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28 Oct 2005 : Column 642W—continued
Diamorphine Prescriptions
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drug addicts were prescribed diamorphine in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by health board or trust. [21166]
Mr. Woodward: No drug addicts were prescribed diamorphine for the treatment of their addiction in the last five years in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have licences to prescribe diamorphine. [21167]
Mr. Woodward:
General Practitioners, and other medical practitioners, are not required to have a licence to prescribe diamorphine for the purposes of relieving
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pain from organic disease or injury. However, a licence is required to prescribe, administer or supply diamorphine in the treatment of drug addiction. No such licences have been issued in Northern Ireland.
Disability Living Allowance
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland (a) claimed and (b) received disability living allowance payments in each of the last five years. [21643]
Mr. Hanson: The figures requested are shown in the table.
| Claims Received | Claims Awarded | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2001 | 23,072 | 14,628 |
| 2001–2002 | 23,604 | 13,703 |
| 2002–2003 | 23,770 | 12,940 |
| 2003–2004 | 23,409 | 15,668 |
| 2004–2005 | 22,733 | 11,773 |
Dispersal Orders
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dispersal orders have been made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 in Northern Ireland. [21359]
Mr. Hanson: The provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 extend only to England and Wales. Dispersal orders are not provided for in Northern Ireland legislation.
Doctors
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors in Northern Ireland are unemployed; and how many vacancies there are for doctors in the NHS. [21644]
Mr. Woodward: Information on the number of unemployed doctors in the NHS is not available.
Information on the number of vacancies for doctors in the NHS is provided as follows.
Notes:
1.General Practitioner vacancies are not included in the table as the concept of a General Practitioner vacancy no longer exists under the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract. In the case of a single-handed practice, if the General Practitioner retires, resigns or is not available to practice the Primary Care Organisation (PCO) has an obligation to ensure that services are provided through contract with a new or existing provider.
2.A current vacancy is an unoccupied post, which at 31 March 2005 was vacant and which the organisation was trying to fill. A long-term vacancy is an unoccupied post which at 31 March 2005 had been vacant for three months or more, and which the organisation was actively trying to fill.
3.WTE: Whole-Time Equivalent.
Source:
NI HSS Trusts
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Domestic Violence
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government plan to take to increase protection for victims of domestic violence. [21623]
Mr. Hanson: On 10 October 2005 I launched the Northern Ireland regional strategy and accompanying action plan Tackling Violence at Home". The strategy sets out the Government's long-term commitment to address the serious problem of domestic violence and abuse.
A key aim of the strategy is to improve services and support for all victims of domestic violence and to advise victims about these services. The action plan accompanying the strategy sets out in more detail our specific plans, but these include media campaigns to encourage more victims to report incidences of domestic violence, informing victims about the remedies available to them under both the civil and criminal law and having criminal justice agencies to publish and implement victim policies.
These initiatives build on a number of other recent important protections introduced through legislation. Under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, the PSNI can now arrest persons for common assault offences. In addition, from 15 November, the maximum penalty in respect of a breach of a protective order will be increased from three to six months imprisonment.
Finally, by March 2006, we propose to produce guidelines for issue to all Northern Ireland hon. Members and Members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly both to raise awareness but also to provide them with information and advice about how to handle approaches from victims.
Driving Licences
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have (a) a full driving licence and (b) a provisional driving licence in Northern Ireland. [19559]
Angela E. Smith: At 18 October 2005 there were 893,867 holders of a current full driving licence and 138,721 holders of a current provisional licence in Northern Ireland.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) men and (b) women over the age of 70 years hold driving licences in Northern Ireland. [21648]
Angela E. Smith:
At 24 October 2005 there are 27,373 females and 45,690 males, aged 70 or over, who hold either a provisional or full current driving licence.
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EAL
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet teachers of English as an Additional Language (EAL) to discuss the development of an EAL policy for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [20638]
Angela E. Smith: Neither the Secretary of State, nor myself have received any formal requests to meet with teachers of English as an Additional Language (EAL).
My Department has recognised the need for a policy for children who have English as an additional or second language and who have significant difficulties with English. At present officials are in the early stages of developing a policy, which should be in place during 2006. In the interim, work is under way to bring about early improvements to the current provision.
During the policy development, there will be full ad meaningful consultation with all interested parties including teachers of English as an additional language. It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to meet with teachers at this stage, as they will have the opportunity to contribute to the formulation of a EAL policy during the consultation process.
Education and Library Boards
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many education and library boards have yet to submit finalised accounts for the 2004–05 financial year. [21233]
Angela E. Smith: All five boards have submitted their accounts for the 2004–05 financial year to the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) and the Department.
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance is given to education and library boards in respect of bills received after theend of the financial year that occurred during that year. [21729]
Angela E. Smith: The Department expects the board to account for bills received after the end of the financial year that occurred during that year in accordance with standard resource accounting best practice and to prepare their accounts as set out in the Accounts Direction issued to them on 22 July 2004 and in Government Accounting Northern Ireland (GANI).
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long after the financial year has ended education boards are required to adjust accounts for payments incurred in that financial year. [21730]
Angela E. Smith:
Education and Library Boards are required to submit their annual accounts to the Department and the Comptroller and Auditor General (C and AG) by 30 June following the end of the financial year. The accounts are then subject to audit. If any material errors are found during the course of the audit, the accounts may require adjustment up to the date of approval of the accounts by the accounting officer and the C and AG.
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