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NORTHERN IRELAND

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many hours of staff time were taken up in preparation of Christmas cards in 2004; [205094]

(2) how many departmental staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards. [205095]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The preparation of Christmas cards is carried out during normal working hours and therefore cannot be disaggregated from normal duties. Likewise, as all levels of staff can be involved at various stages of the preparation of Christmas cards it is impossible to give an exact number.
 
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Departmental Entertainment Costs

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on entertainment by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation. [204351]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Information is not held in the format requested by the hon. Member.

The Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs) spent the following overall amounts on entertainment, which incorporates (a), (b), (c) and (d) in each financial year since 1997:

Financial year	£
1997–98	214,473
1998–99	322,853
1999–2000	320,230
2000–01	246,517
2001–02	221,477
2002–03	363,755
2003–04	319,741
2004–05 (to date)	185,170

Diabetics

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of regulations preventing people with diabetes from holding a driving licence; and whether there are plans to amend these regulations. [206731]

Angela Smith: The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (as amended) prescribes insulin-dependent diabetes as a relevant disability in respect of the issue of Group 2 licences (i.e. those that authorise the driving of passenger carrying vehicles and large goods vehicles).

Subject to certain conditions, a licence authorising the driving of vehicles in categories Cl, Cl+E and Cl+E (8.25 tonnes) (sub-categories of large goods vehicles) may be granted to a person who suffers from insulin dependent diabetes.

A licence authorising the driving of passenger carrying vehicles must not be issued to a person suffering from insulin dependent diabetes.

In deciding medical aspects of fitness to drive a motor vehicle the guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Transport's Honorary Medical Advisory Panel is followed.

The Department for Transport in Great Britain has initiated a programme of research which will help increase knowledge about diabetes and driving and the EC Committee on the Driving Licence has established a working group to look at diabetes and the implications for driving. It is expected to report back to the Driving Licence Committee in spring 2005.

When the results of these initiatives are known, current arrangements will be reviewed.

EU Project Funding

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the value of European
 
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Union funding for projects from LEADER and partnership groups which are dependent on securing planning permission; and what priority is being given by the planning service to current planning applications from LEADER and partnership groups in Northern Ireland which cannot spend approved EU funded grants until planning permission has been received for their project. [205894]

Angela Smith: In relation to the LEADER + programme there are 58 projects seeking funding and dependent on securing planning permission. These projects have a cumulative value of £1,155,005.

The planning service processes all planning applications in an equitable way and strives to process them as expeditiously as possible. It also encourages early contact from and discussions with leader/partnership groups and their agents so that proposals for which EU grant-aid is available are not held up because of potential planning difficulties.

Genitourinary Medicine

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what incentives are being used to aid recruitment of junior medical staff into genitourinary medicine. [206120]

Angela Smith: I am not aware of any difficulties in recruiting junior doctors into genitourinary medicine. However, the Department is aware of recruitment difficulties to non-consultant career grade posts. I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 10 November 2004, Official Report, column 788W.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997; [203923]

(2) whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997. [203965]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1258W.

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether departmental special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997. [204293]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997. [204313]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I can confirm that no special advisers employed in the Northern Ireland Office have done so since 1997.
 
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HOME DEPARTMENT

2 Marsham Street

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which cable and satellite channels the new Home Office buildings in 2 Marsham Street will receive. [205350]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Terrestrial channels, Sky package, Parliamentary Channel and Palace Annunciator.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the new corporate social responsibility scheme proposed under the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy to commence. [206551]

Ms Blears [holding answer 21 December 2004]: We have sent an initial outline of the content of the social responsibility scheme to the main trade associations and asked for comments by 10 December. We will be working closely with the trade associations on the detailed drafting of the code of practice throughout January, and aim to issue it for wider consultation in mid February. Discussions around the financial contributions will be taken forward separately, and we aim to work up a proposal for consultation with the industry early in the new year. We aim to have the bulk of the scheme in place by April, although there will be some aspects which will take longer to implement.

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the consultation period relating to the corporate social responsibility scheme of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy to end. [206552]

Ms Blears [holding answer 21 December 2004]: We have sent an initial outline of the content of the social responsibility scheme to the main trade associations and asked for comments by 10 December. We will be working closely with the trade associations on the detailed drafting of the code of practice throughout January, and aim to issue it for wider consultation in mid February. Discussions around the financial contributions will be taken forward separately, and we aim to work up a proposal for consultation with the industry early in the new year. We aim to have the bulk of the scheme in place by April, although there will be some aspects which will take longer to implement.

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