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12 Sept 2005 : Column 2476W—continued

Defence Exports

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much British Trade International spent on promoting defence exports in each of the last three years. [12053]

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.

The promotion of defence exports is a matter for Defence Exports Services Organisation. Under its Support for Exhibitions Seminars Abroad (SESA) programme United Kingdom Trade and Investment does provide support for trade associations to organise groups to attend overseas exhibitions and seminars. This has included the Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) and can involve the promotion of non-weapon products for the defence
 
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industry as well as civil markets. In the last three years support for DMA and SBAC events overseas under SESA has been:
£
2002–03521,472
2003–04379,661
2004–05280,740

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company. [11739]

Angela E. Smith: Details of companies from which Departments in Northern Ireland have purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years and how much was spent in respect ofeach company are set out as follows. Cumulative spends above £l million with individual companies across Departments could be identified only atdisproportionate cost and are therefore not provided.
£

Name of company/vendor2002–032003–042004–05
Aventis Pasteur MSD1,171,4101,153,051
Belfast Centre of Learning1,249,0001,052,0001,195,000
BIC Systems1,374,749
British Telecom NI1,420,5311,570,484
BTW Shiells Ltd.1,693,656
Corporate Document Services1,032,8941,233,7741,064,784
Dale Farm Dairies Ltd.1,321,600
EDS Ltd.3,235,2914,689,739
Electrical Training NI Ltd.2,325,0002,536,0002,834,000
Energia1,067,572
Fujitsu10,178,79112,817,98610,941,673
H&J Martin Ltd.1,062,2783,594,225
Herbert Smith Solicitors1,012,563
Hewlett Packard Ltd.1,450,534
IBM United Kingdom Ltd.2,681,768
Joblink1,310,0001,607,0001,924,000
John Sheridan & Sons Ltd.1,083,936
Logica CMC UK Ltd.1,855,449
Maybin Property Support
Services (NI) Ltd.
1,144,7671,199,753
McCann Erickson/Lyle
Bailie
2,663,8081,806,4384,171,988
McConnell Martin1,575,4751,628,775
McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd.3,496,567
MVM Consultants plc1,248,5901,363,5201,327,525
Navigator Blue1,401,7571,300,784
New Deal West1,731,0001,861,0002,162,000
NI Electricity plc1,203,6551,014,519
North City Training Ltd.1,848,0001,973,0002,521,000
PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd.1,281,452
Protocol Skills1,100,0001,403,0001,551,000
Romaha1,427,7853,034,1503,330,126
Royal Mail (NI) Ltd.2,342,7793,174,5272,317,625
Springvale Training Ltd.1,640,0001,709,0002,005,000
Steria Ltd.3,154,1653,014,693
SX31,216,353
Syntegra3,876,1765,502,1517,369,283
The Post Office Ltd.1,038,943
Workforce Training
Services
1,061,0001,198,0001,172,000

 
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In addition the Northern Ireland Office purchased goods and services of a total value of £26,425,626 from nine companies in 2002–03, £25,485,195 from 11 companies in 2003–04 and £27,045,080 from 10 companies in 2004–05. In each case the total amount purchased from each company exceeded £1 million. Due to security and commercial confidentiality it is not appropriate to name individuals companies in this case.

Departmental Staff (Stress)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [7869]

Angela E. Smith: NI Departments hold information in respect of working days lost due to psychiatric/psychological illnesses. However, it is not currently possible to determine precisely if these absences have been caused by, or made worse by work-related stress. Therefore, the information set out as follows reflects only those cases where work-related stress was specifically reported on either self-certificates or on medical certificates. Information on costs is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. Work is under way to develop a coding system that will more accurately record work-related illnesses.

A range of corporate measures has been introduced to help tackle stress including the promotion of work life balance, healthy lifestyle programmes and a Workplace Health Improvement Programme. Departments have also produced guidance for staff and managers on how to identify and manage work-related stress and complimented by training and awareness seminars. Managers also have the support of the Occupational Health Service (OHS), including the provision of Psychiatric nursing services, a comprehensive Welfare service and Employee Support Programmes (EAP). These programmes and support mechanisms take a more holistic view of staff health and well-being, including stress. While we can identify the overall cost of the provision of services, such as the OHS, Welfare and EAPs, any costing information, specific to work-related stress, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

A major workforce health survey is currently underway with over 30,000 Northern Ireland civil servants invited to complete a health questionnaire. The survey contains a substantial section on stress, and seeks to identify where work may have been a contributory factor. The stress questions have been based on the Health and Safety Executive's Stress Management Standards.
 
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Number of cases of work-related
stress have been reported
2002–0358
2003–0476
2004–0590


Total compensation paid(110)(£)
2002–030
2003–0410,000
2004–050


(110) Compensation" has been interpreted as that paid as a result of litigation arising out of work-related stress cases.



Number of work days lost
due to work-related stress
2002–033,797
2003–044,548
2004–055,448

Domestic Rates in Northern Ireland

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much revenue was raised from domestic rates in Northern Ireland in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2004–05; and what the projected level for 2005–06 is. [15191]

Angela E. Smith: The amount of rates collected from the domestic sector for 1997–98 and 2004–05 was £166.5 million and £346.8 million respectively.

The projected domestic revenue for 2005–06 is £366.3 million.

Educational Performance

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 10 worst areas in Northern Ireland for educational accomplishment based on the Nolan indices; and what steps he is taking in each area to make improvements in performance. [14504]

Angela E. Smith: The 10 most deprived areas for achievement of qualifications and access to education under the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005, the children and young people" sub-domain, are:
RankSuper output areaLocal government district
1Shankill 1Belfast
2Shankill 2Belfast
3The Mount 1Belfast
4Crumlin2Belfast
5Blackstaff 2Belfast
6WoodvaleSBelfast
7Whiterock 2Belfast
8Falls 2Belfast
9Crumlin 1Belfast
10Glencairn 1Belfast




Note:
Rank no. 1 relates to the most deprived area.




Super Output Areas (SOAs) are a new geography that has been developed by NISRA to improve the reporting of small area statistics. Until now the standard unit of presenting local statistical information has been the
 
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Electoral Ward (Wards). However, in Northern Ireland, Wards vary greatly in population size (Census 2001), from fewer than 800 residents to more than 9,000. This is not ideal for regional and local comparisons. SOAs have been created on a ward-by-ward basis taking into account measures of population size and mutual proximity. SOAs may constitute a whole ward, or part of a ward, and aim to provide standard areas of geography with a population between a lower threshold of 1,300 and an upper threshold of 2800.

Raising the educational achievement of all young people, and especially those in areas of greatest social need, is a key priority for Government. This is reflected in a variety of measures including increased funding (under TSN, enhanced pre-school provision and a range of intervention programmes to improve literacy and numeracy, and to make curriculum provision more relevant to pupils' needs.


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