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30 Jun 2005 : Column 1738W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to assist pupils suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in (a) schools and (b) colleges in Northern Ireland. [7836]
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Angela E. Smith: Education and Library Boards' psychology services and behaviour support services offer advice to schools in relation to the management of pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The type of support offered is dependent on the needs of the school or child but can range from advice on writing an individual behaviour plan to placement in a primary or post-primary guidance centre. Most pupils with ADHD have such extremely challenging behaviour that boards maintain statements of special educational need for them and provide funding for additional support to assist the school to meet the pupil's needs.
School staff can also receive advice and training in behaviour management strategies and through specific targeted interventions in the management of pupils with ADHD. These in-service courses are available in some board areas on a whole-school basis on request and through teacher or classroom assistant attendance at courses in teachers' centres.
In 2004, a working group of educational psychologists from across the five Education and Library Boards prepared two information booklets on ADHD which were published by DE—one a practical guide for parents and carers and the other a practical guide for schools.
The Department for Employment and Learning has put in place a range of initiatives and funding streams designed to assist FE college students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities including those suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These include the publication of a good practice guide; support for staff development activities for senior management, and financial assistance towards the costs of technical or carer support for learners.
Bus Shelters
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the erection of bus shelters in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and how much has been spent on (a) repairing and (b) replacing such shelters in each year since 2000. [7628]
Mr. Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcom McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman.
Letter from Dr. McKibbin to Mr. Nigel Dodds, dated June 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question: how much has been spent on the erection of bus shelters in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and how much has been spent on (a) repairing and (b)replacing such shelters in each year since 2000."
I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
You may be aware that, in January 2001, roads service and most district councils entered into a 15-year contract with bus shelter provider Adshel, for the provision of approximately 1500 bus shelters throughout the council areas. The provision and maintenance of these shelters are funded by Adshel through advertising revenue, and are therefore provided at no cost to the Department. The Department has no knowledge of the costs incurred by Adshel in carrying out their contractual commitments.
District councils are still permitted to provide additional bus shelters at their own expense, however, Adshel have the sole advertising rights, and Translink is also permitted to erect bus shelters at their own expense under Permitted Development Rights.
In addition, roads service has a small budget of approximately £1000 per year to maintain the limited number of bus shelters provided by the Department prior to the commencement of the Adshel contract. However, we have not carried out any shelter replacements since 2000.
Early Release (Recidivism)
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners given early release under the terms of the Belfast Agreement have been returned to prison; and for what reasons. [7093]
Mr. Woodward: Of the 447 persons released under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1988 13 have been returned to prison in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of that Act because the Secretary of State believed they had broken, or were likely to break, their licence conditions.
Equality (Stranmillis University College)
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total number of respondents was to the recent equality impact assessment of the governance arrangements at Stranmillis university college; and how many of these (a) supported and (b) opposed removing the transferor's representatives from the governing body. [7051]
Angela E. Smith: Ten responses to the recent equality assessment on the governance arrangements that will follow the incorporation of Stranmillis university college were received. Four respondents supported and four opposed removing the transferors' representatives from the governing body. Two made no comment on this issue.
Firearm Certificates
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time taken for firearm certificate applications to be processed was in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [7170]
Mr. Woodward: The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has released the following information.
(17)Does not reflect processing time by local police.
(18)Reflects additional time needed for staff training and other preparatory work to facilitate introduction of new computerised licensing system.
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Invest Northern Ireland
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what insurance arrangements for third parties are in place in respect of premises and properties in the possession of Invest Northern Ireland. [7851]
Angela E. Smith: Invest NI carries public liability insurance on all of its estates.
Pension Credit
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are in receipt of pension credit; and what the average amount of pension credit is. [7833]
Mr. Hanson: The following table shows the number of people in Northern Ireland in receipt of pension credit and their corresponding average amounts of pension credit, broken down by claimants and partners. The data are taken at May 2005.
| Numbers | Average amount (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Claimants | 90,929 | 57.64 |
| Partners | 19,952 | 71.29 |
Safety Cameras
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many speed cameras have been in place in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001. [7830]
Mr. Woodward: During 2001, 2002 and up to June 2003, there were five mobile safety camera vehicles in operation across Northern Ireland.
The launch of the Northern Ireland Safety Camera Scheme on 1 July 2003 saw these resources boosted by the installation of three fixed site safety cameras at locations on the Antrim Road, Saintfield Road and the Upper Newtownards Road and the deployment of an additional three mobile safety camera vehicles.
The installation of a further fixed site safety camera on the Springfield Road in November 2003 means that there are now four fixed site safety cameras and eight mobile safety camera vehicles in operation within Northern Ireland. All are at locations with a history of speeding and collision.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been raised through fines imposed as a result of speeding detected by speed cameras in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001. [7831]
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Mr. Woodward: The number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued for excess speed since 2001 that have been paid are:
| FPNs issued | Fine levied per FPN (£) | Revenue generated (£) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 10,750 | 60 | 645,000 |
| 2002 | 16,170 | 60 | 970,200 |
| 2003 | 12,913 | 60 | 774,780 |
| 2004 | 12,010 | 60 | 720,600 |
The fine revenue generated by safety cameras operated in Northern Ireland is paid into the UK Consolidated Fund and at the moment, none of that revenue is returned to the PSNI because of the unique manner in which the PSNI is funded by Treasury.
However, legislation is currently being prepared that will allow the PSNI to recover costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Northern Ireland Safety Camera Scheme in future and this money will be used to develop the scheme through the identification of further routes and locations where the deployment of additional cameras can be used to maximize the reduction of serious casualties in future.
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