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4 Apr 2005 : Column 1293W—continued

Lir Integrated Primary School

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received concerning the development proposal for Lir Integrated Primary School in Ballycastle. [223200]

 
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Mr. Gardiner: The Department of Education received two objections to the Development Proposal, one during the two-month consultation period and one shortly after the consultation period expired. 145 pre-printed postcards were also received from supporters of the proposal from across the Province, 135 were received during the two-month consultation period and 10 were received after the consultation period expired.

Means-tested Benefits (Strangford)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people of pensionable age who are living in (a) nursing and (b) residential homes in Strangford constituency qualify for means-tested benefits. [223723]

Mr. Spellar: The information requested is not available. The Social Security Agency and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety do not hold details of residents of nursing and residential homes and has not carried out exercises to assess their entitlement to means-tested benefits.

Offender Management

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland Report and the Management of Sex Offenders in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to the management of violent offenders in the community; and if he will make a statement. [224170]

Mr. Spellar: The first thematic inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland provides a sound basis to further develop the procedures already in place for assessing and managing the risk posed by sex offenders. I wish therefore to give careful consideration to the recommendations of the report for which I have responsibility, including extending the arrangements to include violent offenders. I have asked officials to consult with colleagues who operate the offender management procedures, both here and in England and Wales, before reaching conclusions on the way forward.
 
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Pension Credit

Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of pension credit take-up levels in Northern Ireland; and what policies are in place to increase that rate. [224066]

Mr. Spellar: No estimate has been made of the number of pensioners who might be entitled to state pension credit.

A target has been set of promoting take-up of 98,500 by March 2006 and 104,000 by March 2008. By February 2005, 91,782 pensioner households were in receipt of pension credit.

Police Appointments

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 589W, on police appointments, how many of the (a) 816 non-Catholic candidates appointed to the police and (b) 408 suitably qualified candidates who were rejected because of the equal recruitment policy were Protestant. [224210]

Mr. Pearson [pursuant to the reply, 21 March 2005, Official Report, c.589W]: I am advised that of the stated 816 non-Catholic applicants appointed to the PSNI as trainee constables, 802 were perceived as being from a Protestant community background.

I am also advised that of the stated 408 suitably qualified applicants who were rejected because of the equal recruitment policy, 405 were perceived as being from a Protestant community background.

Polling Stations

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his intention that all polling stations in the forthcoming local government elections on 5 May and at the next general election in Northern Ireland should be guarded by uniformed police officers. [223173]

Mr. Pearson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to providing the appropriate level of support to the chief electoral officer in his management of the electoral process in Northern Ireland. This support will be based on individual threat assessments conducted on behalf of district commanders, with whom the operational decisions for deployments lie.

Pollution

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution were reported in Lough Neagh in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents. [224091]

Angela Smith: From 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004, the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service Unit received 12 reports of pollution within a 50 metre radius of Lough Neagh. Of these, eight incidents were confirmed and all assessed as 'low severity' in that the incidents resulted in a localised environmental impact only. By origin, seven incidents were attributed to industry and one to the Department for Regional Development's Water Service.
 
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David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution were reported in the Six Mile Water river in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents. [224092]

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service received 127 reports of pollution in the Six Mile Water river from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004. Of these, 52 incidents were confirmed.

By origin, 27 incidents were attributed to industry, six to the Department for Regional Development's water service, three to farming, three to transport and 13 to 'other' sources (i.e. sources which are not any of these nor domestic). By severity, nine incidents were assessed as 'medium' in that the incidents would have had a more than localised impact and may for example have had a readily observable impact on the invertebrate life in the watercourse. The remaining 43 incidents were assessed as 'low' severity in that they would have resulted in a localised environmental impact only.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, what constituted the failure of the screening plant at Briggs Rock, Orlock. [224255]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.

Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Lady Hermon, dated 31 March 2005:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question, pursuant to his Answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, about what constituted the failure of the screening plant at Briggs Rock, Orlock (224255). I have been asked to reply as the issue falls within my operational responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.

The screening plant at Briggs Rock originally comprised two automatic rotating screens which removed most solids and materials from the sewage before the effluent liquor was discharged to sea. Over the past two to three years, due to difficulties in sourcing replacement parts, the screens became increasingly difficult to maintain and repair, and more expensive to operate. The condition of the screens continued to deteriorate and they were removed in late 2004. As an interim measure, pending the provisions of a new automatic screening plant, the screens were replaced by fabricated bar screens. These screens have to be cleaned manually twice per day and are not as effective as the automatic rotating screens.

Water Service regrets the pollution caused by the failure of this equipment and is currently taking forward a project to provide a new automatic screening plant. This is scheduled for completion by the end of this summer.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, if he will make a statement on action taken since 9 March to clean up the coastline. [224256]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
 
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Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Lady Hermon, dated 31 March 2005:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question, pursuant to his Answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, if he will make a statement on action taken since 9 March to clean up the coastline (224256). I have been asked to reply as the issue falls within my operational responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.

Water Service has already met with North Down Borough Council to discuss the situation. A detailed inspection of the foreshore at Orlock Point has been undertaken and a clean-up operation commenced on 30 March 2005. Owing to the nature of the rocky coastline around Orlock Point, it is expected that it will take several days to complete.

Pending the provision of the new automatic screening plant at Briggs Rock, due for completion by the end of the summer at a cost of £150,000. Water Service will carry out regular inspections of the coastline around Orlock and take further clean-up action when necessary.

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