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11 Jan 2005 : Column 255W—continued
Nurse Endoscopists
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the development of the role of the nurse endoscopist in the Province. [206125]
Angela Smith: The number of nurse endoscopists in Northern Ireland is relatively small. Where a Trust has identified the need to develop the role as part of their endoscopy service, support to undertake the relevant training outside of Northern Ireland has been provided. As the demand for endoscopy services increases, consideration will be given to the viability of establishing a local specialist practice course.
One of the DHSSPS funded re-design of community nursing projects is currently exploring the primary and secondary care interface with a view to the primary care based stoma nurse undertaking training to become a nurse endoscopist.
The recommendations arising from the Independent Review of Endoscopes and the DHSSPS Cancer Services Framework, which is currently under development, will also be explored in relation to the further development of the Nurse Endoscopist role.
Occuptational Therapy
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients (a) are awaiting and (b) have received in the last 12 months an initial occupational therapy assessment in each trust in the Province. [206349]
Angela Smith: The number of persons (a) who were awaiting an occupational therapy assessment at 30 September 2004 and (b) who received an initial assessment during the year ending 30 September 2004 are shown, for each Trust and according to priority and non-priority cases, in the following tables.
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Note:
Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust currently carries out assessments only in respect of priority cases.
Paramilitary Organisations
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Government have made of whether paramilitary organisations in the Province (a) have been and (b) are involved in the sale or distribution of counterfeit (i) bank notes, (ii) DVDs, (iii) CDs, (iv) computer games, (v) clothing, (vi) pharmaceuticals and (vii) perfume. [206213]
Mr. Pearson: The Government's assessment of the involvement of individuals with paramilitary links in all areas of counterfeiting and piracy is based on a detailed strategic analysis of information, including seizures and investigations, provided by the partner agencies of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF).
The latest assessment of the OCTF is that loyalist and republican paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland and are equally heavily involved in the distribution of counterfeit currency.
Pay Television Subscriptions
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year. [207666]
Mr. Pearson: The question cannot be answered in its entirety because there is no central record held of the number of television subscriptions or amounts paid dating back to 1997.
The number of television subscriptions is 26.
| 2001–02 | 4,171.05 |
| 2002–03 | 5,440.22 |
| 2003–04 | 7,826.87 |
This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.
11 Jan 2005 : Column 257W
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what method is used by Police Service of Northern Ireland officers to quantify the time spent on investigating a particular case; [202878]
(2) if he will make a statement on the way in which Police Service of Northern Ireland officers keep a record of time spent on a particular case during duty. [202879]
Mr. Pearson: The Human Resource Department of the PSNI employ "activity sampling" as an element of a sophisticated Staff Allocation Model. During such activity sampling police officers supply detailed information, in a standard format, of their time spent on all aspects of their work. While this includes crime investigation, individual cases are not identified.
Officers' duties are also recorded in their notebooks or journals.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have (a) completed and (b) dropped out from training as new police recruits in each year since the Police Service of Northern Ireland was established. [206121]
Mr. Pearson: I am advised that the following numbers of students either completed, resigned or were dismissed from the training course:
| Number of students who completed training | Number of students who resigned | Number of students who were dismissed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | (57)0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 377 | 6 | 2 |
| 2003 | 410 | 8 | 7 |
| 2004(58) | 507 | 16 | 2 |
(57) Training commenced for PSNI trainee constables on 4 November 2001
(58) Up to 16 December 2004
Population Statistics
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the population of Northern Ireland in (a) 2003 and (b) 1989. [206339]
Mr. Pearson: The estimated usually resident population of Northern Ireland at mid-year 2003 was 1,702,600 people. The equivalent estimated figure at mid-year 1989 was 1,590,400 people.
Power Lines
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been received by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to disputes arising from landowners challenging permission given to Northern Ireland Electricity to erect overhead power lines since January 2002; how many formal hearings have been organised by DETI; and how many hearings have found in favour of the landowner. [206891]
11 Jan 2005 : Column 258W
Mr. Gardiner: No complaints involving a formal challenge of any of the necessary wayleaves granted to Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) for the erection of overhead electric lines since January 2002 have been received by the Department.
Seven wayleave hearings have been organised by the Department in response to such applications in the period. In all but one case, the Department decided, after careful consideration of the representations by the landowner and NIE, to grant the company a necessary wayleave. The remaining application was withdrawn by NIE, following the hearing, as agreement was reached between the company and the landowner on a voluntary wayleave.
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