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6 Dec 2005 : Column 1270W—continued

Road Accidents

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have been (a) injured and (b) fatally injured while crossing roads outside schools in the past five years. [32102]

Mr. Woodward: The information is unavailable in the format requested. The Police Service of Northern Ireland records details of road traffic collisions by road name and not specific locations e.g. schools.

Seat Belts

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the seat belt wearing rate was in each province in Northern Ireland (a) in the last period for which figures are available and (b) in each month since 1990. [34754]

Angela E. Smith: Seat belt surveys are carried out by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on behalf of the Department of the Environment. The series began in 1994 and was conducted biannually, in April and October, until 1997 from when it has been conducted in April only. The survey was again carried out in both April and October in 2001 on a one off basis to inform the launch of a new seatbelt publicity campaign. The nature of the data collection means that it is not possible to provide figures at a sub-regional level. The following table provides details of seat belt wearing rates in each year since the surveys began in 1994.
Northern Ireland seat belt surveys 1994–2005

	Percentage of car occupants wearing seatbelts
	Driver	Front Seat	Back Seat	Overall wearing rate percentage
April 1994	88	88	52	82
October 1994	86	86	53	82
April 1995	85	86	50	80
October 1995	84	83	49	78
April 1996	85	85	51	80
October 1996	86	86	54	81
April 1997	85	86	56	81
April 1998	87	88	61	84
April 1999	86	86	62	83
April 2000	87	87	65	84
April 2001	86	86	67	84
October 2001	88	89	71	87
April 2002	90	89	72	88
April 2003	90	89	75	88
April 2004	91	90	77	89
April 2005	93	92	81	91

Sexual Offences and Robberies

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) sexual offences and (b) robberies have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total. [31988]

Mr. Woodward: The following tables show the number of sexual offences and robberies reported to East Belfast and Castlereagh DCU's in each year since 1998 together with the number of prosecutions and convictions relating to sexual offences and robberies in the period 2000 to 2003 (2000 being the earliest date and 2003 the most recent date for which this information is available). As prosecutions and convictions data cannot be linked to offences reported data, it is not possible to provide one as a meaningful percentage of the other.
Table 1: Number sexual offences and robberies reported

	East Belfast sexual offences	East Belfast robberies	Castlereagh sexual offences	Castlereagh robberies
1998–99	85	98	54	34
1999–2000	71	124	26	39
2000–01	48	132	35	50
2001–02	69	180	51	60
2002–03	51	241	43	98
2003–04	68	167	32	71
2004–05	104	72	27	43
Total	496	1014	268	395

 
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Table 2: Number of persons prosecuted and convicted for sexual offences and robbery

East Belfast DCU
	Sexual Offences		Robbery
	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions
2000	9	5	15	15
2001	7	6	12	11
2002	9	2	14	14
2003	5	3	15	15
Total	30	16	56	55
Castlereagh DCU
	Sexual Offences		Robbery
	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions
2000	5	4	2	2
2001	5	4	4	3
2002	2	2	3	2
2003	3	2	3	3
Total	15	12	12	10

The data in table 2 are based on the police district command unit in which an offender's address falls.

Smoking Ban

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on health inequalities of implementing the proposed ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Northern Ireland; [34723]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact on health inequalities of implementing an (a) comprehensive and (b) partial ban on smoking in enclosed public places. [35006]

Mr. Woodward: Evidence from elsewhere suggests that, in addition to protecting the public and employees from exposure to second-hand smoke, comprehensive controls help to reduce smoking prevalence which is greater among lower socio-economic groups. During the course of my fact-finding visits to Dublin and New York in July, I was struck by the strength of the argument that partial controls would, in effect, create a two-tier work force whereby some employees would be protected and others would not.

There is widespread support for comprehensive controls in Northern Ireland with local trades' unions stressing the need to protect all of their members in the hospitality sector, many of whom are among the lower paid.

Sudden Cardiac Death

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the national service framework recommendations on sudden cardiac death; and what plans he has to implement them in the Province. [34652]

Mr. Woodward: The Department has not formally adopted the national service framework on coronary heart disease (NSFCHD), but recognises the need, as outlined in chapter 8 of the NSFCHD, to provide timely
 
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treatment to patients with irregular heart rhythm or who are at risk of sudden cardiac death. Many of these patients are young and may suffer from inherited cardiac disorders.

Services for people with inherited cardiac disorders are provided by consultants at the Regional Genetics Centre, Belfast City hospital, and a cardiologist at the Royal Group of Hospitals who has particular expertise in this area. Staff at the two trusts work together to provide quality care to patients and families affected by inherited cardiac disorders. They are currently exploring the potential of developing a more integrated service in line with recommendations contained in chapter 8 of the NSFCHD.

Talented Athlete Initiative

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to introducing a programme in the Province similar to England's talented athlete support scheme. [33271]

Mr. Hanson: Athletes in Northern Ireland can access funding to support their development through their Governing Bodies in two ways:

(1) By inclusion in the athlete support scheme operated by the lottery.

(2) Under the Governing Body plan submitted to Sports Council for Northern Ireland's sports development unit.

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, with Sports Council for Northern Ireland, is presently considering further arrangements for the identification of sporting talent. This is being addressed in the context of the strategy for sport and the Northern Ireland strategy for London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Taxis

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time is in Northern Ireland for a taxi licence plate to be issued following a successful public service vehicle test. [34559]

Angela E. Smith: The average waiting time for issuing taxi plates following a successful public service vehicle test is eight days.

Water Rates

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the system of water rates will be based on the level of local rates levied on a domestic property. [33494]

Mr. Woodward: Water charges will not be based on the level of local rates levied on a domestic property. However, it is planned that domestic water charges will be introduced from April 2007 on the basis of a hybrid charging regime. This will mean that separate charges for water and sewerage services will be based on a standing charge, together with a variable charge based on the discrete capital value of the property. The charges will be levied and collected by the water company and will be entirely separate from local rates.

The Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) is currently valuing all domestic properties in Northern Ireland as part of the reform of the domestic rating system. The
 
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capital value used in the calculation of water and sewerage charges will be the valuation determined by VLA.

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