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3 Nov 2005 : Column 1366W—continued
Climate Change Targets
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the contribution that action by local authorities in Northern Ireland will make to meet climate change targets. [22762]
Angela E. Smith: Northern Ireland contributes to the UK climate change targets. There are no separate emission reduction targets for Northern Ireland.
Data are available on emission trends at regional and local level. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published estimates of carbon dioxide emissions for 2003 by local authority area in the UK on 21 October 2005. The Northern Ireland figures were attached.
These are experimental statistics subject to some limitations and uncertainties and it is too early to use them as performance indicators for local areas.
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Crosshill Quarry
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which authority permitted the setting aside of the conditions imposed by the planning appeal tribunal on the disposal of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin. [15259]
Angela E. Smith: At the time of the waste licensing tribunal in July 1984, Antrim borough council was the waste licensing authority for the Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin site. The tribunal recommended that the council should approve the waste licence and apply a number of conditions for the burial of the railway carriages under Article 12 of the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978. The Department is not aware of the extent to which the conditions were met.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin (a) commenced and (b) was completed. [15260]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of the Environment is not aware of the exact dates for the beginning and completion of the railway carriages' relocation within Crosshill Quarry. The contractors intended to complete this work during November and December 2003. However, it is the Department's understanding that, once work had commenced, the weight of the waterlogged carriages necessitated cutting them into three sections to allow their movement and relocation. As a result, the work took longer than originally anticipated. Documentary and photographic evidence obtained by departmental staff during two site visits in February 2004 recorded the completion of the relocation work.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an investigation into the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [15261]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of the Environment is not currently undertaking an investigation into the dismantling of the railway carriages. The Department has carried out soil and water tests at and around the quarry and the results have shown that there is no cause for concern with regard to asbestos contamination of the surrounding area. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has completed an investigation into the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry and no investigations are currently being undertaken.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Environment and Heritage Service was responsible for monitoring the dismantling of carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin; and what monitoring was carried out (a) before, (b) during and (c) after the railway carriages were dismantled. [15262]
Angela E. Smith:
The Environment and Heritage Service's water management unit visited the site, prior to and after the dismantling of the carriages. Water quality analysis has indicated that there is no cause for concern in relation to water pollution from the site. The asbestos
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levels detected in two of the five water samples collected in November 2004 were not of a level considered hazardous to humans to drink or to aquatic organisms. The Environment and Heritage Service's waste management and contaminated land unit did not monitor the site before 19 December 2003 as Antrim borough council was then the statutory waste licensing authority. The waste management and contaminated land unit monitored the site during February 2004 and has photographic evidence that the dismantling and reburial of the carriages had been completed. The unit also undertook detailed soil sampling of the quarry floor in February 2005 and found small quantities of white asbestos, for which remedial action was taken.
Disability Support
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to promote disability support in Northern Ireland. [22754]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Employment and Learning provides support for people with disabilities through the provision of guidance and information on employment and training. The Department's Disablement Advisory Service (DAS) works closely with employers, health professionals and disability organisations to promote its services and programmes to people with disabilities.
Divorce
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children there are in each region whose parents are divorced ranked in descending order; and what percentage of all children this represents in each case. [21181]
Angela E. Smith: The numbers of dependent children living with a divorced lone parent, as recorded in the 2001 Census, are given in the table. These constitute a subset of all children with divorced parents and will not include, for example, children of divorced parents living with other relatives or those living in communal establishments.
Source:
2001 Census of Population
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Dyslexia
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was given in each of the last five years to dyslexia organisations in Northern Ireland. [22801]
Angela E. Smith: The following table provides details of funding provided directly to dyslexia organisations.
Eaga Partnership
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made against the Eaga Partnership in each of the last three years in Northern Ireland. [22991]
Mr. Hanson: Records relating to the number of complaints made to Eaga Partnership Ltd are only available for the period April 2003 to March 2005.
The information for this period, which relates to complaints made to Eaga Partnership Ltd, is as follows:
| Number of complaints | |
|---|---|
| April 2003 to March 2004 | 3 |
| April 2004 to March 2005 | 1 |
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