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21 Nov 2005 : Column 1638W—continued
Driving Offences
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were stopped for not wearing their seatbelts in each of the last five years, broken down by Police Service of Northern Ireland district; and what type of fine was imposed upon each individual. [28869]
Mr. Woodward: An overall figure for the number of people stopped is not available as the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not maintain a record of those who were warned or given advice. Enforcement activity in respect of failure to wear seatbelts is largely by way of non-endorsable fixed penalty notices and figures in relation to this have been placed in the Library. Figures relating to prosecutions for failure to wear a seatbelt are not available for 2000–03, however I can confirm that the number of prosecutions in 2004 was 1,756.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were fined for using mobile phones while driving in each year for which records are held, broken down by Police Service of Northern Ireland district. [28870]
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Mr. Woodward: The following table provides details of the number of fixed penalty notices issued for the use of a mobile phone while driving.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been charged with offences in relation to the use of mobile phones while driving since the new measures were introduced, broken down by district command unit. [24143]
Mr. Woodward: The following table provides details of the number of fixed penalty notices issued for the use of a mobile phone while driving.
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Hospital Staff (Attacks)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working hours have been lost at each accident and emergency hospital in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years due to staff being injured or suffering stress following attacks by members of the public. [30286]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Hospitals (Bed Occupancy)
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average percentage occupancy of beds at the (a) Antrim Area Hospital, (b) Whiteabbey Hospital, (c) Mid-Ulster Hospital and (d) Craigavon Area Hospital was over the last 12 months. [30216]
Mr. Woodward: Percentage bed occupancy rates during 2004–05 for Antrim Area Hospital, Whiteabbey Hospital, Mid-Ulster Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital are shown in the following table.
| Hospital | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Antrim Area Hospital | 76.4 |
| Whiteabbey Hospital | 94.4 |
| Mid-Ulster Hospital | 74.5 |
| Craigavon Area Hospital | 79.9 |
Note:
Day case admissions are excluded from the calculation for bed occupancy.
Source:
Departmental Information Return KH03a
Junk Food Advertising
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government plans to restrict the advertising of crisps and cola drinks in Northern Ireland. [30219]
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Mr. Woodward: Advertising is regulated throughout the UK by the Advertising Standards Authority. The UK Government, in the public health White Paper, Choosing Health", committed itself to securing, by 2007, a comprehensive and effective strategy for action to restrict the advertising and promotion to children of foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) will, therefore, in the early part of 2006, be issuing a public consultation on broadcast advertising and promotion of food to children. As broadcast advertising is not a devolved matter, the consultation will be carried out on a UK-wide basis.
Knife Crime
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what measures are in place to tackle knife crime in Northern Ireland; [28774]
(2) what consultations he has held on stronger measures to deal with knife crime in Northern Ireland; [28775]
(3) what plans he has to prevent the sale of knives to people under 18 in Northern Ireland; [28776]
(4) what steps he has taken to prevent the carrying of knives in public by (a) people under 18 and (b) others in Northern Ireland; [28777]
(5) whether he has plans to introduce powers to give schools means to stop pupils from bringing knives into schools in Northern Ireland; [28778]
(6) how many crimes occurred in (a) North Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland where knives were used in each year between 1997 and 2001–02; [28779]
(7) what plans he has to amend the powers of the police in Northern Ireland in relation to the stop and search of people suspected of carrying knives. [28780]
Mr. Hanson: Figures relating to knife crime are as follows:
Notes:
1. Figures relate to offences where a knife was involved in the incident—it is not known how the knife was actually used.
2. Figures prior to 1998 were collected on different counting rules and are not directly comparable.
3. Figures from 2001–02 onwards are based on the computerised crime recording system ICIS and comparisons with previous years are not appropriate.
4. Figures for 2002–03 to 2004–05 are provided for completeness.
5. Figures for 2004–05 are provisional and may be subject to revision.
Source:
Central Statistics Unit, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
It is a criminal offence to have a knife in public without good reason or lawful authority and it is an offence to manufacture, sell or lend an offensive weapon
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or, for example, a flick knife. The police have a number of stop-and-search powers do deal with persons suspected of carrying knives. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (PACE) police have powers to stop and search a person or vehicle where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that they will find any article in relation to an offence of having an article with a blade or sharp point—with the exception of certain folding pocket knives—in a public place. The Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 allows police to stop and search any person or vehicle for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments whether or not they have reasonable grounds for suspicion in order to prevent serious violence in a locality. It is also an offence to have a knife or offensive weapon in a school, and the police may enter a school to search for such items. My Officials have been in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to knife crime and legislation and following consultation with the Home Office I have decided to extend to Northern Ireland those provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill which will raise the age at which a person may lawfully be sold a knife from 16 to 18 years of age. I have no immediate plans for further change but I will keep the law in this sensitive and difficult area under review.
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