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14 Nov 2005 : Column 1013W—continued
Teachers (Assaults)
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many assaults there have been on (a) male and (b) female teachers in the Province in each of the last 10 years. [25788]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Education does not collect the requested information. However, from the 2002–03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspensions have been gathered annually from each Education and Library Board. The following table illustrate the number of suspensions for verbal abuse of, and physical attacks on, staff for the 2002–03 and 2003–04 school years:
It should be noted that these figures relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended. A split by gender is not available.
These figures are available on the Department's website at http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/21-pupils_parents-pg/pupils_parents-suspensions_and_expulsions_pg.htm. Statistics are not yet available for the 2004–05 school year.
Brownlow College, Portadown
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reasons are for the refusal to fund the development proposal for a sixth form proposed by Brownlow Controlled Integrated College in Portadown; and if he will make a statement. [23171]
Angela E. Smith: An examination of the proposal from Brownlow Integrated College did not convince the Department that sufficient consideration and planning had been given to the issue.
The College proposed to initially offer 10 academic 'A' level courses, which are also available in various combinations through other local post-primary and further education providers. The Department has also reservations about the viability of the sixth form and the proposal failed to provide sufficient statistical evidence to support the view that numbers could be sustained.
Business Aid
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses in the Dungannon district have been grant-aided by Invest Northern Ireland during (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how much financial aid was granted; and how many new jobs were created as a result. [25527]
Angela E. Smith:
The number of businesses and amount of financial assistance offered within Dungannon district council area during 2002–03 and 2003–04 is presented in table 1 as follows:
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Invest NI measures employment change within its active client base. During the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 there was a net change in employ merit of 247.
In addition to this support, 181 offers of assistance were made to new businesses through the Start a Business Programme (SABp), which is jointly administered by Invest NI and Enterprise Northern Ireland. Details are provided in table 2 as follows:
Civil Service
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage change in civil servant salaries in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last 10 years. [25224]
Angela E. Smith: The annual pay rises awarded to (a) the Northern Ireland civil service and (b) the Northern Ireland Office in each year since 1995 are as follows:
| NICS below the senior civil service | NIO below the senior civil service | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | (51)4.65 | 3.49 |
| 2003 | 3.67 | 3.0 |
| 2002 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 4.85 | 4.8 |
| 2000 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 3.97 | 3.5 |
| 1998 | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| 1997 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 1996 | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| 1995 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
(51) 16 month pay deal
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil service posts there were in each Department, agency and non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland at (a) April 2004 and (b) April 2005; how many such posts he expects there to be in each case by April 2006; and if he will make a statement. [25837]
Angela E. Smith:
The number of civil service posts, expressed as whole time equivalent staff-in-post plus vacancies, in each of the 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the NIO, and their agencies at April 2004 and April 2005, and the expected number at April 2006 are set out in the following table.
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With the exception of two non-departmental public bodies (highlighted in the table) figures relating to
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NDPBs have not been included as they are not civil service posts.
Notes:
1. DARD April 2006 expected reduction mainly due to creation of Agri-Food Bio-Sciences Institute (AFBI) as a non-departmental public body (NDPB) affecting about 700 staff. DARD Agencies: Forest Service and Rivers Agency.
2. DETI Agencies figure refers to the NDPB Health and Safety Executive for NI which is staffed by civil servants.
3. DRD Agencies: Roads Service and Water Service.
4. DOE Agencies: Driver and Vehicle Licensing NI, Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, Environment and Heritage Service and Planning Service.
5. DFP Agencies: Business Development Service, Land Registers for NI, NI Statistics and Research Agency and Rate Collection Agency.
6. DHSSPS Agencies figure includes Health Estates (Agency) and the NDPB Mental Health Commission which is staffed by civil servants.
7. DCAL Agencies: Ordnance Survey NI and Public Record Office NI.
8. DSD figures include staff working on DWP services (Belfast Benefit Centre, CSA Eastern Business Unit and Paid Order Store, Lisahally) which are fully funded by DWP. DSD Agencies: Child Support Agency and Social Security Agency.
9. NIO figures exclude all home civil service posts, but include all temporary staff as time did not allow detailed analysis to exclude temporary staff not blocking permanent posts. The NIO Agencies: NI Prison Service, Youth Justice Agency, Forensic Science for NI, and the Compensation Agency.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total number of civil service posts in the Northern Ireland civil service was in (a) April 2004 and (b) April 2005; and what his working assumption is for the number of such posts in April 2006. [25838]
Angela E. Smith: The total number of civil service posts, expressed as whole time equivalent staff-in-post plus vacancies, in the Northern Ireland civil service on the requested dates was as follows;
| Total number of civil service posts | |
|---|---|
| April 2004 | 33,443 |
| April 2005 | 32,834 |
The figures in the table relate to the 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the NIO, including their agencies, but exclude home civil service staff and staff in non-departmental public bodies,
The working assumption is that the numbers of posts will continue to reduce to an estimated level of around 31,584 in April 2006.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2005, Official Report, columns 108–09W, on Northern Ireland Civil Service, which departments employed those people referred to in the recruitment figures under the heading 'Northern Ireland Civil Service'. [22934]
Angela E. Smith: The following table provides details of appointments to departments for the year 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.
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