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18 Nov 2004 : Column 1751W—continued
Children's Fund
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding the Children's Fund set up by the Northern Ireland Executive has received in each year since it was introduced; what provision is being made within the Draft Priorities and Budget 2005 to 2008 for future spending on the Fund; and if he will make a statement. [199065]
Mr. Pearson: The amounts allocated to the Children's Fund, from its establishment by the former Northern Ireland Executive up to the current year, are as follows:
| Amounts Allocated | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 4.0 |
| 2002–03 | 13.0 |
| 2003–04 | 15.0 |
| 2004–05 | 12.0 |
The Draft Priorities and Budget provides for future spending, funded from the Children's Fund, by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety of £9.5 million and £5.4 million in 2005–06 and 2006–07 respectively.
Civil Service Pension
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to amend civil service pension arrangements to allow members of the pre-October 2002 Civil Service Pension Scheme a pension for life. [197008]
Mr. Pearson: The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) already provides pre-2002 members with a pension for life following retirement. Once awarded this pension can only be withdrawn under the provisions of the forfeiture rules.
The Scheme also provides pensions for the widows and widowers of pre-2002 members which are payable for life provided the surviving spouse does not remarry or live with another partner as husband and wife.
All members of the pre-2002 Scheme who were in post at 30 September 2002 were given the option to move to the new pension arrangements which were introduced on 1 October 2002. The new arrangements provide life pensions for surviving spouses and qualifying partners as defined in the legislation.
I have no plans to amend the position of pre-2002 Scheme members in either of these regards.
Commencement of Legislation
Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what pieces of legislation passed in the last 30 years that the Department is responsible for remain to be brought into force, broken down by year of enactment. [195619]
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Mr. Paul Murphy: It is not possible to answer the hon. Gentleman's question in the current parliamentary session.
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [199299]
Mr. Pearson: It has not been possible to answer the hon. Member's question in this parliamentary session.
Consultants
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case the (a) name of the consulting company, (b) value of the contract and (c) purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement. [191740]
Mr. Pearson: Information about all consultancy contracts entered into by Departments in Northern Ireland is not held centrally and could only be obtained from individual Departments at disproportionate cost. Information on consultancy contracts awarded by the Central Procurement Directorate on behalf of Northern Ireland Departments is held by that Directorate in respect of the last three financial years only and a copy has been placed in the Library. The names of all companies awarded contracts are given but are not linked to individual awards as to do so would break confidentiality agreements.
Consumerline
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many inquiries Consumerline has dealt with since its inception; and what the average cost per inquiry is. [199292]
Mr. Gardiner: It has not been possible to answer the hon. Member's question in this parliamentary Session.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) revenue and (b) capital costs of Consumerline were to 31 October. [199293]
Mr. Gardiner: It has not been possible to answer the hon. Member's question in this parliamentary Session.
Contracts
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from (a) May 2001 to April 2002, (b) May 2002 to April 2003, (c) May 2003 to April 2004 and (d) May 2004 to the latest date for which information is available, indicating in each case (i) the values of the contracts and (ii) the companies with which the contracts were placed. [196890]
Mr. Pearson:
Over the last three years, Departments in Northern Ireland have awarded a large number of contracts, varying in value and covering a wide range of works, supplies and services. Details of every individual contract are not held centrally and the top 30 contracts
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could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of contracts of significant value (i.e. over £l million) are outlined as follows.
(10) Commercial in confidence contract sum
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Contractors/Suppliers awarded contracts by Northern Ireland Departments (Value £1 million plus)
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