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2 Nov 2004 : Column 243W—continued
Public Employees (Religion)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the religious breakdown is of the employees of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. [188736]
Mr. Spellar: The breakdown of Probation Board for Northern Ireland employees by religious community at May 2004 was as follows:
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Protestant community | 135 | 40.5 |
| Roman Catholic community | 150 | 45.0 |
| Community not determined | 48 | 14.5 |
| Total | 333 | 100 |
Public Housing Stock
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total amount of cash receipts has been from the sale of public housing stock in Northern Ireland over the last five years. [194787]
Mr. Spellar: The total amount of cash receipts from the sale of public housing stock in Northern Ireland over the last five years was:
| Net cash receipts(38) (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 70,132 |
| 2000–01 | 95,339 |
| 2001–02 | 99,507 |
| 2002–03 | 142,905 |
| 2003–04 | 138,236 |
(38) Receipts net of legal expenses/fees.
2 Nov 2004 : Column 244W
Sexual Abuse
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the percentage of sexual abuse that is perpetrated by teenagers. [187439]
Mr. Spellar: The information is not available in the form requested. However, I can confirm that 14 per cent. (36) of the 249 persons convicted of sexual offences in Northern Ireland in 2002 were aged 19 and under.
Tourism
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourists visited Northern Ireland between April and September; what locations they visited; and how many overnight stays they made. [193603]
Mr. Spellar: A total of 419,000 visitors from outside the island of Ireland stayed 1,781,000 nights in Northern Ireland for the period April-June 2004 1 .
A break down by location and how many overnights stays is not available for the above. However provided in the following table are the district council creas visited and total nights stayed by visitors who entered Northern Ireland directly, (via an Air or Seaport) 2 .
1 Figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland Passenger Survey and the Survey of Overseas travellers (Failte Ireland). Data does not include trips taken by ROI residents to Northern Ireland in 2004 but does include those who entered via ROI. The data for July to September 2004 and ROI residents will be available in December 2004.
2 Figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland Passenger Survey (NITB) for January to June. The Survey of Overseas Traveller does not record locations visited in NI. Data does not include all visitors who entered via ROI and ROI residents, just those who entered Northern Ireland directly. The data for July to September 2004 and all visitors who entered via ROI and ROI residents will be available in December 2004. Some visitors stayed in more than one location so they will be counted more than once.
2 Nov 2004 : Column 245W
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to protect and sponsor the specific Northern Ireland identity at its outlets and overseas promotional events. [194795]
Mr. Spellar: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is responsible for the direct marketing of Northern Ireland tourism within NI and the Republic of Ireland.
Each year the NITB and Tourism Ireland Ltd. (TIL), which has responsibility for overseas marketing, work together to produce marketing plans built around the NI tourism product and agree a programme of overseas promotional events.
In delivering these measures NITB staff work closely with TIL to ensure inter alia that the Northern Ireland identity and brand is promoted in an effective manner.
Travelling Community
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest estimate is of the size of the travelling community in Northern Ireland. [193559]
Mr. Pearson: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) produces statistics on self-reported ethnic group, the most comprehensive source being the 2001 Census of Population. The 2001 Census reported that 1,710 people belonged to the ethnic group 'Irish Traveller'.
Unlicensed Private Hire Vehicles
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted for engaging in business involving vehicles not licensed for hire or reward over the last five years. [191889]
Angela Smith: During the period April 1999 to March 2004, 629 operators were successfully prosecuted for operating vehicles without being licensed to carry goods for hire or reward.
The Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, which regulates the licensing of operators and vehicles, does not include an offence provision that would enable the prosecution of people who contract the services of unlicensed operators and vehicles.
Victim Support
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the review of the operation of Victim Support Northern Ireland has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [187827]
Mr. Spellar: Victim Support Northern Ireland (VSNI) is core funded by Government to provide support, practical help and information to victims of crime in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the conditions of grant, an external review of VSNI was completed by PA Consulting in May 2003.
A number of the recommendations have been completed and Government are monitoring closely the implementation of the remaining recommendations.
2 Nov 2004 : Column 246W
WORK AND PENSIONS
Benefits
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down the 38 per cent. reduction in income support and jobseekers' allowance fraud since 1997 referred to in his Department's press release, Dutch Counterparts to Crack Down on Benefit Fraud, of 20 October, by category of benefit. [193923]
Mr. Pond: The 38 per cent. reduction of fraud in income support (working age) and jobseeker's allowance since 1997 breaks down as a 36 per cent. reduction in income support (working age) fraud and a 42 per cent. reduction in jobseeker's allowance fraud.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what actions are taken by his Department when a complaint is made about an appointee misusing the benefit income of the claimant. [195232]
Mr. Pond: All complaints made about an appointee misusing the benefit income of the customer they act for are investigated. Where there is evidence that the appointee is not acting in the best interests of the customer the appointee is interviewed and reminded of their duties and responsibilities. Where the appointee has failed to meet these responsibilities the Secretary of State can revoke the appointment.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit recipients have been contacted about conversion to direct payment; what percentage have chosen to open a post office card account; and what percentage have so far failed to select a direct payment option. [195155]
Mr. Pond: Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.
We are continuing to contact existing customers to invite them to provide account details. Those customers who have not yet provided their account details will be contacted again to discuss their account options, unless they have already advised the Department that they genuinely cannot open or manage an account.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by staff in his Department to ensure that the benefits paid to an appointee are used on behalf of the claimant. [195231]
Mr. Pond: Currently formal monitoring of appointeeships is not carried out. However, officers acting on behalf of the Secretary of State can revoke the authority of appointees where there are concerns that they are not acting in the interests of the claimant.
We are looking at our current appointee arrangements, including post-appointment monitoring. The proposed codes of practice will help to inform any future guidance in this area.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in England and Wales receive industrial injury benefit as a result of suffering from asbestosis. [193973]
2 Nov 2004 : Column 247W
Jane Kennedy: Information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the table.
(39) Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide to the correct situation.
(40) Denotes nil or negligible.
Notes:
1. Figures are from a 10 per cent. sample.
2. Industrial injuries disablement benefit is currently payable for four prescribed diseases to people whose jobs involved working with asbestos or being exposed to asbestos after 4 July 1948. These are: D1—pneumoconiosis, D3—diffuse mesothelioma, D8—primary carcinoma of the lung with accompanying evidence of one or both (A) asbestos (B) unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening and D9—unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening.
3. D1 relates to all pneumoconiosis cases only some of which (an unknown proportion) are asbestos related. D3, D8 and D9 are all asbestos related cases.
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