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1 Nov 2005 : Column 1024W—continued
Regional Rates
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average percentage change in regional rates in Northern Ireland is expected to be over the next two financial years. [23235]
Angela E. Smith: The Draft Priorities and Budget 2006–08, published on 25 October 2005, sets out proposed increases in the Regional Domestic Rate of 19 per cent. in 2006–07 and 6 per cent. in 2007–08.
For the Non-Domestic Regional Rate an increase of 3.3 per cent. is proposed for each year.
These proposals are now subject to a period of public consultation, ahead of final decisions in early December.
Renewable Technologies
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made with the provision of support for the development of renewable technologies in Northern Ireland. [22753]
Angela E. Smith: The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, which was introduced on 1 April 2005, is the main support mechanism for stimulating the supply of electricity from renewable sources and is available across all renewable technologies.
In addition, the draft Budget proposal, announced on 25 October 2005 by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, created a new Environment and Energy Fund to accelerate the development of renewable technologies.
The Fund will complement and significantly enhance existing support initiatives by allocating £10 million in 2006–07 and £25 million in 2007–08 for capital investment in renewable energy with a further £5 million and £10 million in the respective years being earmarked for encouraging research and development of renewable forms of energy. This will help secure energy from biomass, waste, geothermal, solar and tidal stream power sources and will also encourage scope for the use of bio-fuels. Furthermore, it will, in turn, raise innovation and skills levels and also offer significant opportunities for the creation of new rural businesses involved in renewable energy supply. Additionally, householders will be assisted to incorporate renewable energy within their homes thereby reducing both their dependence on fossil fuels and also overall energy costs.
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Schools
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote sport in schools in Northern Ireland. [22662]
Angela E. Smith: Physical Education is compulsory for all pupils because of its important contribution to health and fitness. Schools are encouraged to give pupils at least two hours of PE a week and provide a range of sporting activities to develop all pupils and make the subject enjoyable. The Sports Council's Youth Sport programme supports a number of projects across primary and post-primary schools to help young people develop in a range of sports.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools are broadband enabled in Northern Ireland. [22751]
Angela E. Smith: Of a total of 1,189 grant-aided schools, 1,181 have broadband access. The Department of Education does not hold information relating to broadband access in the 17 independent schools.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the level of sectarianism in schools in Northern Ireland; and what measures he proposes to take to tackle the issue. [22795]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Education does not make a formal assessment of sectarianism in schools. However, it believes that education has a key role in addressing the causes of sectarianism, which continues to be a challenge in Northern Irish society.
Schools are currently required to teach the cross-curricular themes of Education for Mutual Understanding and Cultural Heritage, which aim to foster improved community relations. This will continue with the introduction of Citizenship Education as a key theme of the revised curriculum.
To support this Scheme, the Department funds the Schools' Community Relations Programme which aims to encourage schools to bring together young people from across the community divide through programmes of activity designed to promote community relations in schools.
The Department is also committed to progressing the recommendations for education as set out in A Shared Future". The recommendations include co-ordinated action involving schools, teacher training, curricular development and the Youth Service to promote better relations among young people.
Services (Older People)
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps have been taken towards the improvement of services for older people in Northern Ireland. [21423]
Angela E. Smith:
The Older People's Strategy, Ageing in an Inclusive Society" was launched in March 2005 and includes an Implementation Plan which
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identifies actions for Northern Ireland Government Departments aimed at, among other things, improving the services of older people.
A review of progress will be undertaken in mid November and I will place a report in the Library at that time.
Social Housing
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many social housing new build completions there have been in each year since 2001 in Northern Ireland. [24063]
Mr. Hanson: The number of social houses completed is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 1,763 |
| 2002–03 | 1,295 |
| 2003–04 | 854 |
| 2004–05 | 1,073 |
The figures include new build and houses purchased from the open market either in good condition or for rehabilitation, prior to letting. All are additions to social housing stock.
Social Security Agency
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) non-determined appointees there have been to the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [22932]
Mr. Hanson: It is not possible to give details of the community background of staff appointed to the Social Security Agency over the last 12 months as it is an offence under the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 (subject to specified exceptions) to disclose information on the community background of staff which has been obtained or used for the purposes of monitoring.
Staff Assaults
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs were incurred by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety resulting from attacks on front line hospital staff in (a) treatment, (b) lost working hours and (c) resignation of staff in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [22633]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Stranmillis College
Lady Hermon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation process on the governance arrangements to be adopted following incorporation of the Stranmillis College
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Equality Impact Assessment; and which organisations and individuals proposed the removal of the Transferor representatives from the Governing Body of Stranmillis. [22329]
Angela E. Smith: Following the proposal to establish Stranmillis University College as a legally independent higher education institution accountable to a corporate governing body, an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was conducted on the specific governance arrangements to be subsequently detailed in the Instrument of Government, as provided for in the then draft order. The Equality Impact Assessment was issued for public consultation in March 2005.
The organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation process were:
James Nelson and Norman Richardson (Lecturers in Religious Studies at Stranmillis University College);
The organisations and individuals that did not support continued representation by the three main Protestant Churches on the Board of Governors were:
James Nelson and Norman Richardson (Lecturers in Religious Studies at Stranmillis University College);
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