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20 Jan 2005 : Column 1097W—continued
Strangford Lough
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when (a) his Department, (b) the Police Service of Northern Ireland and (c) each other relevant agency was alerted to the ploughing of the intertidal mudflats at Strangford Lough over the Christmas and new year period; and at what time, and by whom, action was taken to (i) halt the ploughing, (ii) to caution the perpetrator and (iii) to investigate the extent of damage to the ecosystem. [209209]
Angela Smith:
The Department of the Environment became aware of the ploughing of the mudflats on Monday 3 January 2005 when an officer of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) telephoned the Environment and Heritage Service Water Pollution Hotline. The Police Service of Northern Ireland was
20 Jan 2005 : Column 1098W
alerted to the situation when it was called to deal with an incident on Strangford Lough shore on 27 December. Several other interest groups including WWT, National Trust and Northern Ireland Environment Link became aware of the damage at intervals during the holiday period and contacted the media to highlight the issue.
On 3 January an officer of the Department spoke to, and formally cautioned, one individual regarding the damage, further explaining that the action had to cease as it was in contravention of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. The persons believed to have been responsible had previously been approached and advised to stop what they were doing, on 28 December 2004 and 3 January 2005, by officers of WWT. Investigations are continuing in an effort to determine the extent of damage and to identify all of those involved. A comprehensive scientific report is being prepared by an expert in the field and will be used to inform the next stages in the process.
Suicides
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides there were in Northern Ireland in 2004. [208811]
Mr. Pearson: Data for the 2004 calendar year are not yet available. Provisional data for the nine-month period 1 January 2004 to 30 September 2004 show 98 deaths registered in Northern Ireland due to "suicide and self-inflicted injury" and 13 deaths due to "undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted". In the corresponding period in 2003 there were, respectively, 108 and five deaths due to these two causes.
Sure Start
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effects on community groups in north Belfast of the decision to withdraw Sure Start funding from Home Start programmes in the area. [208882]
Angela Smith: At present, the Sure Start project operating within the Ardoyne and Oldpark areas is being reviewed in terms of the need for continued Home Start services but no decision has yet been reached. What is, however, important to stress is that an undertaking has been given to retain Sure Start resources within the geographical area of Ardoyne and Oldpark so that families and children under the age of four will continue to benefit from a comprehensive range of Sure Start services in their local area.
Translink
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new trains Translink has taken delivery of in each of the past six months in Northern Ireland. [210342]
Mr. Spellar:
The number of new trains Translink has taken delivery of in each of the past six months in Northern Ireland is as follows:
20 Jan 2005 : Column 1099W
| Number of new trains | |
|---|---|
| July 2004 | 0 |
| August 2004 | 0 |
| September 2004 | 0 |
| October 2004 | 2 |
| November 2004 | 2 |
| December 2004 | 3 |
| Total | 7 |
In addition, Translink took delivery of one new train in April 2004 and two in May 2004.
Waste Water Treatment
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implications for planning applications in (a) North Down and (b) in the rest of Northern Ireland of the recent European Commission threat of infringement proceedings for inadequate waste water treatment infrastructure. [208320]
Angela Smith: It is too early to assess the implications for planning applications in North Down and the rest of Northern Ireland at this stage. However, Government officials are seeking further senior legal counsel advice on the matter.
West Tyrone Area Plan
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the West Tyrone Area Plan will be published. [209181]
Angela Smith: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Down on 18 November 2004, Official Report, column 1775W.
TREASURY
Burnley Constituency
Mr. Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Burnley constituency were unemployed in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004; what percentage change that represents; and if he will make a statement. [209508]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 20 January 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Burnley Parliamentary Constituency.
The estimates available relate to the twelve-month periods ending in February 1997 and February 2004, the latest period for which figures are available. In these periods the numbers of unemployed people, who were resident in the Burnley Parliamentary Constituency, were 2,200 and 1,900 respectively.
These estimates from Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability and the estimates of changes over time for local areas are particularly affected.
A more reliable indication of change between 1997 and 2004 at Parliamentary Constituency level is the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The annual average number of
- people resident in the Burnley constituency claiming JSA benefits in 1997 was 1,531. The corresponding average for the first 11 months of 2004 was 1,006. Between the two years there was a fall of 34 per cent.
Cancer Survival Rates (Women)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent figures are for the survival rates for women suffering from cancer. [209280]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 20 January 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the most recent survival rates for women suffering from cancer. (209280)
The latest available one- and five-year survival rates for the 20 most common cancers in England and Wales are for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed during 1996–99 and followed up to 31 December 2001. These figures were published on the National Statistics website on 9 March 2004, and are available at:
Child Trust Funds
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in Stoke on Trent are eligible for the Child Trust Fund; and what percentage of children in Stoke on Trent this represents. [209907]
Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Martin Linton) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, columns 87–88W. All children born and living in the UK since 1 September 2002 whose families receive child benefit will be eligible for the Child Trust Fund.
Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether further primary legislation would be required to enable moneys allocated under the Child Trust Fund to be reclaimed. [209931]
Mr. Timms: Once a payment has been made into a Child Trust Fund account the money belongs to the child in whose name the account is held. However, section 11 of the Child Trust Fund Act 2004 makes provision for recouping contributions that should not have been made. The Child Trust Fund Regulations 2004 allow the Inland Revenue to reclaim a payment made in error or as a result of fraud.
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