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8 Feb 2005 : Column 1490W—continued
Illegal Fuel Seizures
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many seizures of illegal fuel there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what quantities of fuel were seized in each instance. [214275]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
Figures related to the value of oils seized are published in HM Customs and Excise's Annual Report and Accounts 2003–2004 (HC119).
The following table shows the numbers of hydrocarbon oils seizures that have taken place in Northern Ireland over the last three years and the total volume of fuel that those seizures account for. It is not possible to provide information on the volume of fuel seized in each individual seizure.
| Number of oils seizures | Total volume of oils seizures (million litres) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 925 | 1.75 |
| 2002–03 | 478 | 1.59 |
| 2003–04 | 710 | 1.52 |
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted as a result of seizures of illegal fuel in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [214276]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
Prosecution is an important sanction in tackling fraud and Customs use it alongside a range of available sanctions, including seizing assets, duty assessments and civil penalties to maximise the enforcement impact.
The number of convictions related to hydrocarbon oils fraud in Northern Ireland during the last three years are set out in the table.
| Number of convictions | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 15 |
| 2002–03 | 3 |
| 2003–04 | 4 |
Northern Bank Robbery
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he plans to take in relation to Sinn Fein in response to the chief constable's assessment that the IRA was responsible for the Northern bank robbery. [211970]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Prime Minister, myself and the Irish Government have made it clear in discussions with Sinn Fein that it is now for the IRA to respond and to make clear their commitment to ending all criminal activities. The two Governments have received a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission on recent paramilitary activity. The report will, as usual, be carefully considered and will be published soon.
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Positive Steps Programme
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether reconviction rates for young offenders have met the target set by the Positive Steps programme. [213096]
Mr. Pearson: The Positive Steps Programme is currently being evaluated. A report which will address reconviction rates will be published later this year.
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has undertaken a cost benefit analysis of the Positive Steps Programme. [213148]
Mr. Pearson: A cost benefit analysis was not carried out at the time of the launch of the programme, however the financial benefits of the programme will be reported by an independent evaluator. A report will be published later this year.
Primary Schools (Coleraine)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the scheme to provide new school buildings at (a) Killowen Primary Coleraine and (b) Millburn Primary Coleraine are likely to commence. [211519]
Mr. Gardiner: There are no schemes currently in planning for Killowen Primary and Millburn Primary schools. The North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) has provisionally identified in their 5-year Capital plan, the intention to bring forward to the Department of Education major works schemes proposals for the two schools. The proposals are expected in 2007–08 for Millburn Primary School and 2008–09 for Killowen Primary School.
Religious/Political Discrimination
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of discrimination on the grounds of religious or political belief in Northern Ireland are awaiting resolution through the appeals tribunal system. [214508]
Mr. Gardiner: In Northern Ireland, cases of discrimination on grounds of religious or political belief in employment are matters for the Fair Employment Tribunal. At week ending 4 February 2005, there were 1,028 cases awaiting resolution.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account the Department of Finance and Personnel took of safeguarding and child protection in setting its budget and priorities; and what priority will be given to accreditation arrangements contained in the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 by Government departments in Northern Ireland in the development of departmental business plans. [214823]
Angela Smith:
Safeguarding and child protection continue to be a priority for central government. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety will consider accreditation arrangements contained in the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1492W
Ireland) Order 2003 (POCVA) along with other funding requirements in the light of available resources and competing priorities.
School Transport Contracts
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for NorthernIreland what criteria are applied in awarding school transport contracts other than the lowest cost tendered. [214805]
Mr. Gardiner: In addition to the lowest cost criterion, Education and Library Boards' requirements for awarding home to school transport contracts include the following:
In addition, contracts may be awarded to satisfy requirements for continuity of service" from year-to-year in respect of children with special educational needs.
Sinn Fein (USA Visas)
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations the Government have made to the US Administration regarding the granting of visaapplications to members of Sinn Fein to enter the USA. [213648]
Mr. Paul Murphy: We have regular dialogue with the US Government on the state of the peace process; but decisions on applications for visas are a matter for the US Government.
Social Work Files
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will issue regional guidance on the structure and content of trust family and child care social work file records. [214824]
Angela Smith: The Department has no plans to issue regional guidance on the structure and content of Trusts' family and child care social work records. The Department provides, through the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and its associated regulations and guidance, a comprehensive framework for case recording purposes. In addition, a range of Standards developed by the Social Services Inspectorate also addresses case recording to ensure that well-structured case files and good recording practices are promoted.
It is important that social workers' professional practice ensures that they record their involvement with children, their parents/carers and the multi-disciplinary team with which they work.
8 Feb 2005 : Column 1493W
Violent Offenders
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland if he will introduce legislation to bring Northern Ireland arrangements for interagency assessment and management of violent offenders into line with those of England and Wales. [214821]
Mr. Spellar: The first thematic inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland (CJINI) is a review of the multi-agency procedures for the risk assessment and management of sex offenders in Northern Ireland. Included in the terms of reference for the inspection is an assessment of the potential implications of legislating to place the procedures on a statutory footing and extending them to include violent offenders. Iwill consider the issue raised by the hon. Gentleman in light of the findings in the Chief Inspector's report, which I understand will shortly to be submitted to the Secretary of State.
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