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Renewable Energy

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total energy supply he estimates will be supplied to Northern Ireland consumers from renewable energy sources by the end of 2004. [180979]

Mr. Gardiner: Statistics relating to the contribution of renewables to total energy supply are not currently available for Northern Ireland.

It is estimated that, subject to climatic conditions, approximately 300 GWh (3 per cent. of total electricity supplied to Northern Ireland consumers) will be generated from indigenous renewable sources during 2004. An additional lOOGWh (1 per cent. of total electricity supplied to Northern Ireland consumers) will be imported from outside Northern Ireland.

Road Accidents

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) fatalities, (b) serious injuries and (c) other collisions there have been on the (i) A2 Bangor to Belfast Road and (ii) Bangor Ring Road, County Down in each of the last 10 years. [179952]

Mr. Pearson: The Chief Constable has provided the information in the following tables which covers the period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2004. Figures prior to this period are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
 
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(i) A2 Belfast to Bangor Road (between the junction of Knocknagoney Road and Abbey Street/Brunswick Road junction, Bangor)

	Total number of injury collisions	Number of fatalities	Serious injuries	Slight injuries
2001–02	37	0	11	61
2002–03	38	4	18	70
2003–04	34	2	27	41

(ii) Bangor Ring Road, County Down

	Total number of injury collisions	Number of fatalities	Serious injuries	Slight injuries
2001–02	29	0	3	41
2002–03	35	0	3	45
2003–04	33	0	2	58

Sickness Absence

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days were lost in each department, agency and non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland through staff sickness in each financial year since 1 April 1997; what the average annual number of days lost per employee was as a result of sickness in those years; and what the cost was of such time lost. [180824]

Mr. Pearson: I have placed tables containing the statistical information covering the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and its Agencies in the Library. The information which relates to the Northern Ireland Office (excluding NI Prison Service' and Home Civil Service) has only been held centrally since 2000–01.

The NI Prison Service has produced its own statistics but costing details are not available. NIO (Home Civil Service) information is produced in calendar years and again information on costing is not available.

The statistics, where available, relate to financial years 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03. Statistical data prior to 1999–2000 is not available centrally, nor is the information relating to non-departmental public bodies. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

The 'Working days lost per staff year' approach is based on Cabinet Office recommendation and replaces working days lost per person. It is recognised that the latter does not always permit valid comparisons to be made between or within organisations which have a high proportion of part-time staff and/or high levels of staff turnover. Costing information has been compiled centrally since 2000–01 and is based on salary costs.

Sperrin Lakeland Trust

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust on (a) nursing and related staffing, (b) goods and services and (c) building works in Omagh and Erne in the last year for which figures are available. [180300]

 
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Angela Smith: The information requested was supplied by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust for 2002–03 and is detailed in the following table:
£000

	Erne Hospital Enniskillen	Tyrone County Hospital Omagh
Nursing costs	8,664	6,540
Goods and services	5,285	3,989
Building works (capital)	59	98

Travel Costs (Officials)

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for officials of the Northern Ireland Civil Service for 2003–04; and what processes are employed to ensure that all suppliers are given equal opportunity to offer cost effective travel arrangements. [181358]

Mr. Pearson: The cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain for officials of the Northern Ireland Civil Service for 2003–04 was £2,805,004.12.

These figures relate only to flights booked through the NICS contracted travel agency service and do not include any journeys undertaken which were booked through any other channels as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost to Departments.

The Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) establishes a contract for a comprehensive travel agency service, which is competed for on a regular basis thus affording all suppliers a regular opportunity to bid for provision of this service. This service includes identifying the best value fare structure to meet the specified business needs of the officials undertaking the journey.

Union Flag (Police Stations)

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date a decision was taken to remove the Union Flag from all Northern Ireland police stations; on whose authority this decision was taken; who issued the instruction to remove the Union Flag; and what the wording of the instruction was. [180925]

Mr. Pearson: The answer to this question is enshrined in the Police Flags and Emblems Regulations (NI) 2002, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Victims Commissioner

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the Victims' Commissioner for Northern Ireland is; what his remit is; and if he will make a statement. [179730]

Mr. Spellar: There is no Victims Commissioner for Northern Ireland. The idea of a Victims Commissioner was first put forward as a recommendation by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield in his report, "We Will Remember Them", which looked at possible ways of recognising the pain and suffering of victims of the Troubles. Since its publication in 1998 Government have implemented the majority of his recommendations. However, the
 
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appointment of a Victims Commissioner was not pursued. A Victims Minister was appointed and since then over £20 million has been allocated to victims initiatives. The role of Victims Commissioner as envisaged in the report was primarily that of a watchdog over the services and advice available to victims. The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister are taking much of this work forward in their cross-departmental strategy; the consultation exercise they carried out indicated no clear view on the establishment of such a post. Government are currently reviewing their strategy for addressing the needs of victims of the Troubles, including how we deal with the past. This review will inform the development of the next phase of victims policy. We cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review.

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill will make statutory provision for a Victims Commissioner in England and Wales who will champion the interests of victims and witnesses of all offences. The provisions have not been extended to Northern Ireland as the Criminal Justice Review made specific recommendations regarding victims and witnesses. The Review recommended that a group comprising of both statutory and voluntary bodies should be set up to maintain a specific focus on victims issues. The Victims, Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses Steering Group, representative of criminal justice agencies and Victim Support (NI), fulfils this role. The Review also recommended that the possibility of an advocate should be considered again in the future if new arrangements on behalf of victims are seen not to be working.

Winter Fuel Payments

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) East Londonderry he estimates will be eligible for winter fuel payments in 2004. [180975]

Mr. Spellar: In the 2003–04 year winter fuel payments were made to 275,624 Social Security Agency customers. It is estimated that the figure for 2004–05 will be of similar numbers. A further breakdown by constituency is not available.

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