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23 Nov 2005 : Column 1969W—continued
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
7. Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has held with victims groups in Northern Ireland on the proposals in the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. [29670]
Mr. Hain: In the last two weeks my ministerial colleagues and I have met with representatives of the RUC George Cross Foundation, the RUC George Cross Widows Association and RUC George Cross Parents Association, and also with the Police Federation, the Superintendents Association and the Prison Governors Association and with representatives of the four main Christian denominations, who also have an interest in the concerns of victims.
My right hon. friend the Prime Minister will also meet representatives from the RUC George Cross Parents Association and the RUC George Cross Widows Association later this afternoon, at the request of the hon. Member for North Down.
10. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. [29673]
Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill was introduced on 9 November. The Second Reading debate is this afternoon.
This Bill will enact the proposals published in May 2003 to address the unresolved issue of on-the-run terrorist suspects.
Smoking Ban
8. Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had regarding plans to ban smoking in public places in Northern Ireland. [29671]
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Mr. Woodward: Prior to announcing controls to protect workers in Northern Ireland by April 2007, we received significant support for comprehensive controls from the public, consulted widely and fully with trade unions—all but one totally supported comprehensive controls—and discussed the impact on the employment and hospitality sectors in Dublin and New York.
Paramilitaries
9. Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the criminal activities of members and former members of Northern Ireland's paramilitary organisations. [29672]
Mr. Woodward: The IMC report published on 19 October provided a clear assessment of the current activities of paramilitary groups, up to the end of August.
This report recognises the PIRA statement as 'very significant' and that
11. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of paramilitary violence have been attributed to (a) loyalist and (b) republican organisations in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [29674]
Mr. Woodward: We condemn all violence and intimidation. The most recent published information can be found in the 7th IMC Report.
Security Situation
12. Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [29675]
Mr. Woodward: We continue to see dramatic improvements in the security situation. Paramilitary attacks also continue on a downward trend. The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report published in October stated that the initial signs following the Provisional IRA statement were encouraging.
EU Environmental Directives
13. Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's compliance with EU environmental directives. [29676]
Angela E. Smith:
The Department of the Environment has cleared a significant backlog of both EU and domestic legislation, introducing over 50 pieces
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of subordinate and primary legislation. Full compliance with the main water quality Directives will be achieved through completion of the on-going major investment programme in wastewater treatment works by the Department for Regional Development.
NICE Guidelines
14. Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with whom he has held discussions in relation to extending National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines to Northern Ireland. [29677]
Mr. Woodward: Proposals for applying NICE guidance in Northern Ireland were originally set out in the 2001 consultation document Best Practice—Best Care". Responses to that consultation indicated widespread support for a link with NICE which would ensure application of the Institute's guidance in Northern Ireland where appropriate. My Department has been discussing the detail of these arrangements with NICE, the Department of Health in London, and local health and social services interests.
Integrated Education
15. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the potential role of integrated education in the peace process. [29678]
Angela E. Smith: Integrated education is an important building block towards creating the conditions necessary for long-term peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
We recognise that the integrated sector, together with all sectors of education, has a vital role to play in shaping a shared future for Northern Ireland.
It is our policy to encourage and facilitate integrated education through the recognition of and response to parental demand.
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Acute Hospitals
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acute hospital beds in Northern Ireland are to be taken out of service within the next six months. [31049]
Mr. Woodward: The Eastern Health and Social Services Board has recently announced plans to shift resources from the hospital sector to provide better, more effective services in the community. This shift equates to 109 beds and is fully aligned with best practice. It represents a significant step in building and shaping services in a modern way, close to people's homes with less reliance on the hospital sector.
The Northern Health and Social Services Board also has plans to invest in a number of services aimed at reducing demand for hospital services but these plans are still under development.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acute hospitals are proposed for closure in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [31050]
Mr. Woodward: Under Developing Better Services, none of the current hospitals offering acute services will be closed—rather, they will be adapted to play their part in a new configuration of service provision.
Alcohol-related A and E Admissions
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of admissions to each hospital accident and emergency department in Northern Ireland has been linked to alcohol in each of the last five years. [28203]
Mr. Woodward: Information is not available on the number of attendances at hospital accident and emergency departments that are linked to alcohol. However, the number of admissions to hospital via an accident and emergency department is available.
The table shows the percentage of total admissions to each hospital trust, via the accident and emergency department, that had an associated alcohol-related diagnosis for each of the last five years for which data are available.
(2) Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation for admissions. It is possible that any individual could be admitted to hospital more than once in any year and will thus be counted more than once as an admission.
Source:
Hospital In-patients System.
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