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5 Dec 2005 : Column 1071W—continued
Electricity Supply
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Northern Ireland Electricity regarding the possibility of disruption to the electricity supply in the event of severe winter conditions over the next few months. [34443]
Angela E. Smith: My officials are in regular contact with Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) about the maintenance of the electricity supply in Northern Ireland.
NIE is confident that it has a network and response capability sufficiently robust to meet our winter needs, and that there is access to sufficient stocks of generating fuels or alternatives at the power stations to avoid disruption in supply over the winter months.
Electrical Apprenticeships
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms are of the Electrical Training Trust's contract to manage all entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship Programme in Northern Ireland. [33971]
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Angela E. Smith: Electrical Training Trust's (ETT) contract is to manage all entrants to electrical installation on the Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship programme in Northern Ireland is in line with terms and conditions contained in all training organisation contracts managing the Jobskills programme. The contract covers areas such as: proper financial accounting for public funds; skills and experience of delivery staff; health and safety; and insurance and liability issues.
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electrical installation modern apprenticeship trainees there were (a) for each location and (b) for each provider in each year since 1996 in Northern Ireland. [33972]
Angela E. Smith: Data for the period 1996–98 is not available because of disproportionate cost. Since 1998 the Electrical Training Trust (ETT) is the training provider which has been contracted by the Department to manage all entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship programme. The following table provides details on the number of young people, by geographical area, starting each year.
(45) Figures are up to 28 October 2005 for 2005–06 cohort.
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Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reduced availability of electrical installation modern apprenticeships in Derry and the North West of Northern Ireland. [33973]
Angela E. Smith: There has been an overall reduction in the number of entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills modern apprenticeship over the past number of years, in particular in the North West of Northern Ireland. While there has been no change in the contract delivery arrangements, it is recognised that there has been a shift in the economic climate which has contributed to a reduction in the overall employer base in the North West. However, I will wish to inquire further and will write to the hon. Gentleman.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what energy efficiency measures have been taken by Government Department offices in Northern Ireland in 2005. [30471]
Angela E. Smith: Northern Ireland Departments have adopted the targets for improvements in energy performance contained in the 2003 Government White Paper Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy". Departments are accommodated in buildings provided and managed by the Department of Finance and Personnel, which conducts a continuous programme of improvements of building energy performance in pursuit of the aforementioned targets.
Since 2003, within the office estate planned actions have included conducting surveys to identify and implement cost-effective energy conservation measures; converting suitable buildings from oil or electric heating to natural gas; and purchasing green electricity, where this represents value for money. Similar actions have been taken in the specialised buildings within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) also manages the Public Sector Energy Campaign, monitoring energy use in all public buildings, and providing energy performance returns to Departments for attention. DFP also manages the Central Energy Efficiency Fund which provides financial support for the introduction of cost-effective measures for reducing carbon emissions from public buildings.
Official vehicle fleets are now generally diesel fuelled, and the official car pool has purchased two petrol/electric hybrid cars. Local plans are also in place covering car travel.
Executive Programme Funds
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reinstate the Executive Programme Funds which were abolished in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [33535]
Angela E. Smith:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 1980W.
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Hypothermia
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland over the age of 65 years died as a result of winter cold weather in each of the last five years. [32226]
Angela E. Smith: For the years 2000 to 2004, the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland of people aged 65 and over, where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate, is presented in the following table.
| Deaths with mention of hypothermia | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
(46) Deaths with a mention of hypothermia defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 991.6 for the year 2000 and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68.
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