---

17 Nov 2004 : Column 1645W—continued

Neutral Working Environments

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made about breaches of a neutral working environment in Government Departments in each year since 1997. [197105]

Mr. Pearson: To answer this question, and in line with NICS equal opportunities policy, a neutral working environment has been defined as:

"a good and harmonious working environment and atmosphere, free of bullying, in which no person feels under threat or intimidated because of his or her religious belief, political opinion, gender, age, marital status, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or whether or not they have dependants."

The figures below show the number of complaints of that nature, formally made under departmental procedures and via the Office of Industrial Tribunals or Fair Employment Tribunal.

	Number of complaints
1997	90
1998	93
1999	90
2000	117
2001	116
2002	92
2003	95
2004	61

The figures above include the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and their agencies and the Northern Ireland Office. Some departments have not been able to supply data over the full period, 1997 to 2004, due to the re-organisation following devolution and departmental policies on the retention of papers.

North Coast and Glens Masterplan

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what stage of implementation the Masterplan for the North Coast and Glens has reached; what the reasons are for the delay in the design competition for the Visitors Centre at the Causeway; and what the timetable is for the new build visitor facilities at the Giants Causeway. [197424]

Mr. Gardiner: The Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism Masterplan was published in April 2004. It is a 10-year plan which sets out over 95 recommendations for action involving the public and private sectors. Some 90 per cent. of the actions have already been progressed; and a project manager has recently been appointed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to take forward the implementation of the Masterplan as a whole.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has secured the approval of the Union of International Architects to the brief for the planned international competition for the design of the proposed new visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway and is currently in the process of appointing an international jury. Before launching the competition however the Department is
 
17 Nov 2004 : Column 1646W
 
keen to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with all interested parties, including Moyle district council and the National Trust, to ensure a successful outcome in terms of the implementation of the winning design.

Allowing for the preparation of detailed drawings, planning and other approvals, tendering and construction, the current timetable envisages the new facilities being completed by late spring/early Summer 2007.

Nurseries

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to lift the moratorium on the provision of additional (a) nursery units and (b) nursery schools in Northern Ireland. [198506]

Mr. Gardiner: At present there are some 2,000 children not in their immediate pre-school year receiving funded pre-school education in nursery schools and units in Northern Ireland. The Review of Pre-School Education consulted on how this issue might be addressed and until the outcome of the Review is known, there are no plans to lift the moratorium on the provision of additional nursery schools and units.

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of full-time pre-school places at (a) nursery units and (b) nursery schools in Northern Ireland. [198507]

Mr. Gardiner: A decision on whether the number of full-time pre-school places at nursery schools and units in Northern Ireland should be increased must await the outcome of the current Review of Pre-School Education in Northern Ireland.

School Transport

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government has to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment on the Department of Education's Circular 1996/41 Home to School Transport. [198928]

Mr. Gardiner: The Department's consideration of a full equality impact assessment (EqlA) of the current Home to School Transport arrangements has been delayed because of the ongoing in-depth policy review on this matter. It would not represent an efficient use of resources to commence a full EqlA on the present system, at a time when the current review is considering whether an alternative policy should be pursued. Any future policy changes will of course be subjected to rigorous equality testing.

A recent court judgement on school transport concluded that the current arrangements complied with equality requirements.

Schools Improvement Programme

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in which areas of the curriculum the Schools Improvement Programme has targeted under-achievement in socially deprived inner city areas in Northern Ireland. [197113]

 
17 Nov 2004 : Column 1647W
 

Mr. Gardiner: The School Improvement Programme, launched in 1998, includes a wide range of measures aimed at supporting all schools in making the improvements they themselves have identified. In curricular terms, the programme has focused on improving literacy and numeracy through a comprehensive in-service training and support programme for all schools delivered by bespoke curriculum support staff employed by the education and library boards. However, it also includes a specific initiative (the School Support Programme) aimed at tackling low and underachievement, particularly in areas of social need such as inner city areas. This involves financial and professional support for targeted schools, normally addressing areas such as the quality of teaching and learning, school leadership, and school development planning and target-setting. The schools themselves are closely involved in determining their own priority areas for development, and they often choose to address organisational areas for improvement through focusing more intensively on raising standards of literacy and numeracy.

Torrens Estate

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Office has taken to implement security for residents of the Torrens Estate in each year since 2001; and how much money was allocated by the Office on permanent protection measures in each year since 2001, with particular reference to walls and fences in the Torrens Estate [189790]

Mr. Pearson: Since 2001 the Northern Ireland Office has when required enhanced and repaired the brick wall, palisade fencing and steel cladded pedestrian gates which make up the physical security measures at the Torrens estate. The approximate costs for security work at the Torrens estate from 2001–2004 is listed as follows:

	(£000)
2001	2,000
2002	25,000
2003	4,000
2004	750

University Places

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to lift the cap on university places in Northern Ireland. [198504]

Mr. Gardiner: Since 1999–2000 the Maximum Student Number (MaSN) cap has been raised to allow for 2,560 more full-time home and European Union undergraduate at Queen's University and the University of Ulster.

My department keeps the situation under constant review but at present there are no plans to remove the cap.
 
17 Nov 2004 : Column 1648W
 

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos Removal Companies

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many licensed asbestos removal companies are operating within the United Kingdom. [198888]

Jane Kennedy: There are currently 694 asbestos licence holders. The number refers to asbestos removal operators licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. They vary in size between small to medium-sized companies, partnerships and sole traders. All parts of the country are covered.

Basic State Pension

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in the basic state pension rise has been since 1997. [198622]

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 4 November 2004, Official Report, column 428W.

---