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8 Jun 2004 : Column 349W—continued

Invest Northern Ireland

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits have been made under the auspices of Invest Northern Ireland by potential inward investors to each constituency within the past 12 months; and how many jobs have been created as a result in each. [171740]

Mr. Gardiner: Over the past year (April 2003 to March 2004) there have been 211 visits by potential inward investors to the Parliamentary constituency areas of Northern Ireland. These are detailed in the following table.

Constituency	Number of visits
North Antrim	1
South Antrim	10
East Antrim	5
North Belfast	39
East Belfast	40
South Belfast	54
West Belfast	17
North Down	2
Strangford	1
South Down	1
Newry and Armagh	5
Lagan Valley	4
Upper Bann	6
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	1
Mid Ulster	1
West Tyrone	4
Foyle	18
East Londonderry	2
Total	211

Securing inward investment is the result of extensive work over an extended period which may involve a number of visits. As a consequence it must be recognised that there is a time lag between visits by potential investors and ultimately securing investment.
 
8 Jun 2004 : Column 350W
 
Recognising this fact, during the past year (April 2003 to March 2004) Invest NI secured 11 new inward investment projects as a result of which 1,099 new jobs will be promoted (i.e. are expected to be created). The final constituency locations for all of the 11 projects have not yet been finalised. Not all of the 11 companies visited Northern Ireland during 2003–04, many visited during previous years.

Maghaberry Prison

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received of physical and mental abuse of persons inside HMP Maghaberry, with particular reference to the (a) excessive use of strip-searching and (b) restricted movement of inmates; and if he will make a statement. [177189]

Mr. Pearson: I have received representations from the Ulster Political Research Group expressing their concern at the use of full-body searching at Maghaberry prison. Searching of accommodation and prisioners is a vital part of the prison routine and is essential in order to protect the safety of both prisoners and staff. I was able to assure the UPRG representatives that the level of searching that takes place in Maghaberry is the same across the rest of the UK for similar category prisoners.

Milk Cup Tournament

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support his Department provides to the Milk Cup Football tournament. [175907]

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Events Company The Northern Ireland Events Company has provided funding for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup as set out in the table.

	£
2001–02	90,000
2002–03	90,000
2003–04	180,000
Total	360,000

The Northern Ireland Events Company have also agreed funding of £80,000 towards the 2004 event.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board

A total of £25,000 grant payment was made by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the period 2001–03 towards marketing costs of the Milk Cup Football tournament. £5,000 was provided for the 2001 Milk Cup tournament while £10,000 was provided for the 2002 tournament and again for the 2003 tournament.
 
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Motor Cycling

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest estimate is of the value to the Northern Ireland economy of the races and events associated with (a) the North West 200 motorcycle races and (b) the Circuit of Ireland Rally. [170246]

Mr. Gardiner: Government do not collect this information and are therefore not in a position to estimate their value to the Northern Ireland economy.

However, the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) provide financial support towards the North West 200. Based on information from the event organisers the NIEC will draw up a post evaluation report. This information will include bed revenue and tourist spend and will be required from the organisers within eight weeks of the date of the event.

Based on figures for previous years provided by Coleraine borough council it is estimated that the North West 200 will generate approximately £5.6 million tourism revenue to the Northern Ireland economy in 2004.

Figures are not available for the Circuit of Ireland rally.

MS Treatment

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are waiting to commence beta interferon or glatiramer for multiple sclerosis treatment; and if he will make a statement. [173605]

Angela Smith: At 20 May 2004 there were 76 patients on the waiting list for disease-modifying treatments such as beta interferon or glatiramer; included in this number are a small number of patients who have signalled that they do not wish to commence treatment as yet.

My Department remains committed to introducing drugs that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care. There is a growing demand for treatment with disease-modifying drugs for people who suffer from MS and substantial extra funding has been made available to Health and Social Services Boards for these and other specialist medicines. However, despite this additional investment, there continue to be waiting lists for treatment due to the increasing levels of demand. My Department will continue to seek additional resources for specialist medicines that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are receiving (a) beta interferon and (b) glatiramer for multiple sclerosis; and how many of each have commenced treatment since 1 January. [173607]

Angela Smith: At 20 May 2004 there were 513 patients receiving disease-modifying treatments such as beta interferon or glatiramer, with a further 17 currently suspended from treatment at present.

During the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 May 2004, 26 patients have commenced treatment.
 
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National Lottery

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Lottery funding has been allocated to sporting organisations relating to (a) soccer, (b) rugby and (c) hockey in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Lottery. [175723]

Angela Smith: Since the National Lottery began the Sports Council for Northern Ireland's Lottery Fund has allocated the following funding to sporting organisations in relation to soccer, rugby and hockey in Northern Ireland:

	£ million
Soccer	6.28
Rugby	1.63
Hockey	1.99

Police Service

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case; [176684]

(2) how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have relatives with criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case. [176685]

Mr. Spellar: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However all successful applicants who enter the Training College have met the criminal convictions criteria set out in the Police Recruitment Regulations 2001 and the criteria under the vetting procedure. This includes close family members.

Police Trophies

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an official record exists of (a) competition trophies, (b) presentations to Station Parties and (c) other items belonging to the (i) Royal Ulster Constabulary, (ii) Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve and (iii) associated bodies at the time of their inclusion within the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and where those items are located. [176332]

Mr. Pearson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland have advised me that all sporting trophies presented to the RUC or RUC Reserve are the property of the Athletic Association and that no official police records of such trophies exist.

No official records exists of presentations to Station Parties or of other items belonging to the RUC or RUC Reserve and of their location. Such a list could be compiled only at disproportionate expense.

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