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14 Dec 2005 : Column 2090W—continued
NORTHERN IRELAND
Alcohol-related Illness/Deaths
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths there were in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann in each of the last five years in which alcohol was the primary cause. [36385]
Angela E. Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland and Upper Bann parliamentary constituency in each year between 2000 and 2004 where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol 1
(38) For the years 2001–04 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used to define alcohol-related deaths are:
F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol;
142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy;
K70—Alcoholic liver disease;
K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified;
K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver; and
X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol.
For the year 2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used to define alcohol-related deaths are:
291—Alcoholic psychoses;
303—Alcohol dependence syndrome;
305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol;
425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy;
571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis; and
E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the annual costs resulting from alcohol-related illness in the Province. [36501]
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Mr. Woodward: In the Report, Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Northern Ireland, it was estimated that, in 1997–98, the last year for which costs are available, the social costs to the HPSS amounted to £26.8 million per year. This included the costs of occupied psychiatric and acute beds, general practice costs and responses to alcohol-related harm.
Benefits
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Upper Bann have been in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) income support and (c) jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years. [36251]
Mr. Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
| Month of May | Upper Bann disability living allowance recipients |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,372 |
| 2002 | 9,735 |
| 2003 | 10,063 |
| 2004 | 10,745 |
| 2005 | 11,230 |
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| Upper Bann income support recipients | |
|---|---|
| February 2001(39) | 9,505 |
| May 2002 | 9,762 |
| May 2003 | 9,968 |
| May 2004 | 5,522 |
| May 2005 | 5,631 |
(39) May 2001 data is unavailable.
| Upper Bann jobseekers allowance recipients | |
|---|---|
| February 2001(40) | 1,649 |
| May 2002 | 1,587 |
| May 2003 | 1,480 |
| May 2004 | 1,324 |
| May 2005 | 1,226 |
(40) May 2001 data is unavailable.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of fraud have been detected in Northern Ireland in relation to (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years. [36503]
Mr. Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
| 2001–02(41) | 2002–03(41) | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005-YTD(42) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability living allowance | 3 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 40 |
| Incapacity benefit | 76 | 80 | 110 | 133 | 117 |
| Jobseekers allowance | 264 | 279 | 520 | 470 | 349 |
(41) The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are incomplete as a number of cases have been deleted from the database in order to comply with the requirements Data Protection Act. It is not possible to quantify these cases.
(42) Ending 30 November 2005
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in relation to benefit fraud in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [36504]
Mr. Hanson: The total number of people that has been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in relation to benefit fraud in Northern Ireland from year 2001–02 to date are as follows:
| Prosecuted | Convicted | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 471 | 467 |
| 2002–03 | 335 | 322 |
| 2003–04 | 243 | 238 |
| 2004–05 | 236 | 234 |
| 2005-YTD (Ending 30 November) | 138 | 132 |
Bortezomib
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients received bortezomib within each of the health board areas in the Province in the last year for which figures are available. [36495]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what control programme operates in Northern Ireland in relation to bovine tuberculosis. [36628]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), has in place a bovine tuberculosis (TB) control programme, which aims to bring about a substantial reduction in TB disease levels in Northern Ireland. The incidence of TB has been decreasing in Northern Ireland since early to mid-2003. This trend has continued during the first ten months of 2005.
The control measures are based on a programme of testing, the slaughter of infected animals, the restriction of movements of animals to and from infected herds and surrounding herds, and the tracing of contact animals.
Following the TB policy review undertaken in 2002, DARD has introduced a number of new measures to strengthen the control of TB in Northern Ireland. The most important of these measures are tighter restrictions on overdue tests and changes to the valuation system, including the establishment of an independent appeal panel to resolve valuation disputes.
Work is also underway on the feasibility of further measures that can be introduced to control TB. This includes a pilot on the use of the gamma interferon blood test, in combination with skin testing, to assist in the detection of TB in cattle in certain circumstances, and a review of the existing arrangements for TB testing arrangements.
In relation to badgers and TB, a Badger Stakeholder Group was established in May 2004 to review all the relevant information available on badgers and to consider the potential need for a badger management
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strategy to help reduce TB levels in Northern Ireland. At present, work is being finalised on cost/benefit information relevant to Northern Ireland to assist the Group, and the results of that work will be presented to the Group at a further meeting. The Group is expected to report in early 2006. No decision will be taken on badgers in Northern Ireland until the work of the Badger Stakeholder Group has been completed.
Child Abuse
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will (a) initiate an inquiry into clerical child sexual abuse in every school in the maintained sector in Northern Ireland and (b) initiate a joint inquiry with authorities in the Republic of Ireland into clerical child sexual abuse in every Roman Catholic diocese that straddles the border; and if he will make a statement. [36565]
Mr. Woodward: Officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) have held separate meetings with the PSNI, the Department of Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland, the National Children's Office in the Republic of Ireland and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church to discuss implications of the Ferns Report and other disclosures relating to allegations of clerical abuse against children. PSNI has also met separately with senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church. A further meeting involving DHSSPS, PSNI and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church is scheduled before Christmas following which decisions will be taken by DHSSPS and the PSNI on the appropriate course of action to be followed.
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