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14 Nov 2005 : Column 1017W—continued

Coroner Services

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases the remains of deceased people from Foyle constituency have been retained in Belfast for three days or more since the amalgamation of the Derry Coroner's District with the Greater Belfast Coroner's District. [24730]

Mr. Hain: The Derry Coroner's District amalgamated with the Greater Belfast Coroner's District on 26 September 2005. From 26 September until 4 November 20 bodies from the Derry area were referred for post mortem examination. One body was held for more than three days, a suspicious death which required a second post mortem by a pathologist for the defence.
 
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Disability Services

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of funding that makes up the learning disability programme of care is allocated to each aspect of the programme. [25213]

Mr. Woodward: The answer is detailed in the following table.
Learning disability 2003–04 expenditure

Sector/Speciality namePercentage of funding
Acute
Mental Handicap—Adults and children22.8
Community
Allied Health (OT, Physiotherapy, SLT, Podiatry)3.3
Community Medical / Dental1.5
Direct Payments1.8
Incontinence Products0.1
Nursing Costs2.2
Personal Social Services
Day care Facilities20.8
Grants, Goods and Services4.8
Domiciliary Care3.8
Nursing Homes11.3
Adult Residential Homes17.1
Children's Residential Homes2.5
Social Work5.1
Supported and Other Accommodation2.9
Total spend100.0

 
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Early Release

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners who have applied for early release following the signing of the Belfast Agreement for crimes committed prior to that agreement have been (a) released and (b) refused release. [25688]

Mr. Woodward: Under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, 447 prisoners have been released early; 127 applications for release under the Act have been unsuccessful. Among those 127 there were 14 prisoners who were released, having served their sentence, before the Sentence Review Commissioners reached a decision on their application.

Eglinton Primary School

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on (a) (i) pupil numbers and (ii) condition of the building at Eglinton primary school and (b) the prospects for a new school building. [27243]

Angela E. Smith: The current enrolment of Eglinton primary school is 212 pupils.

The Department inspected the school in July 2004 and is aware that it has a number of shortcomings. Among those noted were poor condition of walls and windows; need for re-wiring; re-plumbing and replacement of toilets. There is a serious shortage of storage space. There are three mobile classrooms.

The Western education and library board has submitted an economic appraisal to the Department for a capital major works scheme. While the school's needs are recognised it is not possible at this stage to say when a new building would be approved.

Grammar Schools

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals who were considered to come from the (a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) other communities have attended each grammar school in the Province in the last 10 years. [25796]

Angela E. Smith: The information has been placed in the Library.
 
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Housing

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes were sold to the tenant and subsequently repurchased by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive from the tenant, in each of the past five years. [27021]

Mr. Hanson: The information requested for each of the last five financial years (1 April to 31 March each year) is as follows;
Number
2000–0112
2001–0233
2002–0331
2003–0418
2004–0511
2005–06 (9 November 2005)20

Insurance Premiums

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the change in insurance premiums for small and medium-sized businesses in 2004–05. [27765]

Angela E. Smith: A survey of business insurance premiums in Northern Ireland is undertaken annually by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment. The last survey was undertaken at the end of 2004 and showed a reduction of 16.1 per cent. in the average (median) insurance premiums for small and medium businesses compared to the previous year.

The next set of results from the survey which will provide an estimate of the change in insurance premiums between 2004 and 2005 will be published in spring 2006.

Irish League Premier Division

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in funding the improvements in facilities for customer safety and comfort at each of the Irish league premier division grounds. [27019]

Mr. Hanson: Responsibility for funding improvements to facilities for customer safety and comfort at Irish league premier division grounds rests with the venue operators. Assistance in funding such improvements is available from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI). SCNI has already provided the following assistance:
£

ClubAward total
Portadown Football Club331,192
Glentoran Football Club267,597
Cliftonville Football Club275,000
Coleraine Football Club225,000
Ballymena UTD Football Club245,000
Linfield Football Club256,590
Newry City Football Club290,000
Glenavon Football Club330,000
Institute Football Club41,900
Limavady United Football Club30,000
Dungannon Swifts Football Club25,366
Larne Football Club15,000
Lisburn Distillery Football Club12,384
Ards Football Club40,000
Total2,385,029

 
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SCNI is currently considering applications for further assistance to improve customer safety and comfort at three Irish league premier division grounds.

Literacy and Numeracy

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees in his Department have requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2001. [25784]

Mr. Hanson: Since 2001, one member of staff in the Northern Ireland Office has requested training to improve their literacy skills. The applicant was interviewed to assess their training requirement and an appropriate course was identified with a local college. Ongoing support is being provided to the student. No staff have sought assistance with numeracy skills although basic numeracy skills are included in the Department's financial training courses.

M2

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of changes in commuter travel time at peak times from junction 5 of the M2 motorway to Belfast city centre over the last five years. [27015]

Mr. Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 14 November 2005:

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