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29 Nov 2005 : Column 390W—continued
Quangos
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are members of quangos in Northern Ireland; and what the total cost of quangos in Northern Ireland was in each of the last 10 years. [31289]
Angela E. Smith: Information on the number of members of each non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland, and their cost (shown as total gross expenditure) since 1998, can be found in the Cabinet Office annual publication Public Bodies", copies of which are held in the Library. Information for 2004 and 2005 is also detailed on the on-line searchable database, accessible through the Cabinet Office website:
Recycling
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to increase the amount of household waste that is recycled annually in Northern Ireland. [32135]
Angela E. Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) promotes the recycling of household waste in two main ways: grant support to district councils and through education and awareness programmes. Its work has yielded encouraging results, with the overall household recycling rate in Northern Ireland growing from 10 per cent. in 2002 to 18.9 per cent. in 2004–05. All district councils in Northern Ireland have increased their household recycling rates. Two district councils have achieved a household recycling rate of almost 40 per cent.
Since 2001, EHS has provided councils with £36 million via the Waste Management Grant Scheme to help procure infrastructure and assist with operating costs associated with meeting their Waste Management Plans. In 2004–05, £10 million was distributed under the scheme which will finish in 2006–07. Future support for councils will be reviewed in light of the new Waste Management Strategy which is currently out for consultation and is scheduled for publication in March 2006.
The Wake up to Waste" campaign succeeded in raising the profile of waste management among the general public. EHS continues to reinforce the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" messages and develop new initiatives aimed at achieving behavioural change through education and awareness.
Roads Service
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding was received from the European Parliament for the Streetwise Project of the Roads Service in Northern Ireland. [31937]
Mr. Woodward:
The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
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Letter from Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Peter Robinson, dated 29 November 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding how much funding was received from the European Parliament for the Streetwise Project of the Roads Service of Northern Ireland. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
Streetwise is one of seven Euro-Regional projects concerned with the provision of traffic control facilities and travel information across the Trans European Road Network (TERN). The projects have been in existence since 2001 and the current programme of funding by the European Union is due to finish at the end of 2006. Representatives from the seven projects meet frequently and there is an annual conference at which developments within the projects are highlighted. I understand the project chairpersons are working closely to ensure that European Funding for this work will continue post 2006.
Funding from the European Union for the current project is provided to offset the costs of studies (50% funding) and implementation of facilities (8% funding). The balance of the costs is met from the national budgets of the project partners.
To date, Roads Service has received £345,077.37 funding from the European Union for the Streetwise Project.
School Buildings
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to announce the new build programme for the remaining primary schools in the Coleraine area which require new school buildings. [32563]
Angela E. Smith: The North Eastern education and library board and the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools are responsible for identifying the need for school major capital works schemes for their respective sectors, and presenting their proposals to the Department of Education. The Department does not currently have any schemes in planning for primary schools in the area. The Board has identified in its current five-year strategic investment plan, several schemes for replacement primary schools in the Coleraine area though none of them have as yet been presented to the Department for consideration.
Sewerage Treatment
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated completion date is for the sewerage treatment works that will service the village of Drumahoe, Londonderry. [32221]
Mr. Woodward: The chief executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 29 November 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the estimated completion date for the sewage treatment works that will service the village of Drumahoe, Londonderry (32221). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
As part of the Drumahoe Sewerage Scheme, Water Service plans to decommission the existing wastewater treatment works at Drumahoe. It will be replaced with on-site storm water storage facilities and a new sewage pumping station that will transfer flows to the upgraded Culmore Wastewater Treatment Works. The contract has been awarded and the scheme is programmed to commence on site in January 2006. It will take 9 months to complete.
Special Schools
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many special schools in Northern Ireland have closed since 1998. [31974]
Angela E. Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) on 10 November 2005, Official Report, column 762W.
Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) Order
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 makes provision for the sale of all of the land on the Stormont Estate; and what assessment he has made of the merits of selling land as well as buildings under these proposals. [31248]
Angela E. Smith: The proposed Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 removes, in part, the restrictions that currently prevent the Department of Finance and Personnel selling or disposing of the lands within the Estate.
For the purposes of the legislation a proposed boundary has been drawn around a designated part of the Estate occupied by some civil service office buildings. The designated area includes Castle Buildings, Craigantlet Buildings, Dundonald House, Hillview Buildings, Massey House and all the sectional buildings. The extent of the land to be transferred with the buildings is limited to what constitutes reasonable access to, and around, the buildings and the land currently used for car parking.
The draft legislation and proposed boundary is currently subject to public consultation.
Tax Credits (Helpline)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a helpdesk information technologist specialist in the Regional Inland Revenue Office in Belfast to deal with computer errors in tax credit claims from Northern Ireland. [17127]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
The existing Business Help Desk serves both Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It liaises regularly with Northern Ireland Help Desk Liaison Officers.
There are no current plans to set up new arrangements solely for Northern Ireland.
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