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23 Mar 2004 : Column 753W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the draft Belfast metropolitan area plan. [162698]
Angela Smith: The publication date for the plan has not been finalised. The programme is currently being reviewed to ensure publication at the earliest possible date
Census Records
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the financial consequences of establishing a new (a) 80 and (b) 90-year closure period for decennial population census records for Northern Ireland. [160429]
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Mr. Pearson: No assessment has been made of the financial consequences of an 80 or 90-year closure period for decennial censuses. Censuses in 1901 and 1911 were conducted on an all-Ireland basis. These records are available in the National Archives, Dublin. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has microfilm of the 1901 census and intends to obtain the same for 1911. For the 1926 and later censuses conducted in Northern Ireland, the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 stipulates that it is an offence to disclose personal census information without lawful authority. Officials consider that at an appropriate time the Government should consider introducing legislation to prescribe a closure period for Northern Ireland census records that is in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, where a 100-year closure period pertains.
Dentistry
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) two-year-olds and (b) three to five-year-olds are registered with general dental practitioners, broken down by health board. [162721]
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Angela Smith: Information on the percentage of (a) two-year-olds and (b) three to five-year-olds who are registered with general dental practitioners, broken down by health board is as follows.
| Two-year-olds | Three to five-year-olds | Under three years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Board | |||
| Number registered | 3,242 | 15,053 | 5,790 |
| 2002 MYE(11) | 8,086 | 25,962 | 23,794 |
| Proportion registered (%) | 40.1 | 58.0 | 24.3 |
| Northern Board | |||
| Number registered | 2,259 | 11,201 | 3,996 |
| 2002 MYE(11) | 5,709 | 17,888 | 16,461 |
| Proportion registered (%) | 39.6 | 62.6 | 24.3 |
| Southern Board | |||
| Number registered | 1,819 | 8,729 | 3,075 |
| 2002 MYE(11) | 4,534 | 14,288 | 13,395 |
| Proportion registered (%) | 40.1 | 61.1 | 23.0 |
| Western Board | |||
| Number registered | 1,493 | 7,379 | 2,475 |
| 2002 MYE(11) | 4,059 | 13,215 | 11,900 |
| Proportion registered (%) | 36.8 | 55.8 | 20.8 |
| Northern Ireland(12) | |||
| Number registered | 8,861 | 42,588 | 15,416 |
| 2002 MYE(11) | 22,388 | 71,353 | 65,550 |
| Proportion registered (%) | 39.6 | 59.7 | 23.5 |
(10) Source:
Central Services Agency
(11) Mid Year Estimates—Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
(12) The total number registered for Northern Ireland includes a small number of children in each age band who could not be allocated to a specific Health and Social Services Board
Road Safety
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many driving misdemeanours were dealt with by the Police Service of Northern Ireland from March 2003 to February 2004, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) council area. [160322]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not recorded by parliamentary constituency. The table sets out the number of driving offence detections dealt with by police in 2003 (calendar year), by council area.
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End-of-life Vehicle Directive
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implications of the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [162728]
Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has assessed the implications of the End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003. Regulatory impact assessments were included in the documents "Consultation on the Transposition of Articles 4,5, 8 and 9 and Annex 2 of the End of Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC)—The End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003" and "Consultation on the Transposition of Article 6 and Annex 1 of the End of Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC)-Proposals for Regulations".
Copies of these papers have been placed in the Library.
Essential Skills Strategy
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in achieving the targets set in the Essential Skills Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [160990]
Jane Kennedy: The Essential Skills Strategy set a target of supporting 25,000 learners by March 2005.
The Department has made good progress against the target with 6,500 learners supported between April 2002 and March 2003 and a further 8,000 to be supported by 31 March 2004.
Futurebuilders Fund
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made to establish a Futurebuilders Fund, similar to that in England, for the voluntary and community sectors in Northern Ireland. [162701]
Mr. Spellar: The announcement of the Futurebuilders Fund in England resulted in a consequential allocation to Northern Ireland. Such consequentials arising from allocations to programmes in England are not hypothecated to similar issues in Northern Ireland and the resources can be used to address local needs and priorities. Work is ongoing to develop proposals on how the resources might best be used to support the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.
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Gocean Development
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision on the proposed £35 million development at Gocean, Killyleagh will be made; and if he will make a statement. [162919]
Angela Smith: I intend to make a decision on this proposed development shortly.
Hospital Beds (Psychiatric Patients)
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bed spaces are available in Northern Ireland for psychiatric patients; and if he will list the locations of these beds. [163217]
Angela Smith: The average numbers of available beds by hospital in the Mental Health Programme of Care are as follows.
| Hospital | Averageavailable beds |
|---|---|
| St. Lukes | 183.2 |
| Windsor House | 35.7 |
| Causeway | 31.1 |
| Craigavon Psychiatric Nursing Unit | 80.0 |
| Downshire | 122.0 |
| Lagan Valley Psychiatric Nursing Unit | 25.0 |
| Gransha | 70.0 |
| Forster Green | 20.0 |
| Holywell | 212.1 |
| Whiteabbey Psychiatric Nursing Unit | 19.0 |
| Mater Infirmorum | 58.6 |
| Knockbracken Healthcare Park | 153.0 |
| Shaftesbury Square | 18.8 |
| Young Peoples Centre | 10.5 |
| Tyrone and Fermanagh | 158.6 |
| Ards | 25.0 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,222.6 |
Land Use (Dundonald)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether land owned by a subsidiary of TK-ECC in Dundonald will remain zoned for industrial use only if put on the open market. [162922]
Angela Smith: I can confirm that the land in question will be retained as "existing employment/industry" in the Draft Belfast metropolitan area plan 2015.
Patient Exemption Fraud
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how far targets for the reduction of patient exemption fraud have been realised for each Northern Ireland Health Board area; and what targets have been put in place for the period beyond March. [162722]
Angela Smith: The target for the reduction of patient exemption fraud is set at Northern Ireland, rather than at an individual Health Board, level.
My 2004–05 Priorities for Action sets a Northern Ireland target for patient fraud exemption of a 45 per cent. reduction from the 1999–2000 level by 31 March 2005.
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My Department remains committed to the achievement of this target.
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