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Fly-tipping

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of illegal fly-tipping in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what penalties are available for those convicted of illegal fly-tipping; and what steps he is taking to prevent illegal fly-tipping. [193557]

 
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Angela Smith: For the four years 1999–2003, district councils held responsibility for prosecuting cases where waste was fly-tipped. The Department of the Environment has asked district councils to supply data on convictions during this period. I will write to the hon. Lady when this is available.

On 19 December 2003, the responsibility for such prosecutions transferred to the Department, although powers to require the removal of fly-tipped waste were retained by district councils. Since this date, the Department's Environment and Heritage Service has investigated many cases where waste has been illegally deposited. There are currently 129 cases under investigation, 18 being considered by the Public Prosecution Service and one case where a conviction has been obtained.

Penalties for conviction are dependent on where the case is heard. Currently the maximum penalty available is up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to £20,000, or both, for cases heard in the magistrates court; or up to two years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine for cases heard in the Crown court.

To combat illegal waste disposal, the Department of the Environment has developed a specialised team, which works closely with district councils, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland, and HM Customs. It has produced guidance for district councils and it enforces the regulations under Registration of Carriers and Duty of Care.

Hazardous Waste

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 674W, on hazardous waste, why incidences of illegally disposed special waste were not recorded before 2002. [193724]

Angela Smith: Under the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998, the movement of special waste is monitored by means of a consignment note which accompanies the waste from its point of arising to its destination. The Department of the Environment retains records for the movement of special waste including the subsequent movement of any reported illegally deposited waste. These records are available for all movements of special waste from September 1998 and were consolidated into a database from October 2001. Records prior to October 2001 date are not therefore readily available and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to prevent the illegal disposal of special waste in Northern Ireland; what penalties are available for those caught illegally disposing special waste in Northern Ireland; and how many convictions there have been since 2002 for the illegal disposal of special waste. [193742]

 
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Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment administers and enforces the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 ("the 1998 Regulations") which control the movement of special waste throughout Northern Ireland. The Department audits and inspects those involved in the movement of special waste, including the producers, the waste carriers and the facilities receiving the waste, to ensure compliance with the regulations. The Department also works with others to promote compliance and awareness among those involved in the chain of special waste.

There are a number of pieces of legislation that are applicable to the illegal disposal of special waste. A person who commits an offence under the 1998 Regulations shall be liable, on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (presently £5,000); or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both. The penalties are applicable for each offence.

Article 4 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 ("the 1997 Order") relates to the unauthorised or harmful disposal of waste. A person guilty of an offence under this article in relation to special waste shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000 or to both; or, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine or to both. Also, under Article 5 of the 1997 Order, which relates to 'duty of care' requirements, any person failing to comply with certain requirements therein shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (presently £5,000); and, on conviction on indictment, to a fine. Again, these penalties are applicable for each offence.

There has been one conviction since 2002, and there are several cases pending.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the infection control strategy used to combat the incidence of MRSA and other healthcare-acquired infections in Northern Ireland. [193743]

Angela Smith: The 1990 GB guidelines for combating MRSA set out in the working party report headed by Dr. G. Duckworth, revised in 1998, are followed in Northern Ireland. In April 2000 the Department issued guidance (HSS (MD) 9/2000), entitled "The Management and Control of Hospital Infection", to the Health and Personal Social Services in Northern Ireland setting out a programme of action for the HPSS. This sought to strengthen the prevention and control of infection in hospital, secure appropriate health care services for patients with infection, improve surveillance of hospital infection and to monitor and optimise antimicrobial prescribing.
 
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The Department has been undertaking a range of activities to reduce the incidence of MRSA and other healthcare-acquired infections and has most recently announced the setting up of a working group under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer to produce an infection control strategy whose key aim will be the prevention and control of the spread of infection in hospitals and other health care settings.

IT Access

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on access for health visitors and community nurses in the Province to (a) computers, (b) the internet and (c) IT training. [192870]

Angela Smith: There are a number of initiatives aimed at increasing access to Information and Communications Technology facilities for health and social care professionals working in the community, including health visitors and community nurses. Wherever access to ICT is provided, this includes, if appropriate, access to internet services. There is no central information on provision of ICT facilities specifically for health visitors and community nurses.

Training in the use of ICT is provided by trusts, who are encouraged to make use of computer-based training facilities, including access to the European Computer Driving Licence training facilities used by the NHS in England.

The Person-centred Community Information System project will provide ICT services for all community health and social care professionals in the next three years. This project includes provision of technology and use of internet services to support care professionals through training in ICT and professional information services.

Public Appointments

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on public appointments for which his Department is responsible and compliance with (a) equal opportunities and (b) fair employment legislation. [174040]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Appointments to the boards of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) for the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office are governed by the Codes of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland and Great Britain respectively. The overriding principle is that selection must be based on merit, through the well informed choice of individuals who, through their abilities, experience and qualities match the needs of the body in question. The Commissioner's Codes also require departments to ensure their processes for making appointments comply with the statutory duty under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity. The Commissioner's principles are routinely applied to all appointments in Northern Ireland by the departments and the Northern Ireland Office.
 
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