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8 Nov 2005 : Column 410W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
2012 Olympics
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to his Cabinet colleagues about attracting some of the events of the 2012 Olympic games to Northern Ireland. [25493]
Mr. Hanson: There is regular liaison with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in support of the London Bid and to maximise the opportunities for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland are represented at a senior level on the Nations and Regions Committee. I recently attended a meeting of the Sports Cabinet in Cardiff chaired by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell). At this meeting, the issue of attracting events and participation to Northern Ireland was discussed. Further discussion will continue.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in each board area have died of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [25020]
Angela E. Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in each Health and Social Services Board area in each year between 2000 and 2004 where the underlying cause of death was recorded as abdominal aortic aneurysm 1 .
1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code 171.3 and 171.4 for years 2001–04 and Ninth Revision codes 441.3 and 441.4 for year 2000.
(21) Data for 2004 is provisional.
Ards Hospital (Psychiatry)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to improve psychiatry facilities on the Ards hospital site. [24885]
Mr. Woodward: The Eastern Health and Social Services Board is developing a business case for its Primary and Community Care Infrastructure. Consideration of a full range of options for the future provision of psychiatry services on the Ards hospital site will be a major element of the business case.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many admissions there have been to the psychiatry unit at Ards hospital in each of the last five years. [24886]
Mr. Woodward: The number of admissions to the psychiatric unit at Ards hospital in each of the last five years is detailed in the following table:
| Financial year | Number of admissions |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 257 |
| 2003–04 | 398 |
| 2002–03 | 326 |
| 2001–02 | 348 |
| 2000–01 | 317 |
Source:
Ulster Hospital and Community Trust.
Benefit Fraud
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of benefit fraud in the Province in each of the last five years. [24900]
Mr. Hanson: The information requested is as follows:
The levels of benefit fraud are estimated on the basis of a programme of benefit reviews carried out on a random selection of cases selected by the Department's statisticians. The following table provides details of the estimated monetary value of fraud and the percentage of overall expenditure this represents. The estimates relate to the main benefits but do not include some benefits where the risks of fraud are believed to be small.
| Total value £ million | Value as percentage of benefit expenditure | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 46.06 | 1.5 |
| 2001–02 | 60.45 | 1.9 |
| 2002–03 | 32. 29 | 1.0 |
| 2003–04 | 36.62 | 1.2 |
| 2004–05 | 23. 74 | 0.7 |
8 Nov 2005 : Column 412W
Breast Cancer
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether breast cancer sufferers in the Province are informed immediately if they are found to be suitable for trastuzumab treatment. [24912]
Mr. Woodward: All women diagnosed with breast cancer in Northern Ireland are automatically tested for suitability for Trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment. Patients are informed of their suitability as soon as possible after the results become available.
Buckley Report
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department received Sir Michael Buckley's report on the university of Ulster; and if he will publish the report. [22643]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Employment and Learning has not received Sir Michael Buckley's report, nor does it hold a copy. As the Department passed the draft report to Sir Brian Fender last March, an official read a copy in order to ascertain whether there were any issues of accountability which were relevant to the Department.
The publication of Sir Michael Buckley's report is a matter for the university of Ulster.
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish Sir Michael Buckley's report regarding the University of Ulster. [23080]
Angela E. Smith: The publication of Sir Michael Buckley's report is a matter for the University of Ulster.
Child Protection
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that children in Northern Ireland are afforded the same legislative protection from abuse as is afforded to children in England and Wales. [25304]
The Ministerial Sub Group on Children chaired by Lord Rooker has decided that a cross departmental review of current legislation provision in England and Wales, led by OFMDFM, will be undertaken to identify gaps in the legislative provision which exist within Northern Ireland. The review will be conducted over the next few months and will include child protection legislation.
8 Nov 2005 : Column 413W
DHSSPS are already developing proposals for public consultation on new legislation, which will bring Northern Ireland closer to England and Wales in terms of strengthening a number of child protection arrangements.
All Articles (except Article 46) of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Order (NI) 2003, which introduced statutory barring and vetting as an aid to employment procedures in relation to children and vulnerable adults, commenced with effect from 1 April 2005 and brings the existing legislative framework into line with England and Wales. Officials from DHSSPS, DE and NIO are also working closely with counterparts in England and Wales on the extension of a proposed new Bichard vetting and barring scheme to Northern Ireland.
Class Sizes
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average number of pupils in primary school classes was within each education and library board in the Province in 1997. [25798]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested is as follows:
| Education and library board area | Average class size (1997–98) |
|---|---|
| Belfast | 24.3 |
| Western | 22.9 |
| North Eastern | 23.7 |
| South Eastern | 24.8 |
| Southern | 23.0 |
| Northern Ireland average | 23.7 |
Note:
Figures apply to those pupils in year 1 to year 7 only.
8 Nov 2005 : Column 414W
Community and Voluntary Sector Funding
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Department of Social Development Taskforce Report on funding for the community and voluntary sector will be published. [24852]
Mr. Hanson: In March 2005, the Government published 'Positive Steps', its response to Investing Together", the Report of the Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector. It sets out a significant agenda for change and investment to help ensure that the voluntary and community sector is better placed to cope with social and economic change and imminent changes to the funding environment. An Implementation Group consisting of Senior Officials will oversee implementation of the actions contained within the report. An Annual Report on progress will be presented to the Joint Government/Voluntary and Community Sector Forum.
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