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24 Oct 2005 : Column 84W—continued
Written Questions
Ben Chapman: To ask the Leader of the House if he will introduce proposals to allow tabling and answer of written parliamentary questions during the summer recess. [19708]
Mr. Hoon:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) on 18 October 2005, Official Report, column 882W.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Air Weapons
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many air weapon offences have been committed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [21634]
Mr. Woodward: The Chief Constable has supplied the following table of statistics.
(16) These figures relate to offences where an air gun was involved in the incident—it is not known how the air gun was actually used.
Note:
PSNI record figures related to the number of crimes where an air gun has been used in the incident. Included within the air gun category are air pistol, air rifle, air gun, and ball bearing gun.
Source:
Central Statistics Unit, PSNI
Avian Influenza
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent guidance has been issued to poultry owners in Northern Ireland in relation to Avian influenza; and what discussions he has had with the Ulster Farmers Union about such guidance. [20779]
Angela E. Smith:
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland re-issued guidance to poultry producers in late August 2005 on the biosecurity precautions poultry owners should take to minimise the introduction of disease. Following
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publication of an Avian influenza risk assessment in early September 2005, the Department issued a statement providing an update on the steps it has taken to address the risk of Avian influenza entering Northern Ireland. Further revised guidance has been placed on the DARD website on 19 October 2005 and this will be disseminated to the poultry industry and will be reviewed and updated as appropriate. A series of meetings with stakeholders has been held since December 2004 to provide guidance and exchange information between Government and key industry representative bodies. The Ulster Farmers' Union have been involved in all relevant meetings to date.
Cancer
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time was that patients in the Province waited for treatment for cancer of the brain in (a) 1999 and (b) the last 12 months for which figures are available. [20062]
Mr. Woodward: Information on waiting times for cancer treatment is not collected centrally.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of women referred urgently in the last 12 months by their general practitioner with suspected breast cancer were seen by a consultant in the Province within two weeks. [20042]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is not currently available due to data quality issues. The data collection system is to be reviewed.
I refer the hon. Member to an audit of Breast Cancer Services in Northern Ireland produced by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, which is found at:
The audit reported that for patients diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2001, the majority (69 per cent.) of patients were seen within two weeks of being referred by their GP.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time was that patients in the Province waited for treatment of prostate cancer in (a) 1999 and (b) the last 12 months for which figures are available. [20063]
Mr. Woodward: Information on waiting times for the treatment of prostate cancer is not collected centrally.
I refer the hon. Lady to an audit of Prostate Cancer Services in Northern Ireland produced by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry which is found at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/nicr/pdf/publications/audit_prostate.pdf
A table containing a summary of waiting times experienced by prostate cancer patients can be found on page 17.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many surgeons at each hospital in the Province carried out more than 50 prostate operations in the last year for which figures are available. [20044]
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Mr. Woodward: Information on the number of operations carried out in Northern Ireland is available from the Hospital Inpatient System, however details of individual surgeons undertaking the operations are not collected.
The table shows the hospitals in Northern Ireland where the number of prostate operations carried out in 2004–05 (the latest year for which data is available) exceeded 50. It should be noted that more than one surgeon could be responsible for undertaking prostate operations at any one of these hospitals.
| Hospital | Number of prostate operations |
|---|---|
| Belfast City | 535 |
| Ards | 86 |
| Ulster | 103 |
| Mater | 129 |
| Downe | 84 |
| Causeway | 168 |
| Antrim | 100 |
| Craigavon | 88 |
| Altnagelvin | 292 |
Source:
Hospital Inpatient System
Cars
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cars were registered in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years. [19940]
Angela E. Smith: The number of cars registered in Northern Ireland in each year of the last 10 years is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 76,529 |
| 1995 | 81,410 |
| 1996 | 87,614 |
| 1997 | 93,870 |
| 1998 | 100,947 |
| 1999 | 99,490 |
| 2000 | 95,018 |
| 2001 | 98,789 |
| 2002 | 93,866 |
| 2003 | 97,374 |
| 2004 | 96,058 |
Cervical Screening
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when liquid-based cervical cytology screening will be introduced in the Province. [20067]
Mr. Woodward: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1221W.
Child Support Agency Management Board
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the breakdown of the Child Support Agency Management Board in Northern Ireland by religious background. [20774]
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Mr. Hanson: Information on community background of staff in the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland is contained in the Eighth Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel but is not disaggregated at this level. Copies of the report are available in the House of Commons Library.
Clinical Academics
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many clinical academics taught medical students in the Province in the last year for which figures are available. [20069]
Mr. Woodward: The last full academic year for which figures are available is 2004–05. In that year, there were 64 clinical academics involved in teaching medical students.
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