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16 Nov 2005 : Column 1325W—continued
Energy Efficiency
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets he has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve these targets. [17737]
Mr. Hain: The Department proposes to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings by 15 per cent. by 2010–11 relative to 1999–2000 consumption.
For the purposes of securing this reduction, the Department's energy consumption in its key buildings is monitored and managed by a Building Energy Management System. In addition the Department carries out minor projects to improve energy efficiency across its estate.
This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 Departments of the devolved Administration.
Equality Commission
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Equality Commission has offered advice to local councils in Northern Ireland that (a) have undertaken and (b) are undertaking article 55 reviews of their work force. [28459]
Angela E. Smith: I understand that the chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Ms Evelyn Collins, has written to the hon. Gentleman in the following terms:
The Equality Commission offers advice to all employers to ensure they are facilitated to comply with their duties under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998. This includes ensuring local councils are provided with relevant advice to conduct their Article 55 Reviews."
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland uses in ascertaining whether employers have a work force whose religious make-up may require the use of the phrase 'we particularly welcome applications from . . . ' in recruitment advertising. [28460]
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Angela E. Smith: I understand that the chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Ms Evelyn Collins, has written to the hon. Gentleman in the following terms:
The Commission recommends that employers consider the use of equality statements in job advertisements particularly welcoming applications from the Protestant or Roman Catholic community where that group is under-represented in the workforce and also among applicants for employment."
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for assistance with complaints of discrimination in employment and non-employment have been received by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in each year since its inception. [28982]
Angela E. Smith: I understand that the chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Ms Evelyn Collins, has written to the hon. Gentleman in the following terms:
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland considered the following applications for assistance with complaints of discrimination in employment and non employment in each year since its inception:
Farm Accidents
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children aged under 16 years have (a) died and (b) suffered serious injury in farm accidents in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [28371]
Angela E. Smith: A total of 17 individuals aged less than 16 years have died as the result of farm accidents in Northern Ireland during the last 10 years.
The breakdown by parliamentary constituency is as follows:
| Parliamentary constituency | Number of individuals |
|---|---|
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 4 |
| West Tyrone | 3 |
| Newry and Armagh | 2 |
| East Londonderry | 2 |
| South Down | 2 |
| Mid Ulster | 2 |
| Upper Bann | 1 |
| North Antrim | 1 |
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland does not hold statistically reliable data for individual serious injury accidents in this age category, However the Social Survey of Farmers and Farm Families conducted in 2001–02 found that 44 people, aged less than 16 years, on farms sustained injury that required professional medical attention. The study was conducted throughout Northern Ireland and results in this category are not sub-divided by parliamentary constituency.
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Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals aged 65 years and over have (a) died and (b) suffered serious injury in farm accidents in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [28372]
Angela E. Smith: A total of 22 individuals aged 65 years and over have died as the result of farm accidents in Northern Ireland during the last 10 years.
The breakdown by parliamentary constituency is as follows:
| Parliamentary constituency | Number of individuals |
|---|---|
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 8 |
| Newry and Armagh | 5 |
| East Londonderry | 2 |
| Lagan Valley | 2 |
| Upper Bann | 2 |
| Mid Ulster | 2 |
| North Antrim | 1 |
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland does not hold statistically reliable data for individual serious injury accidents in this age category. However the Social Survey of Farmers and Farm Families conducted in 2001–02 found that 71 people, aged 65 years and over, on farms sustained injury that required professional medical attention.
The study was conducted throughout Northern Ireland and the results are not analysed by parliamentary constituency.
Health and Safety
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is being given by the Government to small and medium-sized enterprises (a) to ensure that they are aware of their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Northern Ireland Order 1978 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2002 and (b) to help them carry out appropriate health and safety risk assessments in the workplace. [28408]
Angela E. Smith: The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland established a small business advisory service, Health and Safety Works Northern Ireland (HSWNI), on 1 April 2004. This was in direct response to a need expressed by the small business community in Northern Ireland, The service, which is available at no cost to business, provides advice, guidance and support to small businesses to help them meet their health and safety obligations, including those relating to risk assessment.
Healthy Eating
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated in the Province for education and advising parents on the benefits of a healthy diet for their children in 2005–06. [22638]
Angela E. Smith:
It is not possible to specifically identify the level of funding allocated for education and advising parents on the benefits of a healthy diet for their children, as this involves a range of nutrition education initiatives and health promotion services.
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In 2005–06, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety provided £550,000 to support nutrition and healthy eating, the Food Standards Agency allocated £75,000 to non-school based nutrition education and the Department of Education has allocated up to £10,000 to inform parents about the new nutritional standards for school meals and also provide them with general healthy eating advice for their children. This advice outlines the new standards and explains why they are needed in schools. It also outlines how parents can be involved by, for example, encouraging their children to eat healthier options at home and elsewhere. In addition, nutrition education forms part of the plans of Investing for Health Partnerships, Health Action Zones and a number of the Healthy Living Centres. The Big Lottery's Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke and Cancer programme has also supported a number of nutrition education initiatives in recent years.
A range of primary care professionals offer advice on healthy eating as part of their health promotion role. In particular, advising parents on the benefits of a healthy diet for young children is part of the universal core programme for child health screening and surveillance, which is delivered by midwives, health visitors and school nurses, but also includes a wider range of professionals such as community dentists.
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