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7 Sept 2004 : Column 1136W—continued
Departmental Annual Report
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of his Department's annual report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the (a) publication costs and (b) sales revenue were. [183889]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Stationery Office has provided the following information:
| Number of NIO annual reports issued | |
|---|---|
| 1997(64) | — |
| 1998(64) | — |
| 1999(64) | — |
| 2000 | 519 |
| 2001 | 558 |
| 2002 | 494 |
| 2003 | 443 |
| 2004(65) | 321 |
(64) The Northern Ireland Office has only produced a published version of its annual report since 2000. Prior to that the NIO was one of a number of contributors to the Northern Ireland Departmental Report, an annually published report produced by the Department of Finance and Personnel (NI), which set out the work and expenditure of all the different Departments in Northern Ireland.
(65) The 2004 report became available for purchase only on 7 May 2004 so final details of costs and sales are not to hand. Figures shown are the latest available.
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1137W
Departmental Vehicles
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety. [185916]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The NIO and its agencies and the 11 Departments and agencies of the NI Administration operate a total of 2,492 vehicles. The number of personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the NIO and the NI Departments within each of the last five years is outlined as follows:
| Number of personal injury accidents | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 9 |
| 2000–01 | 9 |
| 2001–02 | 9 |
| 2002–03 | 7 |
| 2003–04 | 9 |
Policies for managing work-related road safety are encompassed within health and safety policies as required by Health and Safety legislation. These include centrally issued guidance, and local guidance where appropriate, on issues such as the use of mobile phones while driving, the need for drivers of certain Government vehicles to be medically examined, road worthiness of vehicles, driver competence and the availability of driver training.
Employment Opportunities
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults were available for work in Northern Ireland in (a) June 2004 and (b) June 1999. [186243]
Mr. Gardiner: Latest figures from the Spring (March–May) 2004 Labour Force Survey estimated that there were 754,000 persons aged 16 and over who were either working or available for work in Northern Ireland. This compares to a figure of 748,000 for Spring (March–May) 1999.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in Northern Ireland in (i) June 2004 and (ii) June 1999. [186244]
Mr. Gardiner:
The most up-to-date employee jobs data relates to March 2004. Estimates of the number of full-time and part-time employee jobs in Northern Ireland for June 1999 and March 2004 are as follows.
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1138W
| June 1999 | March 2004 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Employee Jobs | 422,150 | 441,070 |
| Part-Time Employee Jobs | 201,850 | 235,450 |
| Total Employee Jobs | 624,000 | 676,530 |
(66) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
(67) Provisional
Figures are not seasonally adjusted
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in the small and medium enterprise sector in Northern Ireland in (a) 2004 and (b) 1999. [186266]
Mr. Spellar: Estimates from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) of the number of employee jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises (i.e. enterprises with less than 250 employees) in the private sector in Northern Ireland for March 1999 and March 2004 are as follows.
| Number of employee jobs | |
|---|---|
| March 1999 | 288,900 |
| March 2004 (68) | 318,200 |
(68) Provisional
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
Figures are not seasonally adjusted
Fisheries Conservancy Board Vessel
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure traceability of the Fisheries Conservancy Board vessel since the disappearance of the previous boat from Lough Neagh. [184834]
Angela Smith: There are no measures available which are foolproof and which would ensure traceability of a stolen boat. However, there are other factors which may enable the Board to trace the vessel. The Board has registered the vessel with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Accordingly, if it was stolen and recovered it could be traced back to the Board. The Board is also looking at whether there are cost effective measures, which might make traceability easier. Furthermore, appropriate equipment on board the vessel carry serial numbers.
The Board has taken measures to try to protect the boat from theft. The vessel is moored in a prominent berth in Ballycastle Marina. The Marina is staffed from 8.00 am to midnight during the summer and from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm in winter. There are also three CCTVs covering the Marina for security purposes.
Football
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the money will be released by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure to pay for the improved floodlights at Windsor Park. [186409]
Angela Smith:
To date the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) has made no commitment to release money to pay for the improved floodlights at Windsor Park. However, money may be made available
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1139W
under the facilities component of the Soccer Strategy. This would be dependent on my being satisfied that the necessary changes in the governance of soccer have been implemented and that remaining issues, including the completion by the Irish Football Association (IFA) of a detailed audit of priority football facilities, are addressed in accordance with accountability requirements for public funds.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on implementing the football strategy in Northern Ireland. [186410]
Angela Smith: Since the Irish Football Association's (IFA) decision on 6 April 2004 to accept the recommendations of the football strategy, I have set up a Sports Council led Implementation Group to oversee the implementation of the strategy in Northern Ireland. This Group has held a number of meetings and advertisements were recently placed in the press by the IFA for the appointment of two external members to the Association's new Executive Committee. Arrangements are also presently being made for the appointment of a new IFA Chief Executive. In addition to these, I have established a Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure led Monitoring Group to ensure that overall progress remains consistent with the central aims of the football strategy. This Group held its first meeting on 23 July 2004.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the floodlights at Windsor Park will be upgraded in time for Northern Ireland's first home World Cup matches. [186411]
Angela Smith: Responsibility for upgrading the floodlights at Windsor Park in time for Northern Ireland's first home World Cup matches rests with the governing body of Soccer in Northern Ireland, the Irish Football Association (IFA), and the owners of the stadium, Linfield FC. I understand that the IFA and Linfield FC are presently putting arrangements in place for the necessary upgrading work to be carried out within the given time constraints.
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