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23 Nov 2005 : Column 2001W—continued

Influenza

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance his Department has given to general practitioners in Northern Ireland in drawing up contingency plans to deal with a potential influenza pandemic; and what further assistance he plans to give. [28207]

Mr. Woodward: In March 2005 the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, posted on its website the Northern Ireland Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan. On 19 October a revised, updated version of the plan replaced the original one.
 
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Among other things, the plan calls on Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts to develop their own plans at local levels. The plan describes in detail the responsibilities of boards/trusts and the decisions which they will be required to make. By their nature these involve close collaboration with GPs in planning a co-ordinated response to an outbreak.

On 21 October the Department wrote to GPs and a wide range of other health professionals with advice on the distinction between avian flu and pandemic, enclosing with the letter a set of commonly asked questions and answers. On 7 November a further letter was issued enclosing a key facts summary on pandemic flu and a supply of leaflets to be passed on to patients seeking information about pandemic flu. Both letters also referred recipients to the Department's website to view the updated plan, which will of course continue to be revised in the light of developments.

The Department will continue to communicate directly with GPs and other health professionals about pandemic flu as and when it is deemed appropriate to do so.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what restrictions there are on how early in the year pharmacies in Northern Ireland can order influenza vaccinations. [28163]

Mr. Woodward: The Department does not place any restrictions on pharmacies in relation to the time in the year when they may order vaccine for seasonal influenza. Pharmacists are free to order flu vaccine as soon as it is marketed by the manufacturers for the anticipated seasonal virus profile as determined by the World Health Organisation.

Local Government Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) by what means his Department scrutinises expenditure by the Local Government Audit Office; [30247]

(2) what the running costs of the Local Government Audit Office in Northern Ireland have been in each of the last three years; and how many staff are employed in the office, broken down by grade. [30248]

Angela E. Smith: The Local Government Audit function is part of the Northern Ireland Audit Office. Questions relating to its resources are matters for the Comptroller and Auditor-General who will write to the hon. Lady

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the revenue support grant was in each council within Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [30209]

Angela E. Smith: The revenue support grant (or resources element of General Grant) allocated to district councils, in each of the last five years, is set out in the following table.
General grant—resources element (new statutory formula introduced 1 April 2003)

	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Antrim	0	0	0	0	0
Ards	1,166,169	1,503,641	1,026,207	1,051,866	1,255,948
Armagh	1,939,216	2,174,051	1,772,494	1,816,813	1,783,504
Ballymena	0	0	0	0	0
Ballymoney	1,041,025	1,134,277	1,027,602	1,053,295	1,052,084
Banbridge	1,111,205	1,285,246	937,049	960,479	953,758
Belfast	0	0	0	0	0
Carrickfergus	439,796	431,090	37,731	38,675	264,650
Castlereagh	0	0	0	0	0
Coleraine	0	0	0	0	0
Cookstown	720,363	746,680	948,270	971,980	972,907
Craigavon	0	132,945	0	0	0
Derry	444,782	969,890	1,208,865	1,239,091	1,276,683
Down	1,927,449	2,090,630	1,682,751	1,724,826	1,683,189
Dungannon and South Tyrone	488,830	535,916	1,055,047	1,081,427	930,916
Fermanagh	727,552	830,231	1,452,352	1,488,666	1,437,935
Larne	0	0	141,133	144,662	24,202
Limavady	1,168,411	1,125,562	1,274,940	1,306,818	1,308,476
Lisburn	0	0	0	0	0
Magherafelt	1,152,006	1,244,922	1,422,268	1,457,831	1,466,528
Moyle	681,581	633,175	601,358	616,394	585,645
Newry and Mourne	3,109,549	3,080,160	1,910,908	1,958,688	2,043,239
Newtownabbey	0	0	0	0	0
North Down	0	0	0	0	0
Omagh	1,016,053	1,144,138	1,413,193	1,448,528	1,407,084
Strabane	1,846,723	1,938,926	2,084,832	2,135,961	2,050,252
Total	18,980,710	21,001,480	19,997,000	20,497,000	20,497,000

 
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Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effect of the forthcoming Reform of Public Administration on capital expenditure projects by local councils in Northern Ireland. [30473]

Angela E. Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced his decisions on the Review of Public Administration on the 22 November 2005. In matters concerning capital expenditure projects, councils would be expected to exercise prudence and not enter into commitments that would impose an unnecessary burden on ratepayers, now or in the future.

Looked-after Children

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have left care in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many of these had no formal qualifications. [30541]

Mr. Woodward: Information regarding the numbers of children who ceased to be looked after and the educational attainment of these children is only available relating to children aged 16 or over. The latest available information is detailed in the following table.
Children aged 16 or more who ceased to be looked after and the numbers that ceased to be looked after with no formal qualifications (year ending 31 March)

	Children who ceased to be looked after	Children who ceased to be looked after with no formal qualifications
2001–02	199	103
2002–03	206	95
2001–04	405	198

Medical Schools/Junior Doctors

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) medical school places and (b) junior doctor posts there have been in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990. [28846]

 
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Mr. Woodward: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
(a) Number of medical school places

	Medical student intake
2005–06	250
2004–05	188
2003–04	169
2002–03	170
2001–02	169
2000–01	161
1999–2000	160
1998–99	154
1997–98	169
1996–97	152
1995–96	148
1994–95	143
1993–94	140
1992–93	141
1991–92	143
1990–91	134

Note:
Excludes overseas students (approximately 12 per annum).





(b) Number of junior doctor posts (information only available from 1999)

	Number
August 2005
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	546
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	806
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	230
Total	1,583
August 2004
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	529
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	789
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	224
Total	1,542
August 2003
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	471
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	772
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	219
Total	1,462
August 2002
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	462
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	693
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	217
Total	1,372
August 2001
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	423
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	673
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	196
Total	1,292
August 2000
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	404
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	658
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	189
Total	1,251
August 1999
Specialist Registrars (SpRs)	383
Senior House Officers (SHOs)	643
Pre-Registration House Officers (PRHOs)	183
Total	1,209

 
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