---

10 May 2004 : Column 104W—continued

Ordnance Survey

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how   much money from Government (a) grants and (b) contracts, Ordnance Survey has used to support its commercial aerial activities. [153755]

Yvette Cooper: None.

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason Ordnance Survey rejected Getmapping's bid for the Millennium Map to be adopted as the Imagery Layer in Digital National Framework in November 2001. [153757]

Yvette Cooper: Ordnance Survey takes third party data into its databases only after full and careful consideration of content, quality, price and management of intellectual property rights associated with the data
 
10 May 2004 : Column 105W
 
being evaluated. The OJEU process is always used for this purpose when there are alternative sources. To ensure value for money, the costs, benefits and quality of Ordnance Survey's own in-house capability is taken into consideration in these evaluations.

The reasons for rejecting particular third party data are confidential between Ordnance Survey and the third party.

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many sales Ordnance Survey made of the Millennium Map during the period of its contract as a re-seller of the map. [153759]

Yvette Cooper: Ordnance Survey gave notice to terminate its contract with Getmapping for distribution of Getmapping products in April 2002.

Statistics of commercial sales of partners' products by Ordnance Survey are confidential between Ordnance Survey and its partners.

Planning

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the key performance indicators for local authorities are for the delegation of planning decisions to officers. [171432]

Keith Hill: The Local Government Association and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have jointly published revised guidance on schemes of delegation. The document is called "Delivering Delegation" and apart from re-affirming policy on delegation, the document also details the types of decisions that can be delegated and provides best practice models of delegation schemes. This is agreed to be a more effective way of ensuring appropriate levels of delegation than measurement through a formal performance indicator.

Regional Assemblies

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the current and projected elements of the Your Say campaign; and what the total estimated cost is of each. [169259]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 366W.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what security the proposed regional assemblies would have to give in order to borrow cash. [171498]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the provisions on security for money borrowed by elected regional assemblies to be similar to   those for local authorities following the Local Government Act 2003.

Swarcliffe Pathfinder Scheme

Colin Burgon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects final approval to be given for the Pathfinder Scheme for Swarcliffe to proceed. [171758]

Keith Hill: Final approval for the Swarcliffe scheme to proceed will be issued following the submission and approval of the Scheme's Final Business Case.
 
10 May 2004 : Column 106W
 

NORTHERN IRELAND

Castlereagh College

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken to ensure Castlereagh College is able to offer assistance and training to people who face redundancy in the Castlereagh/East Belfast and Strangford areas; and if he will make a statement. [171028]

Mr. Spellar: As part of its role in supporting local economic development, Castlereagh College is well placed to offer assistance and training to people facing redundancy in the Castlereagh, East Belfast and Strangford areas. Of particular relevance is the College's new service, "Conexus" which links the College's vocational, employability and business programmes. The range of services offered by Conexus includes:

individual career advice and guidance;

individual guidance on learning and retraining opportunities;

identification of learning needs and the development and delivery of tailored solutions;

a range of programmes to enhance employability and provide qualifications linked to industry's needs; and

extensive links with other economic agencies and local employers.

Cigarettes

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when he expects to reply to the questions, reference (a) 159955 and (b) 159956, tabled by the hon. Member for East Antrim on 8 March 2004; [172047]

(2) how many container loads of cigarettes have been reported stolen in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months for which records are available; [159956]

(3) what the (a) total number of cigarettes and (b) total amount of tobacco seized by Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland was in the last 12 months for which records are available. [159955]

Mr. Pearson: I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Regarding the number of container loads of cigarettes stolen in Northern Ireland (question reference 159956), a substantial search of records is required to collate the   information requested. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information once it is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

The total quantity of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco seized by Customs in 2002–03 (question reference 159955) is set out in the Annual Report of the Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise published in December 2003, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The location of a seizure is by no means an indication of the location of the illicit market for which they are bound. Specifically in Northern Ireland in 2002–03 Customs seized 31.5 million cigarettes and 731 kilos of hand rolling tobacco.

Disabled People (Education)

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is being made to assist disabled people in undertaking courses at each of Northern Ireland's universities. [171004]

 
10 May 2004 : Column 107W
 

Mr. Gardiner: The Department for Employment and Learning has in place a number of specific actions designed to promote access to Higher Education by students with disabilities. These include a funding premium, special project funding and capital funding. The universities might, for example, use this funding to provide specialist equipment or specific support for students with a disability.

The Department also provides the universities with special project funding under the "Improving Provision for Disabled Students" initiative. Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has received special project funding to support a Disability Services Co-ordinator, and to support a project entitled "To Enhance Employment opportunities for Students with Disabilities". The University of Ulster (UU) has received special project funding to establish, in partnership with QUB Institute, a register of freelance professional and non-professional support workers, including dyslexia support workers, readers and notetakers, to assist students with disabilities.

QUB and UU have received Disability Capital Funding from the Department, which is aimed at assisting the universities in funding essential capital works to provide, for example, ramps, lift adaptations, disabled toilets, carparking for the disabled, alarm system adaptations for the deaf and visually impaired and automatic doors.

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to encourage energy efficiency in Northern Ireland. [168191]

Mr. Gardiner: Statutory responsibility for energy efficiency in Northern Ireland is shared between a number of Government Departments and Agencies which have committed approximately £16 million in programmes sponsored during 2003. In addition the private sector is also playing an active role.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment is responsible for overall energy policy, including the development of a strategic and co-ordinated approach to energy efficiency. In addition, Invest NI promotes energy efficiency in the industrial and commercial sectors and provides a programme of support to businesses. During January 2004 Invest NI ran the Northern Ireland Energy Show attended by almost 1,000 delegates. A programme of 10 master classes, facilitated by industry experts, supported the exhibition.

The Department for Social Development has lead responsibility for energy efficiency in the domestic housing sector, working closely with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Details of the housing measures are contained in the Home Energy Conservation Report which is published annually and copied to all Northern Ireland MPs and MLAs. A copy is available in the Library.

Northern Ireland Electricity manages the Customer Energy Efficiency Levy programme, with an annual fund of approximately £3.8 million, 80 per cent. of which is used for 'whole house' solutions in homes that are likely to be at risk from fuel poverty.
 
10 May 2004 : Column 108W
 

The Energy Savings Trust funds two Energy Efficiency Advice Centres which provide free and impartial energy advice to domestic consumers.

The Carbon Trust, with funding support from Invest NI, manages the "Action Energy" programme, including promotional events, advice on energy efficiency best practice, and interest free loans for energy efficiency projects to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Over the past three years, through over 800 energy audits with North Ireland businesses, the Action Energy programme has identified energy savings in excess of £30 million.

The Department of Finance and Personnel operates a programme of energy efficiency measures in the public sector that includes the:

Benchmarking of each building occupied by a public body for its energy performance and emissions of carbon dioxide;

Provision of additional funding to enable public bodies to implement energy saving improvements to buildings which cannot be funded from normal budget allocations;

Provision of training courses in energy awareness and management for relevant staff throughout all Government Departments; and

Purchase of electricity generated from renewable sources (green electricity) where this represents value for money.

---