern Ireland were in each of the past five years. [153844]
Mr. Pearson: The percentage increases to the regional rate in Northern Ireland for the past five years is as follows.
23 Feb 2004 : Column 174W
| Non-domestic | Domestic | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 3.2 | 5.9 |
| 1999–2000 | 5.5 | 8 |
| 2000–01 | 4.6 | 8 |
| 2001–02 | 3.3 | 7 |
| 2002–03 | 3.3 | 7 |
Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operations were performed at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children by surgeons from (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) Great Britain in each of the last five years. [155421]
Angela Smith: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sports Funding
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been provided from (a) central Government funds, (b) European funds and (c) other public funds to (i) football, (ii) rugby, (iii) hockey, (iv) cricket and (v) Gaelic games in Northern Ireland in each financial year since 2000–01. [154154]
Angela Smith: Funding provided from (a) central Government funds, (b) European funds and (c) other public funds to (i) football, (ii) rugby, (iii) hockey, (iv) cricket and (v) Gaelic games in each financial year from 2000–01 is as follows:
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 1,264,009 | (23)951,803 | (23)981,188 | 3,197,000 |
| Rugby | 152,843 | 157,551 | 92,536 | 402,930 |
| Hockey | 27,464 | 61,225 | 54,902 | 143,591 |
| Cricket | 20,000 | 22,000 | 26,330 | 68,330 |
| Gaelic games | 652,085 | 381,333 | 557,676 | 1,591,094 |
| Totals | 2,116,401 | 1,573,912 | 1,712,632 | 5,402,945 |
(23) These figures include £100,000 and £500,000 allocated to Soccer from the Football Development Centre Programme for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
The following table provides information on European Funds administrated by DFP and DARD to football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games for each financial year from 2000–01.
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 915 | 0 | 10,800 | 11,715 |
| Rugby | 0 | 939 | 0 | 939 |
| Hockey | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Cricket | 4,067 | 0 | 0 | 4,067 |
| Gaelic games | 18,557 | 1,885 | 5,594 | 26,036 |
| Totals | 23,539 | 2,824 | 16,394 | 42,757 |
DFP has also provided European funding (Peace II) to numerous sports which include, football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games. This funding was for projects that included more than one of the above sports, the details are as follows.
23 Feb 2004 : Column 175W
| Numerous sports (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | 3,906 |
| Total | 3,906 |
The following table details the amount of Sports Lottery funding that has been allocated to football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games for financial years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 942,492 | 642,710 | 609,131 | 2,194,333 |
| Rugby | 312,053 | 144,000 | 76,860 | 532,913 |
| Hockey | 47,625 | 199,850 | 68,800 | 316,275 |
| Cricket | 282,500 | 57,202 | 16,000 | 355,702 |
| Gaelic games | 1,694,182 | 1,025,420 | 689,962 | 3,409,564 |
| Totals | 3,278,852 | 2,069,182 | 1,460,753 | 6,808,787 |
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children are registered as having special needs in Northern Ireland. [154845]
Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.
Waiting Lists/Times
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a patient referred on 9 February by his or her family doctor can expect to have (a) an initial out-patient assessment and (b) routine elective surgery in orthopaedics. [154588]
Angela Smith: This information is not available in the form requested.
It should be noted, that over 80 per cent. of in-patients for trauma and orthopaedics and 90 per cent. of out-patients are seen in less than 12 months.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been waiting for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) one to two years, (d) two to three years and (e) more than three years to have an (i) in-patient admission and (ii) initial out-patient assessment in orthopaedic surgery. [154589]
Angela Smith: Waiting list statistics are submitted to the Department at specialty level. The information in this answer relates to people waiting in the trauma and orthopaedics specialty at 30 September 2003 (the most recent information available). Waiting list statistics are collected in three-month time bands for all patients waiting up to 24 months. Patients waiting 24 months or more are grouped together within one category therefore patients waiting two to three years and more than three years cannot be separately identified.
23 Feb 2004 : Column 176W
| Number awaiting in-patient admission | Number awaiting initial out-patient assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| <6 months | 2,748 | 8,871 |
| 6–12 months | 1,780 | 3,750 |
| 1–2 Years | 1,121 | 3,646 |
| 2+ years | 604 | 3,352 |
Source:
CH1 and CH3
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle waiting lists in orthopaedic surgery; and if he will make a statement. [154599]
Angela Smith: A number of initiatives are being taken to reduce the length of time people are waiting for orthopaedic surgery. These include:
- Increasing the number of trainees in this specialty.
- A review of acute trauma services, which is underway at present. This review is expected to make recommendations for improvements in the delivery of trauma services and will provide strategic direction in the future development of the orthopaedic/fracture service.
- The building of two new modular theatres for Musgrave Park Hospital. This has increased theatre capacity, which will improve fracture services, stabilise and reduce waiting lists and facilitate the mix of elective, trauma and out-patient work of consultant orthopaedic surgeons.
- The appointment earlier this year at Green Park Health and Social Services Trust of a waiting list manager and the establishment of a centralised waiting list team.
The increase in waiting times in recent years reflects a general rise in demand on the orthopaedic service and there is a considerable commitment and determination to deal with it.
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