Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions at each hospital trust in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years (a) an infection control team has recommended that a ward be closed immediately for cleaning and (b) that recommendation has been rejected; and if he will make a statement. [217113]
Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not collect or record details on hospital wards being closed for cleaning. From information obtained from Trusts there is no evidence of any infection control team's recommendation about closing wards for cleaning being rejected.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken by the Department for Social Development to ensure that (a) the expenditure for the Housing Executive is clearly defined and prioritised in light of the recommendation of the Committee of Public Accounts and (b) that the Housing Executive undertakes economic appraisals. [219326]
Mr. Spellar: The Department for Social Development requires the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to clearly define expenditure priorities for the funding of homelessness services as part of its Homelessness Strategy, as recommended by the Committee of Public Accounts. The Department monitors Housing Executive performance on a regular basis and the specific recommendations of the Committee are reviewed quarterly as part of the accountability arrangements put in place to ensure that effective housing services are delivered.
With regard to economic appraisals, the Department for Social Development has directed the Housing Executive to carry out economic appraisals in accordance with current guidance, for all relevant investments.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he expects the implications of the Identity Cards Bill for the common travel area will be tabled for consideration at a future meeting of the British-Irish Governmental Conference; and if he will make a statement. [218228]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Irish Government raised this matter at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference held in Dublin on 2 March 2005.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he expects that the implications of the Identity Cards Bill for the common travel area will be tabled for consideration at a future meeting of the British-Irish Council Conference; and if he will make a statement. [218229]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The British Government have no plans to raise this matter at a future meeting of the British-Irish Council.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he expects the implications of the Identity Cards Bill for the common travel area and the land border to be tabled for consideration at a future meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement. [218230]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The North South Ministerial Council cannot meet when Section 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 2000 is in force.
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the NHS pension review; and if he will make a statement. [219056]
Angela Smith: The National Health Services (NHS) Employer's Organisation has been leading a review of the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales in partnership with NHS employer and staff side representatives. The Review Partners have produced a consultation document setting out a number of options for a new NHS Scheme. The NHS consultation started on 10 January 2005, and will run for a period of three months.
The Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) Superannuation Scheme in Northern Ireland operates on a policy of parity with the NHS Scheme for England and Wales. In view of this the Department of Health, Social Services and Public safety is consulting on the proposals contained in the NHS (England and Wales) consultation document. Consultation in Northern Ireland commenced on 24 January 2005 and will run to 30 April 2005. The Department's HPSS Superannuation Branch is arranging presentations for HPSS management and staff representatives within each HPSS Board area.
The information contained in responses submitted to the Department will be published in a summary report of responses and will be passed also to colleagues involved in the NHS Pensions Review for England and Wales for consideration in the final decisions to be taken on the scheme.
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been initiated within the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety following the publication of the 2003 Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on The Use of Operating Theatres. [218380]
Angela Smith:
Since publication of the Report in April 2003, the Department has required all Trusts to submit six-monthly updates on progress being made towards the implementation of the Report's recommendations. The most recent update indicated that 38 of the 43 recommendations in the Report have been fully implemented, and the other five have been partially implemented.
2 Mar 2005 : Column 1236W
A number of changes have been initiated, in particular:
A regional Theatre Managers Forum has been established to develop theatre policies and protocols, and share good practice;
The Department has asked one Trust to take the lead in procuring a new computerised Theatre Management System to be introduced in all Trusts.
The utilisation of planned theatre sessions in Northern Ireland in 200304 increased to 95 per cent., exceeding the recommended target of 90 per cent. in the Bevan Report on the Management and Utilisation of Operating Departments.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing a regional paediatric gastroenterology service for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [216928]
Angela Smith: Until recently this service was provided on an out-patient basis in Belfast by a consultant paediatric gastroenterologist from Birmingham Children's Hospital. This has now ceased and, in the short-term, patients requiring access to a paediatric gastroenterology service are being referred to hospitals in Great Britain.
The sustainability of vulnerable regional specialties such as paediatric gastroenterology remains a key issue. The Royal Group of Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust has previously attempted to recruit a consultant paediatrician with an interest in gastroenterology, but this has proved unsuccessful.
The Department is continuing to work with Commissioners and the Royal Group of Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust on how best to provide the service in the long-term and is exploring the possibility of a Service Level Agreement with Birmingham Children's Hospital for the 200506 financial year.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the current full actuarial valuation of the liabilities of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) to be completed; and if he will place a statement on the conclusions of that valuation in the Library. [208660]
Mr. Pearson: At the request of the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Government Actuary carried out an actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2003 of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) (PCSPS(NI)).
A statement on the conclusions of the valuation as at 31 March 2003 has not been placed in the Library however a copy of the yearly resource accounts have been, the latest being as at 31 March 2004. The resource accounts are produced in line with the Financial Reporting Standard 17 (FRS17), the accounting
2 Mar 2005 : Column 1237W
standard for pension scheme liabilities, and contain an actuary report on the liabilities of the PCSPS(NI) as at 31 March 2004.
Next Section | Index | Home Page |