Previous Section Index Home Page

13 Jan 2005 : Column 654W—continued

Provisional IRA (Army Council)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether members of the Army Council of the Provisional IRA have immunity from investigation by the (a) Police Service of Northern Ireland and (b) Assets Recovery Agency. [205452]

Mr. Pearson: No.

Psychiatric Wards (Young People)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) admissions and (b) bed days resulting from admissions of young people under the age of 18 years who were admitted to adult psychiatry wards there have been in the Province in each of the last five years. [206179]

Angela Smith: The number of (a) admissions and (b) bed days resulting from those admissions of young people under the age of 18 years who were admitted to adult psychiatric wards in the Province in each of the last five years is detailed in the following table.
(a) Admissions(b) Number of bed days
2003–041735,062
2002–031945,401
2001–021836,346
2000–011986,551
1999–20001967,522




Notes:
1. Figures relate to financial years except for one trust who provided figures for calendar years and for 2004 to 30 November.
2. If a patient was admitted in one year and their episode carried into the next year the number of bed days are attributed to the year in which the admission took place and the admission is only counted once in the year it occurred.
3. If a patient is admitted when aged less than 18 years and the patient turns 18 years of age during their episode, bed days after the patient turns 18 years of age are included in total length of stay.
4. Where possible the number of bed days was calculated excluding days on leave, but one trust was unable to exclude days on leave from its figures.
5. Figures include patients admitted to psychiatric wards in Muckamore Abbey hospital, which normally caters for learning-disabled patients.
Source:
HSS trusts




 
13 Jan 2005 : Column 655W
 

Radon Gas

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the health dangers in the Province from radon gas. [205965]

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service published a report in May 1999 showing the levels of radon gas in private dwellings throughout Northern Ireland. The report, based on some 16,000 measurements in private dwellings, includes maps showing the percentage of houses likely to exceed the action level throughout Northern Ireland.

At high concentrations, radon leads to an increased risk of lung cancer and it is estimated that radon could account for about 60 of the 800 or so lung cancer deaths per year in Northern Ireland. The average level of radon in private dwellings in Northern Ireland is similar to the rest of the UK although there are areas in the west and south-east of the Province where radon risk is elevated and it is estimated that 4,000 homes in Northern Ireland are likely to exceed the action level.

The Environment and Heritage Service has already offered free tests to all householders living in the high-risk areas. The radon risk map and radon leaflets can be accessed on the Environment and Heritage Service's website, www.ehsni.gov.uk.

Rural Development Council

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what (a) criteria and (b) procedures are used by the Rural Development Council to assess an application for grant; [204333]

(2) what grants have been received from the Rural Development Council in each Northern Ireland constituency since it's formation; and for what projects; [204334]

(3) how many applications for grants were received by the Rural Development Council in each of the last three years; [204335]
 
13 Jan 2005 : Column 656W
 

(4) what the average length of time taken by the Rural Development Council to respond to a grant application was in the last 12 months; [204336]

(5) what projects have been supported by the Rural Development Council aimed at (a) supporting farmers or farm families and (b) promoting alternative skills training in East Antrim in (i) Newtownabbey, (ii) Carrickfergus and (iii) Larne borough council areas in each of the last three years; and how much grant was awarded in each case. [204337]

Mr. Pearson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Rural Development Council to write to the hon. Gentleman on these matters.

Letter from Martin McDonald to Ald. Roy Beggs, dated 20 December 2004:


Number
North Antrim18
Newry and Mourne25
South Down8
Strangford4
Fermanagh and South Tyrone63
Foyle14
Mid Ulster35
East Londonderry7
West Tyrone25
Upper Bann4
Lagan Valley3
East Antrim1
South Antrim2
Belfast North2
Belfast South1


 
13 Jan 2005 : Column 657W
 


Number
20013
2002379
200382
2004186


BSP Measure 4.10

Date
Receipt of Applications31 March 2004
Assessment Panel23 September 2004
Letters to Applicants5 October 2004

BSP Measure 4.9

Date
Receipt of Applications31 March 2004
Assessment Panel17 November 2004
Letters to Applicants24 November 2004


Next Section Index Home Page