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14 Oct 2004 : Column 373W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Ambulances
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ambulances have been involved in road traffic accidents in the last two years in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [188371]
Angela Smith: In the last two years for which information is available (15 April 2002 to 14 April 2004), 90 accident and emergency and 31 patient care service (non-emergency) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) ambulances were involved in road traffic accidents. The number of road traffic accidents reported must be seen in the context of the 677,000 emergency and non-emergency patient journeys undertaken by the NIAS over the past two years, a significant number of which were undertaken in a high risk environment. NIAS remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of its service users and its staff.
The Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety does not hold information about accidents involving other ambulance service providers in Northern Ireland.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter style ambulances there were in the last two years in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [188372]
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Angela Smith: In the last two years for which information is available (15 April 2002–14 April 2004), 64 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Mercedes Sprinter A&E ambulances were involved in road traffic accidents. I am not aware of any specific road safety issues in relation to the Mercedes Sprinter type ambulances.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not hold information about accidents involving other ambulance service providers in Northern Ireland.
Assets Recovery Agency
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) republican and (b) loyalist terrorists have been investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland; and how many people have been convicted in the courts following investigation. [190866]
Mr. Pearson: The Assets Recovery Agency has had 44 cases referred to it by the law enforcement agencies. The cases cover the whole range of organised crime among all groupings and areas across Northern Ireland.
The purpose of the Assets Recovery Agency is to reduce crime through civil recovery of assets and I do not, therefore, anticipate criminal convictions.
Where criminal proceedings are appropriate, the case is referred back to the appropriate prosecuting authority.
Belfast Plan
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan for 2015 will be published. [187953]
Angela Smith: The publication date for the Plan is presently being finalised by my officials. It will be published in late November 2004.
Birds
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lapwing, (b) peeweet, (c) yellow yornie, (d) curlew, (e) corncrake, (f) buzzard and (g) peregrine falcons in Northern Ireland. [187788]
Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) monitors the populations of breeding and over-wintering birds in Northern Ireland. These surveys tend to assess the populations of the more common and widespread species. Less common species require targeted surveys to assess population trends.
The species on which data have been requested are listed below; in each case, the figure is an estimate for the Northern Ireland population.
The breeding population of Lapwing is estimated at 1600 pairs (2000).
The wintering population of Lapwing: 17044 (2000). The peeweet is a local name for the Lapwing.
The breeding population of Yellowhammer (yellow yornie): 300 pairs (2004).
The breeding population of Curlew: 1750 pairs (2000).
The wintering population of Curlew: 6893 (2001).
The breeding population of Corncrake: 0 pairs.
The breeding population of Buzzard: 200 pairs (1991).
The breeding population of Peregrine Falcon: 72 pairs (2002).
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to boost farmland bird numbers in the Province. [187789]
Angela Smith: Northern Ireland government departments, in partnership with voluntary organisations, have been involved in the development of actions plans at a UK and Northern Ireland level. These plans aim to increase populations of those species that have declined most severely, such as Skylark and Curlew; and to increase the extent and quality of the habitats they use. Plans for several additional species such as Yellowhammer and Lapwing are currently being prepared by my Department and will be published next year.
The plans include a range of actions undertaken by Northern Ireland government departments, including research, site-based conservation activities and the provision of guidance and advice. Many of the most significant actions fall to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and are designed to encourage and support wildlife friendly farming practices. These include the continued development of agri-environment schemes such as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) and the Countryside Management Schemes (CMS) and new initiatives such as Good Farming Practice.
Care Homes
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long residents of the Irish Republic are required to live in Northern Ireland before they can take up places at care homes in the Province. [190590]
Angela Smith: Once a person from outside the United Kingdom takes up permanent residence in Northern Ireland, he or she becomes eligible to receive health and social care on a similar basis to other residents.
Carers
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) men and (b) women in Northern Ireland over state retirement age are caring for elderly parents or relatives. [190177]
Mr. Pearson: The 2001 Census of Population showed that (a) 9,690 men and (b) 18,816 women, who were over state retirement age at the time of the Census, were involved in looking after or giving help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill-health or disability or problems related to age. It is not possible to identify those who were caring specifically for elderly parents or relatives.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what benefits are available for people reaching state pension age who still care for elderly parents or relatives in their retirement. [190178]
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Mr. Spellar: Carers of any age may be entitled to the full range of social security benefits depending on their individual circumstances. The most common benefits for carers of pensionable age are carer's allowance, retirement pension and pension credit. Many carers reaching pension age who are entitled to carer's allowance are also entitled to a retirement pension of an equal or higher amount. In these circumstances the overlapping benefits rules preclude the payment of carer's allowance. However, entitlement to carer's allowance is retained, allowing for extra help to be given to those entitled to pension credit.
Children
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Children Matter Task Force report which initiated the process of increasing and banding the range of children provision. [188469]
Angela Smith: The programme of capital developments set out in the "Report of the Children Matter Task Force Phase 1 2001–03", has led to the development of an additional 77 residential child care places. When phase 1 is completed in 2005, 82 additional and 73 replacement residential child care places will have been provided. This will exceed the initial target of 77 new and 70 replacement places. It is anticipated that phase 2 of the Children Matter Task Force, will see the development of 49 new and 131 replacement residential child care places.
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