| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1486W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast City Airport (Road Congestion)
Lady Hermon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the roads service has made of the impact of the removal of the planning
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1487W
restriction on the total number of annual passengers using the Belfast city airport on usage and congestion on the (a) Sydenham by-pass and (b) West Link. [209205]
Mr. Spellar: The information is as follows:
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Lady Hermon dated 21 January 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the impact of the removal of the planning restriction on the total number of annual passengers using the Belfast City Airport on usage and congestion on the Sydenham bypass and the West Link (209205). I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as the Chief Executive of Roads Service.
Roads Service has not yet been consulted on any proposal to remove the planning restriction, however, the planning application for the new terminal building and entrance was supported by a Transport Assessment, which provided a detailed analysis of the development's projected traffic impact on the local road network. Any proposed change to planning restrictions that would alter the impact on the road network will be examined to ensure that where necessary, appropriate mitigating measures are provided by the applicant.
It should be noted that the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) 2015, published in November 2004, is bringing forward proposals that will improve public transport access to the Belfast City Airport, as well as proposals for increasing the capacity of both the Sydenham by-pass and Westlink.
Correspondence
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his target time is in 2004–05 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in his Office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [202508]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The figures sought by the hon. Member are included in the Northern Ireland Office departmental Report 2004, a copy of which is available in the Library
Dentists
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of dentists in the Province. [215367]
Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 3 February 2005, Official Report column 1069W.
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much, and over what period of time; and if he will make a statement. [211615]
Mr. Pearson:
The details of contracts granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in the last two years are set out in the table.
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1488W
Diabetes
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure equal access to diabetes services in all areas of the Province. [214924]
Angela Smith: In June 2003 the Crest Taskforce published a report on the development of services for people with diabetes and the Department is committed to the full implementation of the report.
Each of the Health and Social Services Boards has established local implementation groups to take forward the detailed planning and implementation of the recommendations made by the Taskforce. The Department has also set up a Regional Diabetes Steering Group to monitor the work of the local groups and develop a plan to ensure that developments are taken forward on a co-ordinated basis to ensure that the delivery of services is of high quality and is accessible to all in the community.
Economic Activity (East Londonderry)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the employment rates of people of working age in the East Londonderry constituency were (a) on the latest date for which figures are available and (b) on 1 May 2001. [210847]
Mr. Gardiner: The most recent figures available from the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) relate to the period September-November (autumn) 2004. These estimate that the working age employment rate for East Londonderry Parliamentary Constituency Area was 68.3 per cent. This compares to an estimated employment rate of 60.6 per cent. in the period March-May (spring) 2001 from the LFS.
Education Attainment
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average GCSE point scores, excluding GNVQ Part 1 and GCSE short courses were for each category of school in Northern Ireland in 2003–04. [211637]
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1489W
Mr. Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lagan Valley, (Mr. Donaldson) on 19 January 2005 Official Report, column 973 W.
Fuel Poverty
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for NorthernIreland how many homes have been assisted under the Warm Homes Scheme in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Belfast in each year since its introduction. [211197]
Mr. Spellar: The under-noted table identifies the number of homes assisted under the Warm Homes Scheme since its introduction.
(35)up to end December 2004
(36)up to 25 January 2005
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when funding will be made available for the Fuel Poverty Partnership Fund; and when this Fund will be available to those working to reduce fuel poverty. [211250]
Mr. Spellar: We are currently examining the need for, and exploring options for identifying the resources that can be used to support the Fuel Poverty Partnership Fund. The Inter-Departmental Group on Fuel Poverty, whose first meeting is proposed for April 2005, will determine what resources are required, make decisions on major allocations and if necessary, bid for resources.
Health Trust Costs
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money each health trust in the Province spent on cleaning in the last year. [215369]
Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 1 February 2005, Official Report column 876W.
Heart Failure
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on support offered to heart failure sufferers in the Province. [215376]
Angela Smith: General practitioners, physicians and cardiologists manage patients with heart failure. Dedicated heart failure services have also been developed at a number of acute Trusts.
The Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (CREST) recently published guidelines on The Management of Chronic Heart Failure in Northern Ireland. The guidelines focus on the aspects of care most strongly supported by evidence and aim to improve standards of care and equity of provision for patients with this condition.
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1490W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |