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7 Nov 2005 : Column 234W—continued

Road Traffic Offences

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 114W, on road traffic offences, what 'intelligence led basis' means in this context; and how the operational command units choose the roads which they police. [24179]

Mr. Woodward: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, who will write to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
 
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School Transport

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much he has allocated for school transport in Northern Ireland for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07. [24177]

Angela E. Smith: Funding for home to school transport is provided by each Education and Library Board out of its overall budget for support services to schools, and is subject to the approval of the Department. The Revised Resource Allocation Plans provided by the boards show that they expect to spend approximately £65 million on home to school transport in 2005–06. Allocations to boards for 2006–07 have yet to be determined and will be subject to the outcome of Budget 2005.

Schools (Viability Criteria)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used in assessing the viability of schools in terms of pupil numbers; and whether the same criteria are applied across all educational sectors in Northern Ireland. [22328]

Angela E. Smith: The pupil viability criterion for new primary schools seeking recognition for giant-aid purposes is a minimum first year intake of 15 pupils in Belfast and Londonderry and 12 pupils elsewhere. The pupil viability criterion for new post-primary schools seeking recognition for grant-aid purposes is a minimum year eight intake of 50 pupils.

To qualify for capital funding, primary schools must achieve a minimum first year intake of 20 pupils in Belfast and Londonderry and 15 pupils elsewhere for three years. Post-primary schools must achieve minimum year eight intakes of 50 pupils for three years.

These criteria apply to all proposals for new schools and to all educational sectors. Pupil numbers Are not the sole criteria considered by the Department of Education in approving funding for a new school.

There are no minimum viability numbers set for existing schools. However, the department has considered it appropriate to review the position of a primary school if its enrolment is below 60 pupils and a post-primary school if its enrolment is below 300 pupils. The department is currently reviewing the viability criteria for schools.

Sexual Equality

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken in Northern Ireland to promote sexual equality in the workplace in relation to terms and conditions of employment, particularly in relation to pay and opportunities for promotion. [22803]

Angela E. Smith: There is a robust framework of sex equality legislation in place in Northern Ireland which prohibits discrimination on the ground of sex in terms and conditions of employment, including promotion and equal pay between men and women.
 
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A range of employment rights is also in place for working parents, such as extended paid maternity leave and the right to request flexible working for parents of young children or disabled children under 18.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has a duty to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and provides advice and assistance in relation to employment issues. The Commission, in partnership with Opportunity Now Northern Ireland, facilitates the Equal Pay Forum, made up of employers and trade union officials, which raises awareness and promotes best practice on equal pay issues.

Smoking-related Deaths

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many smoking-related deaths there were in Northern Ireland in the last four years; and how many people he estimates smoked regularly in each age group in each of the last four years. [22812]

Angela E. Smith: Smoking history is rarely recorded on death certificates. Estimates can however be made of the number of deaths attributable to smoking, by using information on the contribution that smoking makes to specific conditions recorded at death. The Health Development Agency ¹ published the most recent estimates for Northern Ireland in 2004. This report estimated that over the period 1998–2002, an average of 2,300 deaths were caused by smoking each year in Northern Ireland.

The most recent survey estimates of the percentage of the population of Northern Ireland who smoke are given in the following table.

¹ Twigg, L., Moon, G., and Walker, S. The smoking epidemic in England, Health Development Agency, 2004 (http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=502811).

Table: Prevalence of smoking by age in Northern Ireland, 2002–03 and 2004–05 Percentage

	Financial year
Age group	2002–03	2004–05
16–24	32	29
25–34	32	55
35–44	27	32
45–64	26	26
65 +	14	12
All adults aged 16+	26	26

Source:
Continuous Household Survey

Sports Council

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of Sports Council funding for minority sports in Northern Ireland in 2005–06. [24847]

Mr. Hanson: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funding to sport. The Sports Council does not use or recognise the term minority sports" in deciding funding levels. Figures on Sports Council funding levels to sport in Northern Ireland in 2005–06 are not yet available.
 
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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 ambulance crews and their vehicles in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [22636]

Mr. Woodward: The costs incurred by the Northern Ireland ambulance service resulting from attacks on ambulance crews and their vehicles in the last three years are not readily identifiable. The trust is currently developing a method of accurately capturing these costs.

While the number of attacks has reduced in the last three years, attacks on front-line ambulance staff and their equipment not only endangers them, but also reduces their ability to deliver vital services which could ultimately result in putting the lives of patients lives needlessly at risk.

Teachers

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to increase the number of students taking up teacher training programmes. [24178]

Angela E. Smith: The level of intakes to teacher education courses is determined annually by the Department of Education, with the aim of maintaining a reasonable match between the numbers being trained and the projected numbers of teaching vacancies. Pupil numbers are on the decline and the anticipated number of teachers required annually reflects that trend. Student intakes are therefore being reduced accordingly.

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish a report on the work of the Teachers' Health and Well-Being Strategy Group; and if he will make a statement. [25047]

Angela E. Smith: I have been informed that the chair of the Teachers' Health and Well-being Strategy Group expects to reconvene the group in mid-November when a revised draft of the strategy document will be tabled. The report will then be presented to management side of the Teachers' Negotiating Committee, who the group reports to, before being placed on the agenda for formal discussion at the Teachers' Negotiating Committee. Until these procedures are complete I am unable to specify a particular date for publication.

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who has been consulted during the consultation process being carried out by the Teachers' Health and Well-Being Strategy Group; and when he expects to receive a report on the outcome of the consultation. [25048]

Angela E. Smith: There has not been a formal consultation process at this stage.

The Teachers' Health and Well-being Strategy Group was established by, and reports to, the management side of the Teachers' Negotiating Committee and it is the management side who will decide on any consultation process when they receive the report from the strategy group.
 
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Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Protestant and (b) Catholic teachers are employed in (i) the state controlled sector, (ii) the Catholic maintained sector and the (iii) integrated sector; and if he will make a statement. [25162]

Angela E. Smith: The Department of Education in Northern Ireland does not hold statistical information on the religious breakdown of teachers, nor is it aware of any bodies that do.

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