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18 Oct 2005 : Column 977W—continued

School Leavers

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of school leavers in (a) the constituency of East Belfast and (b) in Northern Ireland as a whole entered higher education in each of the last four years. [18223]

Angela E. Smith: The percentage of school leavers entering higher education in each of the last four years is as follows:
Percentage of school leavers entering higher education

	East Belfast	Northern Ireland
2003–04	38.0	37.1
2002–03	n/a	n/a
2001–02	36.0	35.5
2000–01	32.6	33.3

n/a=not available

Tuberculosis

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many notifications of tuberculosis in the Province there have been in each of the last (a) 10 years and (b) 12 months. [18420]

Mr. Woodward: Information on the number of cases of tuberculosis is not available on a monthly basis. Information for each of the last 10 years is detailed in the following table:

	Tuberculosis
2004(78)	84
2003	57
2002	67
2001	55
2000	51
1999	57
1998	66
1997	70
1996	78
1995	84

⁽⁷⁸⁾Figure for 2004 relating to tuberculosis is provisional.
Source:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre NI (CDSCNI), data are taken from the NI enhanced TB surveillance programme.




 
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Please note that figures may have changed since last reported due to CDSCNI undertaking a retrospective review of laboratory confirmed cases between 1994 and 2000.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many cars are taxed for roaduse in Northern Ireland; and what estimate he has made of the number avoiding payment of vehicle excise duty. [18103]

Angela E. Smith: At 31 December 2004, there were 736,706 cars licensed in Northern Ireland. In a survey of vehicle excise duty evasion carried out in 2004, the estimated evasion in traffic in the private and light goods tax classes (cars and light vans) in Northern Ireland was 6 per cent.

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was collected from vehicle excise duty for all vehicles in Northern Ireland in the last period for which figures are available. [18105]

 
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Angela E. Smith: For the Financial Year ended 31 March 2005, £127,469,900 was collected in vehicle excise duty in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorcycles are taxed for road use in Northern Ireland. [18106]

Angela E. Smith: At 31 December 2004, there were 27,326 motorcycles licensed in Northern Ireland.

Warm Homes Scheme

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to invite tenders for the management of the Warm Homes Scheme when the current contract runs out. [18668]

Mr. Hanson: The current contract for managing the Warm Homes Scheme, which expires in June 2006, has an option for a two-year extension. My Department will shortly consider whether to apply this option or to re-tender the contract.

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects that targets will be set for the current year for the Warm Homes Scheme in Northern Ireland. [18669]

Mr. Hanson: The target for the current financial year, as set out in the Department's 2005–06 Corporate and Business Plan, is to improve energy efficiency in 8,250 private sector homes through the Warm Homes Scheme.

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of the extension of the Warm Homes Scheme to cover more categories of people in fuel poverty. [18670]

Mr. Hanson: The Warm Homes Scheme is targeted to assist the most vulnerable members of our society in fuel poverty. Within its current budget allocation, any extension of the scheme beyond its current limits would, clearly, lessen its impact and effectiveness. I have no plans, therefore, to extend the scheme at present but Iwill continue to keep the situation under review.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcohol Licences

Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment the Government have made of whether the cost of appealing against a decision to grant an extended licence for the sale of alcohol is deterring people from doing so. [18498]

James Purnell: The fee that is payable to the magistrates court upon lodging an appeal, under schedule 6 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980, is £23.50 inclusive. I do not believe that this is prohibitively high. Occasionally, additional costs may be awarded against an appellant at the magistrate's discretion if an appeal is considered vexatious or frivolous. The advice of the Magistrates Association and the Justices Clerks Society is that the awarding of costs for a licensing appeal should be an exception and not a rule. We would therefore not expect residents who are appealing to be penalised.
 
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Archaeology and Heritage

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government has taken to involve and interest young people in (a) archaeology and (b) heritage; and if she will make a statement. [17769]

Mr. Lammy: We are working with DfES , English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) to promote the educational value of the contemporary and historic built environment as a learning resource for schools, to engage teachers; young people, and the wider community.

Each year more than half a million school children visit English Heritage sites free of charge and over 400 family events are organised, from re-enactments to experience days. English Heritage supports the Council for British Archaeology in running National Archaeology Week during which, this year, an estimated 100,000 people took part.

Astroturf

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what safety guidelines the Government has issued in relation to the use of Astroturf pitches by children and young adults. [18618]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England has produced guidance materials in partnership with the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) which define the standards considered acceptable for the procurement and construction of multi-use games areas and synthetic turf pitches. The guidance includes health and safety considerations and is primarily aimed at pitches designed for community use. The material complements existing technical guidance available from Sport England, SAPCA and the Governing Bodies of sport. The guidance is available on the Sport England website: www.sportengland.org/muga_part1.pdf. I am arranging for copies of the guidance to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Minister for Sport has had with (a) Hammersmith and Fulham council and (b) the Fulham Football Club Community Sports Trust in relation to their plans to astroturf an area of Bishops Park, London, SW6; and if she will make a statement. [18619]

Mr. Caborn: None. We are aware that a planning application has been submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council to construct a multi-use artificial sports pitch and playing surface for community use at Bishop's Park. Sport England has been consulted on the planning application as a statutory consultee.

Burns Inquiry

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the Football Association on the Burns Inquiry; and if she will make a statement on implementing her recommendations. [18507]

 
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Mr. Caborn [holding answer 17 October 2005]: I have had a number of discussions with the Football Association about Lord Burns' Structural Review of the FA.

It is very important that the FA responds effectively to the demands of the game in the 21st century and Lord Burns' report provides a firm foundation for real progress to be made. It is vital that the FA takes full advantage of this opportunity and that they take up the challenge and implement the recommendations expeditiously.

I will be watching closely the implementation process while respecting that this was an independent review and that it is for the FA to implement Lord Burns' recommendations.

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