| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
31 Jan 2005 : Column 718W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Admissions Criteria
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish his consultation document on post-primary admissions criteria. [211693]
Mr. Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Strangford, Mrs.Iris Robinson on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 516W.
Departmental Advertising
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers. [201701]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There are no Muslim newspapers published in Northern Ireland.
Departmental Estate
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) new builds, (b) demolition rebuilds and (c) private finance initiative projects in his Department in each of the last two years. [202517]
Mr. Pearson:
We have had no expenditure on (a) new builds, (b) demolition new rebuilds or (c) PFI projects in the last two years. 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.
31 Jan 2005 : Column 719W
Drink-driving
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have received a prison sentence in Northern Ireland having been convicted of a drink-driving offence in the past 12 months. [211521]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Data beyond 2002 is currently not available.
In 2002, of the 2,248 convictions for drink-related driving offences, 12 people were sentenced to immediate custody.
Freedom of Information
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years. [207814]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Leslie) on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 140W.
Fuel Poverty
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. [211194]
Mr. Spellar: There are a wide range of measures and programmes which both directly and indirectly tackle fuel poverty. The Department's Warm Homes Scheme, winter fuel payments, cold weather payments, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's (NIHE) heating replacement programme and the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres all provide direct assistance. Other programmes such as the NIHE private sector grants, the NIHE improvement schemes and the Housing Association New Build programme also make a major contribution to tackling fuel poverty.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are classified as fuel poor. [211195]
Mr. Spellar: Figures on fuel poverty are classified in terms of households rather than individual people. The Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2001 found that 203,000 households in Northern Ireland (33 per cent.) were classified as fuel poor. An interim house condition survey is due to be published later this year and this will provide more up to date information. It is expected that the numbers will reflect the considerable impact the measures are having in addressing fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for NorthernIreland how much has been spent on tackling fuel poverty in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [211196]
Mr. Spellar:
In the period from 1997 to date, there have been a number of schemes implemented to address fuel poverty, such as DEES, Fuel Poverty Pilot Projects,
31 Jan 2005 : Column 720W
the Warm Homes Scheme, NIE's Energy Efficiency Levy Programme, winter fuel payments and cold weather payments.
Winter fuel payments are paid to everyone over 60 years of age and are not subject to a means test or meeting any fuel poverty criterion.
The level of expenditure in each financial year since 1997 on all such schemes is:
| Expenditure (£) | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 8,245,677 |
| 1998–99 | 8,457,627 |
| 1999–2000 | 28,692,306 |
| 2000–01 | 61,944,434 |
| 2001–02 | 49,693,495 |
| 2002–03 | 54,455,063 |
| 2003–04 | 58,688,905 |
| 2004–05(79) | 13,719,200 |
(79)The total spend for winter fuel payments and the ME Energy Efficiency Levy Programme are not yet available for this financial year.
In addition, there is a wide range of measures and programmes which indirectly tackle fuel poverty. For example, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) private sector grants, the NIHE improvement schemes and the Housing Association New Build programme. However, it is not possible to identify how much of this specifically addresses fuel poverty.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to set up the interdepartmental group on fuel poverty. [211198]
Mr. Spellar: The interdepartmental group on fuel poverty is currently being set up and it is proposed that the first meeting will be in April 2005.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what categories of homes are eligible for assistance under the Warm Homes Scheme in Northern Ireland. [211199]
Mr. Spellar: It is the circumstances of the individual householder which determines the eligibility for the Warm Homes Scheme. Those who are eligible for assistance are owner-occupiers and private sector tenants who are in receipt of means tested or disability benefits.
Human Rights/Equalities Commissions
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the planned budgets and staffing levels are for the (a) Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and (b) ECNI in each of the next three financial years. [210938]
Mr. Spellar: The planned budget for the next three years for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 1.35 |
| 2006–07 | 1.35 |
| 2007–08 | 1.35 |
31 Jan 2005 : Column 721W
Officials in the devolved administration in Northern Ireland have provided figures for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 6.799 |
| 2006–07 | 6.799 |
| 2007–08 | 6.799 |
The current staffing levels stand at:
We are not able to give precise figures for staffing levels over the next three years.
All NDPBs are required to make efficiency savings under Peter Gershon's independent 2004 review on public sector efficiency. The current rate of efficiency savings stands at 2.5 per cent.
Invoices
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it. [200624]
Mr. Paul Murphy: From April 2003 to March 2004:
the average length of time between the date of invoices issued to the Department from a supplier and payment of the invoice bythe Department is 23 days.
the percentage of these invoices paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice was 82.2 per cent.
The Government's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it is:
all Departments and agencies should pay all invoices not in dispute in 30 days or the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified and all Departments should aim to pay 100 per cent. of invoices, including disputed invoices once the dispute has been settled, on time in these terms".
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |