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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1473W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
CCTV
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which groups have been consulted regarding possible CCTV cameras in West Belfast; and on what dates meetings have taken place. [31935]
Mr. Hain: The Chief Constable has advised me that West Belfast District Command Unit has consulted all sections of the local community including clergy, elected representatives, statutory and voluntary groups and the Northern Ireland Office. This consultation process took place over the past three years, and is on-going.
Fair Recruitment
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Northern Ireland what account the Equality Commission takes of recent recruitment when examining the religious breakdown of the public sector work force in Northern Ireland. [34424]
Angela E. Smith: I understand that the chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, MsEvelyn Collins, has written to the hon. Gentleman in the following terms:
The Equality Commission considers that recent recruitment is an important component when examining the overall trends in the composition of the public sector work force in Northern Ireland. Public authorities are required to monitor the composition of their work force, applicants, appointees, leavers and promotees. This information is provided to the Commission on an annual basis. The Commission monitors overall compositional trends and makes this information public in its annual monitoring report, Profiling the Northern Ireland Workforce". In relation to individual employers the Commission monitors employment trends through the annual monitoring returns and in greater detail through the article 55 Review process where employers analyse their own employment trends at least once every three years."
Fisheries Patrols
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patrols were undertaken by the Fisheries Conservancy Board patrol boat around the Foyle and Bush rivers on Northern Ireland's North Coast area in the last year for which figures are available; what the (a) nature and (b) extent of co-operation with the Loughs Agency patrol vessel about these patrols was; and on how many days during the 2005 angling and netting season the patrol boat was not in use. [35356]
Mr. Hanson: In 2005, 21 boat patrols were carried out on Northern Irelands North Coast. These patrols occurred during the peak of the Foyle netting season and as such involved regular contact with the Foyle patrol boat. The North Coast patrol boat is not involved in angling enforcement. During the netting season in theFCB jurisdiction, the boat was not in use for approximately 108 days.
Home Heating Oil
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the cost of home heating oil in Northern Ireland. [34555]
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Angela E. Smith: The cost of home heating oil in Northern Ireland is determined by a competitive market and, on average, has been lower than the equivalent cost in the remainder of the United Kingdom.
The competitive market reflects developments in the international oil market. Global oil prices have been high and volatile over the past eighteen months as a result of very strong growth in global demand and accompanying pressure on supplies. Most recently, disruptions to US Gulf of Mexico production and refining capacity, as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, led to prices rising to record levels in early September 2005. These developments were reflected in a corresponding record increase in the price of home heating oil in Northern Ireland.
A recovery of global oil production and refining facilities, together with a slight reduction in demand has resulted in a subsequent moderation of prices. This, in turn, has led to a corresponding reduction in the average price of home heating oil in Northern Ireland.
Isle of Man (Fishing Jurisdiction)
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) correspondence he has had with the Isle of Man Government in relation to the extent of its fishing jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement. [35317]
Angela E. Smith: There have been no discussions or meetings between the Isle of Man Government and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministers in relation to extent of the Isle of Man's fishing jurisdiction. DEFRA Ministers have had correspondence from the Isle of Man Government regarding their proposal to extend the fishing jurisdiction around the island from three to 12 miles. DEFRA consulted stakeholders on this proposal in the summer and a decision on the outcome of the consultation will be communicated to the Isle of Man Government in due course.
Maritime Safety
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what publicly funded training is available for lifeguards in Northern Ireland. [18227]
Angela E. Smith: The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) UK awards the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification at accredited centres across the United Kingdom including many in Northern Ireland. Provision is mainly based in local leisure centres and pool lifeguards can also train for the National Aquatic Rescue Standard.
The RLSS UK also awards the National Beach Lifeguard Qualification and the Assistant Beach Lifesaver Award which are offered through local lifeguard clubs.
Motoring Offences
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for driving while not insured in each of the last 10 years, broken down by constituency. [34549]
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Mr. Hanson:
Prosecution data are not readily available broken down by Northern Ireland constituency. The statistics included within the response are based on the 12 police divisions for the years 1994 to 1999 and police district command units for 2000 to 2003. Police district command units became operational in April 2001. However, for the purposes of comparability, calendar year 2000 data are also disaggregated by DCU, rather than police division. It is not possible to disaggregate data by DCU for years prior to 2000.
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With the exception of overall totals, figures in table 1 should not be compared with those in table 2, as table 1 figures relate to the police division to which an offence was reported, while those included within table 2 relate to the police district command unit in which an offenders address falls.
Data beyond 2003 will become available in early 2006.
(3)Figures relate to the police division to which an offence was reported. Missing data relate to those offenders for which police division information is not available.
Notes:
1.Offences include 'no insurance' and 'causing no insurance'.
2.Police stations included within brackets are the divisional headquarters.
3.Figures are based on the principal rule, thus only the most serious offence for which an offender is charged is recorded.
(4)Figures relate to the police district command unit in which an offender's address falls. Missing data relate to those offenders for which DCU information is not available.
Notes:
1.Offences include 'no insurance' and 'causing no insurance'.
2.Figures are based on the principal rule, thus only the most serious offence for which an offender is charged is recorded.
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