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5 Jul 2005 : Column 335W—continued
Fast Response Team (DOE)
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish a fast response team within the Department of the Environment (a) at weekends and (b) during public holidays to prevent (i)the felling of trees and (ii) the demolition of historic buildings prior to a tree preservation order or listing. [9124]
Angela E. Smith: The planning service already has local contact and response arrangements in place at divisional offices and the infrequency of such incidents would not justify the establishment of fast response teams. There would also be legal and financial implications to consider.
It is felt that a better use of scarce resources would be to re-examine current arrangements with a view to improving response times should such incidents occur.
Higher Education (Overseas Students)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from the European Union have been accepted to attend higher educational facilities in Northern Ireland in the next three years. [8778]
Angela E. Smith: Students may apply to courses at higher education institutions through the Universities and Colleges Administration Service (UCAS) or directly to the institutions. The lastest data available from UCAS show that at 24 March 2005, 19,064 applications from the European Union has applied to Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions for entry in 2005. Of the 19,064 applicants, 14,887 were from Northern Ireland, 1,386 from Great Britain, 2,672 from Republic of Ireland and 119 from other European Union countries. Information on applicants accepted will be published by UCAS on their website during August 2005 (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/new/press/index.html).
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from countries outside the EU have been accepted to attend higher educational facilities in Northern Ireland in the next three years. [8779]
Angela E. Smith:
Students may apply to courses at higher education institutions through the Universities and Colleges Administration Service (UCAS) or directly to the institutions. The latest data available from UCAS show that at 24 March 2005, 587
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applications from outside the European Union has applied to Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions for entry in 2005. Information on applicants accepted will be published by UCAS on their website during August 2005 (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/new/press/index.html).
Housing Benefit
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 2001. [9521]
Mr. Hanson: The number of people in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 2001 is as follows:
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 173,631 |
| 2002–03 | 175,868 |
| 2003–04 | 169,017 |
| 2004–05 | 176,740 |
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recipients of housing benefit there were in each district council area in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [9523]
Mr. Hanson: The total number of recipients of housing benefit in each district council area in Northern Ireland in 2004–2005 is as follows:
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of fraud in housing benefit payments has been discovered in each year since 2001. [9525]
Mr. Hanson:
The estimated levels of fraud in housing benefit payments, administered by NI Housing Executive, for the rented sector for each year since 2001 taken from the housing benefit review (HBR) are shown as follows:
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| Percentage of benefit expenditure affected by fraud | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 2.1 |
| 2002–03 | 1.9 |
| 2003–04 | 0.0 |
Note:
The HBR also provides an estimate for the level of expenditure affected by error. When added to the fraud figures above the percentage figures increase to 3.8 per cent., 3.8 per cent. and 1.9 per cent. for the three years above.
The estimate for 2004–05 is not yet available.
The levels of fraud in housing benefit payments, administered by Rates Collection Agency (RCA), for the owner occupied sector for each year since 2001 measured through internal investigations by the RCA's housing benefit branch are shown as follows:
| Percentage of benefit expenditure affected by fraud | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | (20)— |
| 2002–03 | (20)— |
| 2003–04 | 0.42 |
| 2004–05 | 0.19 |
(20)Figure not available.
Housing Executive Rents
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in Housing Executive rents was in each year since 1997. [9524]
Mr. Hanson: Northern Ireland Housing Executive rent increases from 1997 are as follows:
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 4 |
| 1998–99 | 4.8 |
| 1999–2000 | 4.5 |
| 2000–01 | 4.5 |
| 2001–02 | 3 |
| 2002–03 | 3 |
| 2003–04 | 3.25 |
| 2004–05 | 3 |
| 2005–06 | 3.1 |
Off-road Vehicles
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what measures are in place to tackle the illegal use of quads and scrambler bikes in Northern Ireland; [7825]
(2) if he will introduce legislation to give the Police Service of Northern Ireland power of seizure in the case of illegal use of scramblers and quads in Northern Ireland. [7826]
Mr. Woodward:
Police currently have enforcement powers under the relevant aspects of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 when incidents of illegal use of quads and scramblers occur on roads or public places. Where certain grounds are met, the PSNI will report a person for prosecution.
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Some District Commands, in particular those where a habitual problem exists, have adopted a pro-active approach to tackle this issue producing information leaflets which are distributed both to officers and members of the public. These outline the responsibilities of people using these vehicles and the minimum legal requirements associated with their use. In addition to the owners of such vehicles and the parents of children who ride them, contact has also been made with motorcycle retailers, reminding them of the need to encourage a responsible and legal use of such vehicles by members of the public.
The Government are committed to ensuring that the police have the powers they need to tackle illegal use of scramblers and quads. The Draft Road Traffic (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 , which is soon to be published for public consultation, will contain a provision to give the Police Service of Northern Ireland the powers to seize motor vehicles, including quads and scramblers, being driven on public roads while uninsured.
Phoenix Natural Gas
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Phoenix Natural Gas (PNG) Ltd. and its parent company East Surrey Holdings have confirmed to the Government in advance of their proposed takeover by Terra Firma that PNG will continue to comply with the regulatory agreement it reached with the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation in August 2004. [9454]
Angela E. Smith: Phoenix Natural Gas (PNG) and East Surrey Holdings have both confirmed their commitment to fully implementing the terms of the 2004 regulatory agreement to Government. Terra Firma has also indicated its intention to ensure that PNG continues to operate in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
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