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22 Feb 2005 : Column 557W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Area Plan (Antrim)
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Antrim, Ballymena, Larne Area Plan will be published. [216072]
Angela Smith: In recent months the Planning Service has been reviewing the rapidly increasing and unprecedented workload pressures being faced by the agency. After careful consideration of the available options, it was decided to concentrate as much of the agency's resources as possible for a period of time on the operational side of the business.
The reallocation of staff has had a knock-on effect on emerging area plans. Work is continuing on those plans that are at an advanced stage in the preparation process. However, progress on the remaining area plans, including Antrim, Ballymena and Larne, will be slower then previously programmed.
The importance of delivering full area plan coverage is recognised and the Planning Service will move forward with the area plan programme as quickly as is feasible. At this point in time it is not possible to say precisely when this will be. Much will depend on how quickly the pressure on the operational side can be reduced. An announcement on revised timescales for the area plan programme, including the Antrim, Ballymena and Larne area plan, will be made in due course.
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Armagh Observatory
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what budget has been allocated by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to Armagh observatory for the financial years (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and what budget is planned for 2005–06. [211931]
Angela Smith: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure allocated £633,500 in 2003–04 and £666,000 in 2004–05 towards the running costs of the Armagh observatory. An indicative allocation of £666,500 is anticipated for 2005–06. The Department also provided an additional £115,000 in 2003–04 and £218,000 in 2004–05 to fund research and specific projects and includes £104,000 for work in respect of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to develop, expand or enhance the facilities at Armagh observatory. [211932]
Angela Smith: The enhancement of the human orrery will continue with plans to add two outer stainless steel rings. Other plans to develop, expand or enhance the facilities at Armagh observatory would be matters for the director, committee and board of the Armagh observatory. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure would consider any proposals put forward by the committee and board through the normal business planning processes.
Belfast Regeneration Office
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Belfast Regeneration Office in each of the Belfast constituencies in each year since it was set up. [216413]
Mr. Spellar: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only by means of a special administrative exercise that would entail a disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Belfast Regeneration Office in each of the district electoral areas of north Belfast in each year since it was set up. [216414]
Mr. Spellar: The information requested is not heldcentrally and could be obtained only by a special administrative exercise and would entail a disproportionate cost.
Catering Costs
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997. [215053]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Information is not available in the format requested by the hon. Member.
The information requested is captured under overall entertainment" costs and these costs have previously been provided in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 471W.
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Charity Laws
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in bringing forward changes to charity laws in Northern Ireland following the recommendations of the Independent Monitoring Commission's report of November 2004. [216409]
Mr. Spellar: The Department for Social Development has launched a public consultation exercise to seek views on proposed changes to the existing laws governing charities in Northern Ireland.
The appointment of a Charities Commission and a Register of Charities in Northern Ireland are among the main proposals in a document called Consultation on the Review of Charities Administration and Legislation in Northern Ireland 2005" and published by the Department for Social Development.
Charities in Northern Ireland make an immense contribution helping those in our society who are most in need. The proposed changes are designed to provide greater public confidence and will address concerns that the lack of tighter control of charities in Northern Ireland provides opportunities for abuse by organised criminal elements.
Child Mental Health Specialists
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many specialists in child mental health are employed by the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust. [216415]
Angela Smith: Information requested is provided in the table as follows.
Notes:
North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust considers that specialist staff are those who have particular expertise in the field of Child and Adolescent Mental Health attendant upon their professional training and ongoing professional development including accredited training. The above staff have the competencies to independently provide community-based Tier 2 services across North and West Belfast and to work within a specialist multi-disciplinary Team at Tiers 3 and 4. Tier 2 services are concerned with the provision of child and adolescent mental health services with a focus on prevention and early intervention with children and adolescents with moderate mental health needs. Tier 3 (out-patient) and Tier 4 (in-patient) provide assessment and intervention of children and adolescents with the most complex mental health issues.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is made for children and young peoples' mental health in north Belfast. [216416]
Angela Smith:
North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust provide Child and Adolescent Mental Health services through the Multi-Disciplinary Adolescent Team, the Children's Clinical Psychology Service, the Early Interventions Service, Children's
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Services Network and the Shankill Resource Centre. Specialist in-patient and out-patient services are accessed through the regional provider.
City of Derry Airport
Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects a decision to be made on the funding application for the safety works at City of Derry Airport; and what assessment has been made of the (a) safety and (b) regional economic implications of the time scale for making a decision. [216663]
Mr. Spellar: I hope that an announcement can be made soon. Issues relating to the economic benefit to the northwest of investment in the airport, options for airport governance and state aid issues are still being considered. I am aware of the safety and regional economic issues involved in the time scale for making a decision.
Construction Industry Training Scheme
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of the Construction Industry Training Scheme in Northern Ireland. [215742]
Mr. Gardiner: The Construction Industry Training Scheme does not operate in Northern Ireland.
The Construction Industry Training Board in Northern Ireland is the only remaining industrial training board and it raises annually a statutory levy to encourage training in the construction industry in Northern Ireland through:
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