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5 May 2004 : Column 1535W—continued
Free Fares for Senior Citizens
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have used the Free Fares for Senior Citizens scheme on public transport in Northern Ireland since its introduction; and how many people used the previous discounted fares scheme over an equivalent time period leading up to the introduction of the Free Fares for Senior Citizens scheme. [169761]
Mr. Spellar: Free travel for Northern Ireland residents aged 65 and over was introduced in October 2001. Translink do not have information about the number of people who have used the scheme since its introduction, but do have records of the number of passenger journeys undertaken. Those records show that 17,620,940 free passenger journeys were undertaken on Ulsterbus and City bus services between October 2001 and April 2004. Figures are not available for Northern Ireland Railways for this period.
Translink have advised that passenger journey figures are unavailable for half fare concessions prior to October 2001.
Gastroenteritis Outbreak
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) admissions, (b) operations and (c) other procedures were postponed at each of the hospitals in the province as a result of the April outbreak of gastroenteritis; and if he will make a statement. [169656]
Angela Smith: The information requested on admissions, operations and other procedures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
A total of 896 bed days at the Ulster hospital and 149 bed days at the Antrim hospital were lost as a result of the gastroenteritis during April. All elective surgery was cancelled at the Ulster hospital between 6 April and 26 April.
The impact of a gastroenteritis outbreak on services will depend on many factors including the level of the infection in the community, the proportion of affected staff, the clinical areas involved, the layout of hospital design, and the general pressures experienced by the trust.
5 May 2004 : Column 1536W
The control measures being followed in the Ulster hospital are those recommended in national UK guidelines "Management of hospital outbreaks of gastroenteritis due to small round structures viruses". These include isolation of affected patients and exclusion from work of affected staff members, ward closure to new admissions, enhanced hygiene measures and domestic cleaning, restrictions on visitors, close monitoring of all wards and information and advice to staff, patients and visitors. The current outbreak of the virus is now showing signs of abating, wards are being reopened to patients and elective surgery is again being performed.
Leggatt Report
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring into effect in Northern Ireland the recommendations of the Leggatt Report in the Review of Tribunals. [166138]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Leslie), on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1656W.
Pensions Payment
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in numbers of pension payment order books at post offices in Northern Ireland was between 2002 and 2003. [170483]
Mr. Spellar: The decrease in numbers of pension books at post offices in Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2003 is 23,000.
Personal Protection
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to withdraw personal protection from (a) members of the judiciary and (b) others in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [169745]
Mr. Pearson: The level of personal protection provided to individuals in Northern Ireland is an operational matter which the Chief Constable keeps under constant review. In line with Part II, Paragraph 4f of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information—
"Information whose disclosure could endanger the life or physical safety of any person, or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes"—
it would be inappropriate to comment further on such issues.
Police Fund
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the staff and administrative costs associated with the operation of the Police Fund have been in each year since its introduction, broken down by main budget heading. [170219]
5 May 2004 : Column 1537W
Mr. Pearson: I have been advised by the Police Fund that the establishment and running costs associated with the operation of the Fund from 25 January 2002 to 31 March 2004 are as follows:
| Period from 25 January 2002 to 31 March 2003 | Period from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel Costs | 210,563 | 251,916 |
| Accommodation Costs | 13,202 | 14,777 |
| General Administrative Expenses | 106,351 | 58,121 |
| Total | 330,116 | 324,814 |
It should be noted that the figures for 2003–04 are subject to the annual external audit, which will commence on 1 June 2004.
Police Service
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legal obstacles prevent formalised police exchanges between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Siochana; and if he will make a statement. [170562]
Mr. Pearson: With the coming into force of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Secondment) (Garda Siochana) Regulations 2004, there is no legal obstacle in the United Kingdom jurisdiction which would prevent police exchanges between the Police Service Northern Ireland and the Garda Siochana.
When I raised the subject at the meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 21 April, I was assured that the Irish Government is currently working up reciprocal regulations to support secondments.
Roads
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost is of providing a dual carriageway between the Toome by-pass and the City of Londonderry. [170486]
Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written directly to the hon. Gentleman in response to this Question.
Letter from Dr. McKibbin to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 4 May 2004:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the estimated cost of providing a dual carriageway between the recently constructed Toome by-pass and the City of Londonderry. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
The estimated cost of providing a dual 2-lane carriageway road between the end of the Toome by-pass and Londonderry would be in the region of £300 million to £400 million.
I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost is of providing a dual carriageway between the existing dual carriageway on the A26 and Glarryford and Coleraine. [170487]
Mr. Spellar:
The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written directly to the hon. Gentleman in response to this Question.
5 May 2004 : Column 1538W
Letter from Dr. McKibbin to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 1 May 2004:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding the estimated cost of providing a dual carriageway between the existing dual carriageway on the A26 and Glarryford and Coleraine. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
The estimated cost of providing a dual 2-lane carriageway road with at-grade junctions on the A26 between the end of the existing dual carriageway at Glarryford and Coleraine would be in the region of £130 million to £180 million depending on the standard of the road provided.
I hope this information is helpful.
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