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21 Apr 2004 : Column 566W—continued

Drugs

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) arrests were made, (b) people were charged, (c) cautions were issued and (d) convictions were made, for drug offences in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) drug classification category and (ii) Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency. [165771]

Mr. Pearson: I have placed in the Library, tables that provide the information requested for arrests, charges, and cautions for the financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03. Figures for 2003–04 are not yet available. As it is not possible to provide an analysis by Parliamentary constituency a breakdown by PSNI District Command Unit is provided instead. Data relating to convictions can be provided only by calendar year.

Education Ancillary Workers

Mrs. Iris Robinson To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will undertake a review of the effect of Jarvis PPP contract proposals on education ancillary workers. [166048]

 
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Mr. Gardiner: A review of the effect of particular PPP contract proposals would not be appropriate. PPP projects are publicly advertised and contractors selected through an open competitive process. Successful contractors must satisfy all the criteria set for each project.

TUPE (Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment Regulations) will apply to the transferring staff, which means that their current contractual terms and conditions will be protected. On pensions, Jarvis has also given a commitment that it will apply for membership of the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Scheme.

I also understand the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Board has written to you recently offering a meeting to discuss your concerns.

Environmental Prosecutions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions have been brought under part 3 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 since its introduction; and what the average penalty has been. [164573]

Angela Smith: Part 3 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 has not yet been brought into operation. Consequently no prosecutions have been brought under its provisions.

Farm Fraud

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what types of farming fraud offences were detected; and how many cases of each occurred in the last 12 months. [166702]

Mr. Pearson: The types of farming fraud and the number of cases detected during the last year (April 2003 to March 2004) were as follows:

	Number of cases
Livestock Subsidy (Sheep Annual Premium Scheme)	65
Cattle Identification/Livestock Subsidy (Cattle)	28
Ear Tag Interference	2
Integrated Administration and Control (IACS)	8
Animal Disease Compensation	6

Fishing Industry

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for   Northern Ireland how many applications have been    received under the current fishing vessel (a) decommissioning scheme and (b) tie-up scheme; how many applications have been granted for boats in (i) Portavogie, (ii) Ardglass and (iii) Kilkeel in each case; and how much money has been allocated to each scheme in each case. [166830]

Mr. Pearson: Requested information in respect of the 2003 Decommissioning Scheme and The Temporary Cessation Tie up scheme 2004 as at 16 April 2004 is shown in the tables.
 
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Decommissioning

	Applications Received	Applications Approved	Grant paid to date 16 April 2004 (£)
Portavogie	20	5	1,077,767
Ardglass	7	3	489,900
Kilkeel	25	11	2,932,369
Total	52	19	4,500,037

Tie Up Scheme

	Applications Received	Applications Approved	Grant paid to date 16 April 2004 (£)
Portavogie	14	13	256,152
Ardglass	1	1	1,632
Kilkeel	15	13	190,569
Total	30	27	448,355

General de Chastelain

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 300W, on General de Chastelain, if he will list the full days since 1 January that General de Chastelain has spent in the Province. [165758]

Mr. Pearson: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has now advised that, on average, General de Chastelain spends one    week per month in Northern Ireland on decommissioning work. In the year 2003, the General was in Northern Ireland for 82 days. So far this year he was in NI for 6 days in February. Further visits have been planned for April and May.

Hospital Shuttle Bus Services

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost in 2003–04 of the shuttle buses currently serving the Royal Victoria Hospital. [166701]

Mr. Spellar: Translink has advised that for the year 2003–04 the cost of providing the shuttle bus service to the Royal Victoria Hospital from Belfast City Centre was £80,300. Income from fares amounting to £69,400 went towards supporting this service.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of introducing a shuttle bus service between the Ulster Hospital and Belfast City Centre. [166710]

Mr. Spellar: Translink has advised that the estimated cost of providing a shuttle bus service between Belfast City Centre and the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald would be approximately £156,600 per year, depending on the required hours of operation and frequency of service. Although Translink do not supply a dedicated bus to the Ulster Hospital, approximately 190 buses per day stop at a terminus, located adjacent to the hospital.

Local Area Partnerships

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the
 
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membership and timetable for local area partnerships recommended by the Costello report, broken down by education board area. [166712]

Mr. Gardiner: Local Planning and Development Partnerships will comprise representatives of schools and school managing authorities in local areas. The arrangements to establish these partnerships are currently under consideration by the Department of Education with the aim of having them in place by the beginning of the next school year.

Nursing Homes

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what restrictions there are on the rates charged to residents by nursing homes. [166699]

Angela Smith: The rates charged to private residents by nursing homes are a matter for negotiation and agreement between both parties. In the case of residents who are supported with public funds it is the Health and Social Services (HSS) Trust that arranges the nursing home placement and agrees to pay an appropriate tariff to the nursing home. Nursing homes may not charge residents for accommodation or care, including the nursing care of private residents, paid for by HSS Trusts.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether nursing homes are permitted to charge different residents at differing rates. [166700]

Angela Smith: Nursing homes may charge individual residents different amounts based on the type and extent of care needed and the standard of facilities and accommodation provided. Nursing homes providing care for different classes of resident, i.e. elderly, mental health or other disablement, charge rates that are based on the level of care usually given to the specific class of    resident the nursing home is authorised to accommodate. The four Health and Social Services Boards have set regional tariffs that Health and Social Services Trusts will normally pay for the appropriate standard placement for each class of resident. Trusts retain the authority to vary the amount payable where the resident is assessed to require additional services.

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