---

6 May 2004 : Column 1720W—continued

Road Safety

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorists have been prosecuted since the introduction of the legislation on the use of mobile phones in Northern Ireland. [169759]

Mr. Pearson: The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 came into operation on 1 February 2004 and I am advised that during that month the PSNI gave advice and warnings to motorists that committed an offence. I understand that the PSNI have issued 835 fixed penalty notices from 1 March 2004 in respect of contraventions. Statistics on the number of prosecutions in respect of hand-held mobile telephones are not yet available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Police Board (Fair Employment)

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many formal complaints alleging breaches of fair employment and equal opportunity legislation by the Northern Ireland Policing Board have been made to the Office of Industrial Tribunals and the Office of Fair Employment Tribunals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004 to date. [170728]

Mr. Pearson: I have been advised by the Northern Ireland Policing Board of the following statistics relating to the number of formal complaints made to the Office of Industrial Tribunals and the Office of Fair Employment Tribunals alleging breaches of fair employment and equal opportunity legislation by the Northern Ireland Policing Board:

2002: None.

2003: Two Cases.

2004: None to date.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of the Northern Ireland Policing Board's equal opportunities policy and (b) the supply of appropriately qualified and trained staff to implement it; and what assessment he has made of the ability of the Board to comply with (i) equal opportunities and (ii) fair employment legislation, with particular reference to the requirement to preserve all relevant records and papers. [170404]

Mr. Pearson: The Northern Ireland Policing Board is designated as a public authority and is therefore required by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in carrying out its functions to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to promote good relations.

The Policing Board's Equality Scheme, which was approved on 12 February 2003 sets out how it proposes to fulfil its statutory duties. As like all other public
 
6 May 2004 : Column 1721W
 
authorities the Policing Board produces an annual progress report on its Equality Scheme and submits this to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

In addition as an employer I have been informed by the Policing Board that it has in place all the necessary procedures and processes to ensure that it complies with all relevant employment law. The Board has recently implemented their Equal Opportunities policy and undertaken the associated training for all staff.

I have also been advised that all relevant records and papers in respect of recruitment are retained in accordance with equal opportunities policies and legislative requirements.

Planning Policy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reverse the practice of planning authorities in Northern Ireland of presuming in favour of development. [169920]

Angela Smith: This matter will be considered as part of the forthcoming review of Planning Policy Statement 1 which sets out among other matters the general principles that my Department observes in exercising control of development. This review, which will involve public consultation, is due to be completed by the end of 2005.

Public Administration Review

Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the Review of Public Administration; when interim proposals will be published; and if he will make a statement. [170437]

Mr. Pearson: Consultation on high level models of public administration concluded on 27 February 2004 with some 170 responses being received. These have now been published on the Review's website.

On 27 and 29 April 2004 I met representatives of all the main political parties to outline the key messages emerging from the consultation responses, and to discuss the core elements of a new system of public administration that reflects the views expressed in these responses. The parties have agreed to work with me over the coming months, and I hope to be in a position to publish firm proposals for consultation in the autumn.

Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost incurred by the Review of Public Administration has been since the beginning of financial year 2001–02. [170438]

Mr. Pearson: In May 2002 the Northern Ireland Executive agreed an overall budget of £3 million for the Review of Public Administration. To date a total expenditure of £1 71 million has been incurred by the Review. Prior to that, some preparatory work was undertaken on the Review before a dedicated budget was established. This work was completed by officials in OFMDFM who were engaged on a variety of issues, and therefore it is not possible to identify these costs separately.
 
6 May 2004 : Column 1722W
 

Respiratory Illnesses

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to assist those people in Northern Ireland who suffer from respiratory illnesses and as a result of their condition have severe restriction in their mobility. [171003]

Angela Smith: A number of initiatives are currently under way to help people who are affected by chronic respiratory disease in Northern Ireland. For those people who are disabled with respiratory disease, many Trusts have developed multi-professional Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services. Further work is currently being undertaken by Trusts, in association with Boards, to ensure that the full range of these services is available to everyone in Northern Ireland.

Recognising the impact of respiratory diseases on the health of people in Northern Ireland, my Department intends to initiate a major review of respiratory services in 2004–05. The scope of the review is not yet finalised, but key themes will include: primary prevention and the development of links with other health promotion strategies; the encouragement and facilitation of self-care; the promotion of multi- disciplinary team working; and, the development of integrated care pathways across the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare sectors.

Social Economy (Public Bodies)

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the first meeting of the Social Economy Forum in June 2003 was held; and how many attended, and what the cost of the meeting was. [170071]

Mr. Pearson: The first meeting of the Social Economy Forum was held at the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action premises in Belfast. There were 26 attendees, evenly split between social economy sectoral representatives and Government officials. Room hire and catering costs were £310.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 budget at the disposal of the (i) Social Economy Forum and (ii) Social Economy Agency is. [170072]

Mr. Pearson: The Social Economy Forum is a policy platform. The Forum of itself has no budget but as a policy platform it seeks to influence how others utilise their resources to develop the social economy sector.

£600,000 has been made available to the Social Economy Agency over a four-year period (2002–06). This is to establish and service a new high-level sectoral representative body, the Social Economy Network and its committees.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are employed in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's inter-departmental steering group on the social economy. [170073]

Mr. Pearson: None. The Inter-Departmental Steering Group (IDSG) consists of senior officials from all 11 Northern Ireland Departments. It meets three to four
 
6 May 2004 : Column 1723W
 
times per year and considers how departmental policies and programmes can support the growth of the sector, encourage greater cross-departmental co-operation and identify key action points to increase the sector's potential to build 'social capital' and create wealth and jobs, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

---