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Science Strategy
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. [162250]
Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has maintained its commitment to the use of science for policy making and delivery, and our investment in science and research is set to increase from the current £80 million per financial year to at least £100 million by 2006–07. Details are set out in the Forward Look 2003 on Government funded science, engineering and technology.
Together with other departments, DFID is improving the way it uses science in its policy work—building on the recommendations of the Cross Cutting Review (CCR) and Investing in Innovation—and the CCR implementation plan being pursued in cooperation with the Office of Science and Technology (OST).
Specifically, DFID is developing a new research strategy, the draft of which will be published shortly for consultation. The draft will set out DFID's main areas of focus and proposals for future spending, including African agricultural productivity, the killer diseases for the poor, climate change, and long-run social and political changes. DFID will also publish a document on how it uses science, with examples of research capacity building efforts in developing countries.
DFID will appoint two experienced scientists—one recommended by the Government's Chief Scientist—to conduct a review of scientific advice in DFID and the case for appointing a Chief Scientist. The Department will also set up a new advisory board, which would include an eminent scientist and representatives from developing countries. The board will at its first meeting consider DFID's contribution to building science capacity in the developing world.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Blood Supplies
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the implications are for Northern Ireland of the Department of Health's decision not to allow blood donations from those who received transfusions since 1980. [164920]
Angela Smith: The decision to exclude anyone who received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980 from donating blood will apply in Northern Ireland with effect from 5 April 2004. This is expected to result in a 3.3 per cent. reduction in blood donations, reducing blood donations in Northern Ireland by about 2,300 units of blood per year. Measures are being planned to ensure that adequate blood supplies are maintained, including promotional campaigns and increased donor sessions.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many donors he expects to be excluded from the blood donor register in Northern Ireland as a result of the recent decision to exclude recipients of blood transfusions from donating blood. [164352]
Angela Smith: The decision to exclude anyone who received a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980 from donating blood is expected to lead to a loss of 3.2 per cent. donors. In Northern Ireland this will exclude over 2,200 people who are currently registered as active donors.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has held with his colleagues in the Department of Health on the recent decision to exclude recipients of blood transfusions from donating blood. [164353]
Angela Smith: The decision to exclude anyone who received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980 from donating blood was based on the advice of the Committee on Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation (MSBT). MSBT is convened by the Department of Health and acts as a UK wide advisory committee. It has two members from Northern Ireland, including a representative of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implications for Northern Ireland of the recent decision of the Secretary of State for Health to exclude recipients of blood transfusions from donating blood; whether such restrictions apply to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [164354]
Angela Smith: The decision to exclude anyone who received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980 from donating blood will apply in Northern Ireland, with effect from 5 April 2004. This precautionary measure to ensure the safety of blood has the potential to affect blood supplies. Measures are planned to ensure that adequate blood supplies are maintained and that blood is used appropriately.
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Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much he expects the level of blood supplies will decrease following the recent decision to prohibit the acceptance of blood from those who have had blood transfusions. [163966]
Angela Smith: The decision to exclude anyone who received a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980 from donating blood is expected to result in a 3.3 per cent. reduction in blood donations. In effect this will reduce blood donations in Northern Ireland by about 2,300 units of blood per year. Measures are being planned to ensure that adequate blood supplies are maintained, including promotional campaigns and increased donor sessions.
Cancer
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many NHS hospital beds are allocated for the treatment of teenage and young adult patients with cancer in Northern Ireland. [163887]
Angela Smith: HSS Trusts in Northern Ireland have advised that there are 10 beds open overnight which are specifically designated for the treatment of teenage and young adult patients with cancer. Should the need exceed this provision, other beds not specifically designated for the treatment of this particular age-group may be made available for teenagers and young adults.
Citizenship Ceremony
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the first citizenship ceremony in Northern Ireland to take place; and with what frequency he expects them to occur. [164355]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The first citizenship ceremony in Northern Ireland is scheduled to take place on 4 June 2004. The number and frequency of future ceremonies will depend on the number of applications received. Current estimates are that there will be four ceremonies per year in Northern Ireland.
Focus Groups
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of total expenditure by his Department on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [162756]
Mr. Paul Murphy: In relation to the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Office on attitudinal research between 1997 and 2003, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary, on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 206W. Expenditure in 1995–96 was £11,750. Overall expenditure on attitudinal research for the financial year 2003–04 is not yet available, although £27,480 + vat has been identified to date.
Within the Northern Ireland administration this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Housing Executive
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is undertaking to address the problems faced by the organisation in relation to recruiting people from all sections of the community in Northern Ireland. [164160]
Mr. Spellar: Where monitoring shows that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's recruitment processes delivers differential outcomes, it initiates an affirmative action programme which aims to encourage full participation of the community in securing employment within the organisation. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Affirmative Action Plan addresses areas of under-representation in relation to gender, disability and the other equality groups identified in the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The main measures the Northern Ireland Housing Executive takes include:
- (i) the extension of external recruitment to cover entry level and key recruitment grades;
- (ii) the promotion of careers within the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in publications where there is under representation; and
- (iii) developing links with schools and training organisations in areas where under representation exists.
Laganside Development
Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the capital investment by Government Departments in the Laganside development in Belfast has been; and how much money has been earmarked by Government for the capitalisation of the Ilex Corporation in Derry to develop the Ministry of Defence lands. [162936]
Mr. Spellar: The information is as follows:
The amount of capital investment by Government Departments in the Laganside Development in Belfast from 1989 until now has been £129 million.
Laganside will wind up some time in the future by which time many of the capital assets will be either sold off, net proceeds being transferred back to the Department for Social Development, or some assets such as the Lagan Walkway and Weir (value £35 million) being retained in public ownership.
Government expect shortly to receive an interim bid for funding from Ilex Urban Regeneration Company, under the Integrated Development Fund in advance of an Integrated Development Plan for the North West. This plan will inform future capital investment decisions.
There are plans for the Department for Social Development to acquire the Fort George site later in 2004 for £12 million. The Ebrington site (value circa £4 million) was transferred at nil cost to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in December 2003 as part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. It was also recently announced that Government have agreed in principle to acquire the Clooney Barracks site however the transfer value has yet to be determined.
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