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14 Nov 2005 : Column 1022W—continued
Medical Students
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many medical students have studied in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; and how many were entrants from (a) the independent and (b) the state education sector. [25777]
Angela E. Smith: Total student enrolments on medicine courses at Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions which lead towards eligibility to register for practice as a doctor in each year since 2000.
| Academic year | Enrolments on first courses degree medicine |
|---|---|
| 2000–03 | 887 |
| 2001–02 | 915 |
| 2002–03 | 914 |
| 2003–04 | 918 |
The Department for Employment and Learning does not hold data on entrants to HEIs according to type of institution previously attended.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the overall cost to public funds of all non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last five years. [22856]
Angela E. Smith: The cost to the public purse of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by Departments in the NI Administration and the Northern Ireland Office is set out in the following table:
| Current expenditure | Capital investment | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 1,369.4 | 91.0 |
| 2002–03 | 1,644.8 | 63.5 |
| 2003–04 | 1,662.6 | 95.5 |
| 2004–05 | 1,683.4 | 119.0 |
| 2005–06 | 1,847.1 | 175.2 |
PFI Schools
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) controlled, (b) maintained and (c) integrated sector schools have been built in Northern Ireland using private finance initiative schemes in each year since 2001; and where each is located. [25782]
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Angela E. Smith:
There have been three controlled schools and one maintained school built in Northern Ireland using the private finance initiative. Three of these have become operational since 2001. Wellington College, Belfast and Balmoral High School, Belfast,
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both controlled schools, opened in January 2002 and St. Genevieve's High School, Belfast, a maintained school, opened in February 2002.
In addition, PPP schemes have been announced each year since 2001 as follows:
(52)Includes maintained and voluntary grammar schools.
Procurement Policy
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) he and (b) another Minister was advised of the impact in terms of the valid consideration of wider policy objectives consistent with EU rules of the Procurement Policy Review commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive. [24738]
Angela E. Smith: Following a review of public procurement, the new procurement policy was announced in the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2002. The overall aim of the policy is to achieve best value for money" in the procurement of goods, works and services over the lifetime of a contract. Best value for money does not mean the lowest initial cost. It means securing a procurement that meets the user's needs and achieves a balance between quality and cost throughout the life of the asset. Within this definition the policy allows for the consideration of wider policy objectives into procurement, that meet the tests of need, affordability and cost-effectiveness and comply with the UK's EC and international obligations.
All Northern Ireland Ministers are very aware of the concept of best value for money" in the context of public procurement in Northern Ireland and Lord Rooker, through chairmanship of the Procurement Board, has specific responsibility for procurement policy,
Regional Rates
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much and what percentage the regional rate has changed in each of the last 20 years. [25164]
Angela E. Smith: The following table gives the increases in pence and in percentage terms in the domestic and the non-domestic regional rates from the 1986–87 financial year.
(53) Domestic Rate Aid Grant increased from 12p to 94p due to Chancellor's Budget in line with the Great Britain Community Charge reduction.
(54) Not applicable—non-domestic revaluation (4th general revaluation)
(55) Not applicable—non-domestic revaluation (5th general revaluation)
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Royal Mail
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Royal Mail on the recent removal of local post office services within Northern Ireland to private premises. [11114]
Angela E. Smith: There have been no such discussions. Decisions on individual closures and conversions of directly managed (Crown) post offices are operational and commercial matters for Post Office Ltd.
Sentencing Framework
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the conclusions of the review on the sentencing framework in Northern Ireland. [27762]
Mr. Hanson: A summary of the responses to the public consultation on the review of the sentencing framework was published on the Northern Ireland Office website in September 2005. Policy options are currently under consideration. I will make an announcement in due course.
Social Care Studies
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals commencing social care study in the Province (a) failed to complete and (b) completed their university course in each of the last five years. [24905]
Angela E. Smith: The information is as follows:
| Academic year | Students gaining social work qualifications |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 420 |
| 2000–01 | 508 |
| 2001–02 | 448 |
| 2002–03 | 486 |
| 2003–04 | 389 |
The Department does not hold data, by subject area, on those students who fail to complete or on students who complete the course but fail to gain the qualification.
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