House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Sept 2004 (pt 25)

8 Sept 2004 : Column 1328W—continued

Smoking

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people who have stopped smoking in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [187446]

Angela Smith: Information on the number of people who have stopped smoking is not available for each of the last five years. However, an indication on the number of people who have stopped smoking in Northern Ireland is available from the Continuous Household Survey (CHS), which biennially includes questions about smoking. Estimates of the number of people who have stopped smoking in Northern Ireland are as follows:

Estimate of number of people
(aged 16+) who stopped smoking

1996–97 16,500

1998–99 22,000

2000–01 24,000

2002–03 25,000

Notes:
1. The figures have been calculated using the percentage of respondents to the survey who stated that they had stopped smoking in the previous year. These percentages have been applied to the mid-year estimate population numbers to produce an estimated figure for the number of people in Northern Ireland who stopped smoking in the previous year.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 500.
Source:
Continuous Household Survey.

8 Sept 2004 : Column 1329W

	Estimate of number of people (aged 16+) who stopped smoking
1996–97	16,500
1998–99	22,000
2000–01	24,000
2002–03	25,000

Spending Review

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact on civil service jobs in Northern Ireland of the Chancellor's statement on the 2004 Spending Review. [186049]

Mr. Pearson: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the hon. Member for North Down on 20 July 2004, Official Report, columns 196–97W.

Sports Funding

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Government funding has been allocated in Northern Ireland in each financial year since 2000 to (a) rugby, (b) hockey, (c) cricket and (d) Gaelic games. [186050]

Angela Smith: The following table provides details of Exchequer funding and Peace II funding provided by DCAL, DARD, DETI and DFP to rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games for each financial year from 2000.
£

2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

(a) Rugby⁽³⁰⁾ 152,843 157,551 92,536 127,723

(b) Hockey 27,464 61,225 54,902 43,036

(c) Cricket 20,000 22,000 26,330 59,179

(d) Gaelic games1,2 652,085 381,333 557,676 134,793

(e) Numerous sports⁽³²⁾ — — — 58,434

⁽³⁰⁾ The figures shown for rugby and Gaelic games include funding allocated via the Safe Sports Ground Programme.
⁽³¹⁾ Gaelic games includes Gaelic football, hurling and other Gaelic Athletic Association Games.
⁽³²⁾ DFP has also provided Peace II funding to projects including more than one of the listed sports and these are listed separately in the last row under "numerous sports".

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
(a) Rugby⁽³⁰⁾	152,843	157,551	92,536	127,723
(b) Hockey	27,464	61,225	54,902	43,036
(c) Cricket	20,000	22,000	26,330	59,179
(d) Gaelic games1,2	652,085	381,333	557,676	134,793
(e) Numerous sports⁽³²⁾	—	—	—	58,434

Travel Costs

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the travel costs were of civil servants in (a) his Department and (b) its related agencies in each year since 1997. [183901]

Mr. Pearson: One Northern Ireland Department is unable to provide information prior to 2000–01 as the information could be obtained only at disproportionate

8 Sept 2004 : Column 1330W

cost. The available figures show travel costs for (a) Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office and (b) for related agencies for each year since 1997 as:
£

Department Agencies Total

1997–98⁽³³⁾ 6,993,705 8,737,673 15,731,378

1998–99⁽³³⁾ 7,426,431 8,814,552 16,240,983

1999–2000⁽³³⁾ 7,819,038 8,950,484 16,769,522

2000–01 10,535,869 9,769,393 20,305,262

2001–02 10,148,870 9,584,372 19,733,242

2002–03 10,130,032 10,288,270 20,418,302

2003–04 10,484,387 10,659,851 21,144,238

⁽³³⁾ Excludes Department of Finance and Personnel.

	Department	Agencies	Total
1997–98⁽³³⁾	6,993,705	8,737,673	15,731,378
1998–99⁽³³⁾	7,426,431	8,814,552	16,240,983
1999–2000⁽³³⁾	7,819,038	8,950,484	16,769,522
2000–01	10,535,869	9,769,393	20,305,262
2001–02	10,148,870	9,584,372	19,733,242
2002–03	10,130,032	10,288,270	20,418,302
2003–04	10,484,387	10,659,851	21,144,238

Please note that the accounting system changes from a cash to resource basis in 2000–01.

Young People (Special Needs)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to improve (a) respite and (b) social activity provision for young people with special needs in (i) Larne, Carrick, Newtownabbey and Ballyclare and (ii) the rest of the Northern Board area. [187449]

Angela Smith: Homefirst Trust has established a team to manage the transition of young people to adult services using a community development approach to day care support services, which also includes social activities. Supported employment services for school leavers have been developed in Ballymoney, Antrim, Ballymena and Cookstown.

Funding has been secured from the Big Lottery to appoint a Project Worker to develop mainstream social activities for children and young people with disabilities in leisure centres in Larne, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Ballyclare. An evaluation of this project will inform future planning priorities.

The Board is in the process of developing a family support strategy, which includes children with disabilities and their families. A wide-ranging consultation with parents, children and service providers has been completed. The strategy will identify gaps and shortfalls in services and will inform future planning priorities.