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Foster Carers

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foster carers in each health trust area in Northern Ireland receive fee pay for children in their care; what the average amount of money paid to foster carers for fee pay is; and whether the criteria for fee paying to foster carers is the same in each health trust area in Northern Ireland. [183489]

Angela Smith: The number of foster carers in receipt of fee pay in each Health and Social Services Trust area in Northern Ireland as of quarter ending 31st March 2004 is as follows:

Health and Social Services Trust	Number of Fee Paid Foster Carers
Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust	7
Causeway HSS Trust	6
Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust	3
Down Lisbum HSS Trust	28
Foyle HSS Trust	11
Homefirst HSS Trust	23
Newry and Moume HSS Trust	2
North and West Belfast HSS Trust	50
South and East Belfast HSS Trust	78
Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust	5
Ulster Community Hospitals HSS Trust	20

The average amount of money paid to foster carers for fee pay and the criteria for fee paying to foster carers in Northern Ireland is not centrally available.

Genitourinary Medicine

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of hospital sites offering genitourinary medicine outpost clinics. [183416]

Angela Smith: The Department recently consulted on "A Five Year Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan". Rather than increasing the number of hospital sites that currently offer genitourinary medicine services, the strategy recommended that a more holistic approach should be adopted. Many people wish to access the wide range of sexual health services in one setting, and for some this will be a community setting such as a GP surgery. The Department is currently considering the results of the consultation exercise and in October will host a major conference on sexually transmitted infections and sexual health services.
 
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Health Service Projects

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the health service
 
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projects funded fully or partly by private finance initiatives. [166698]

Angela Smith: The following projects are fully funded by Private Finance Initiative:

Commissioning Body	Project Title
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust	Car Parking
Homefirst Community HSS Trust	Holywell Hospital Energy Management System
Craigavon Area Hospital HSS Trust	Energy Management System
Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust	Renal Unit
Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS)	Regional Clinical Waste Disposal Facilities
United Hospitals HSS Trust	Antrim Hospital Renal Unit
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust and Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust	Link Laboratories
Various HSS Trusts/Boards	All Equipment Leases
Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust	Cancer Centre Equipment

The 'Equipment Leases' project consists of a variety of 46 leases. The major leases are:

Commissioning Body	Lease
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust	Anaesthetics, Theatres and Intensive Care Services
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust	Fractures/Accident and Emergency Centralisation
Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust	Redevelopment Scheme
Causeway Hospital HSS Trust	PACS X-Ray Equipment

There are no projects that have been partly funded by PFI.

Housing Executive

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties were sold in each of the past five years to tenants who were (a) in full receipt of housing benefit, (b) in partial receipt of housing benefit and (c) not in receipt of housing benefit. [183508]

Mr. Spellar: Historical information is not readily available in the form requested. However, since the Northern Ireland Housing Executive began to collect this information in July 2003, the figures are as follows:

Of a total of 4,752 house sales:

1,823 applicants were in receipt of full housing benefit

492 were in receipt of partial housing benefit

2,437 were not in receipt of housing benefit.

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties have been sold in each year since 1998 to joint tenancy of more than two joint tenants. [183509]

Mr. Spellar: This information is not available.

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties have been bought by their occupiers with a discount. [183510]

Mr. Spellar: The information requested is not readily available. However, the Housing Executive estimates that approximately 97 per cent. of the 109,245 houses sold from the introduction of the house sales scheme in March 1981 would have been sold with a discount.

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken to resolve the problem of waiting times for Housing Executive grant assessments. [183059]

Mr. Spellar: Preliminary work has been undertaken on the 'Modernising the Private Sector Improvement Services' project, the main aim of which is to streamline the grants process and make the process easier for applicants. Detailed work is planned to start as soon as possible following the approval of the Housing Executive's overall Modernising Services Business Plan. This is expected to take place within the next few months and it is anticipated the Grants Project will be complete two years after that.

In the meantime, work is continuing on streamlining procedures particularly in relation to Disabled Facilities Grants. In addition the Grants Service is engaged in a Charter Mark strategy with the aim of having all Grants Offices meeting the standard by early 2006. This follows the success of the Craigavon office in achieving a Charter Mark in 2003.

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the weaknesses identified in the Auditor General's Report, NIA 41/03, HC 673 on the financial control and monitoring of grants paid to registered housing associations. [183061]

Mr. Spellar: In summary, the Auditor General's report identified weaknesses relating mainly to certifications submitted by Housing Associations, procedural issues, supporting evidence, control and monitoring arrangements by both the Department and Housing Associations.

The Report however also acknowledged the work that had been and was being done to address these issues.
 
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The Department for Social Development is continuing to implement the full range of measures agreed with the Auditor General.

Full details of the Auditor General's findings are contained in his Report which was laid before Parliament in November last year and a copy of which is available in the Library.

MOT Certificates

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether cars registered in Northern Ireland but whose MOT vehicle test certificate has expired due to industrial action by Civil Servants in Northern Ireland will be exempt from prosecution whilst travelling in England; and if he will make a statement. [184761]

Angela Smith: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA), which is responsible for vehicle testing, has been keeping in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) regarding the legal obligations for motorists during the current period of industrial action.

The PSNI has advised that it will not prosecute a motorist whose MOT certificate has expired provided they have evidence to show that they have maintained their vehicle in a roadworthy condition and have applied to the DVTA for a vehicle test. The PSNI remind motorists of the need to keep their vehicles in a roadworthy condition at all times and have indicated that they may prosecute in cases where this has not been done. However, all relevant circumstances will be taken into account before deciding whether to prosecute.

Police forces throughout GB are being kept informed of the situation in NI, and it is expected that they will adopt a similar approach.

A vehicle does not require a certificate when it is being driven to an MOT centre for a pre-arranged test.

In the meantime the legislative process is now under way to provide temporary exemption for cars and motorcycles to allow these vehicles to be taxed and registered in Northern Ireland and to be driven legally anywhere in the United Kingdom. It is anticipated that certificates of temporary exemption, valid for up to six months, will be available from mid August 2004.

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