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14 Dec 2005 : Column 2104W—continued
Smoking
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to question 34727, on smoking in enclosed public places, if he will set out the scientific evidence he considered in reaching his decision. [37223]
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Mr. Woodward: The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified second hand smoke as a Group 1 human carcinogen. Other Group 1 carcinogens include asbestos, arsenic, benzene and radon gas.
The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US and the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have concluded that even proposed new technologies, such as displacement ventilation systems, which may reduce second hand smoke exposure levels by 90 percent., still leave exposure levels which are 1,500 to 2,500 times the acceptable risk level for hazardous air pollutants. The conclusion of the OSHA/ACGIH ventilation panel is that dilution ventilation is not a viable control option for Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
The US Surgeon General, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organisation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the American Medical Association and the American Lung Association have all concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke.
The Government's Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) has concluded that exposure to second hand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is estimated to be in the order of 24 percent. In 2004, SCOTH indicated that the weight of evidence published on the causal effect of exposure to second hand smoke on the risk of ischaemic heart disease is now stronger than at the time of SCOTH'S 1998 report and that the increased risk is estimated to be in the order of 25 percent. SCOTH also concluded that the evidence published since 1998 continues to point to a strong link between exposure to second hand smoke and adverse effects in children.
Supermarkets (Product Source)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to UK supermarkets to encourage them to source more of their products from Northern Ireland producers. [36555]
Angela E. Smith: The issue of local sourcing has been a high priority since the UK supermarkets entered the Northern Ireland retail market. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Invest Northern Ireland continue to work closely with the retail multiples to encourage them to increase trade with Northern Ireland suppliers. Also, as part of the implementation of the Fit For Market" report, supermarket representatives are currently participating in the development of a domestic marketing campaign for local produce. I consider that this work is vital to maximise the uptake of local produce and bring long-term benefit to the Northern Ireland agri-food industry.
Temporary Accommodation
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are living in temporary accommodation, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) council area. [36550]
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Mr. Hanson: The information is not available in the form requested. The Housing Executive has information only in respect of those accepted as homeless whom it places in temporary accommodation. The following table sets out that information by district council level.
Tourist Attractions
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop the Black Pigs Dyke as a tourist attraction. [36543]
Angela E. Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) currently has no plans to develop the Black Pigs Dyke as a tourist attraction.
The NITB recognises that there are many visitor attractions across Northern Ireland that add to the overall visitor experience, however, the Black Pigs Dyke has not been prioritised within NITB's SFA for development from 2004–07.
Local authorities also have a level of responsibility for development of tourism attractions within their respective areas. To gain recognition as a tourism attraction local authorities take the lead in highlighting key tourism strengths within their area.
Travel Schemes
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the all-island free travel scheme for Ireland to be operational. [36745]
Mr. Woodward:
I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 694W.
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Travellers
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with authorities in Scotland regarding improvements for travellers from Northern Ireland using the roads infrastructure to and from the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan. [36487]
Mr. Woodward: There have been no such discussions. However, in late 2004 there was correspondence between John Spellar MP, the then Minister for Regional Development and Nicol Stephen MSP, the then Minister for Transport in the Scottish Executive, welcoming plans for substantial improvements on both the A75 and A77 routes scheduled for completion between 2006 and 2008.
Water Supplies/Usage
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the number of homes in Northern Ireland that are not connected to the water supply, broken down by constituency; and what plans he has to make this facility available to each of those homes. [36549]
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, dated 13 December 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the number of homes in Northern Ireland that are not connected to the water supply, broken down by constituency, and what plans there are to make the facility available to each of those homes (36549). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
It is estimated that less than 1% of households in Northern Ireland are not connected to the public water supply. Water Service does not, at present, have a database of all household customers connect to mains water and cannot therefore supply the information on a constituency basis. However, a comprehensive customer database is currently being developed in preparation for the proposed introduction of domestic charging from April 2007 and this will identify any households not connected to the public water supply.
Water service currently has a duty to provide water and sewerage services but is not required to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost. For this reason, Water Service has always operated a policy of reasonable cost. The allowances for watermain schemes are £5,000 for properties, which were occupied and on which rates were being paid on or before 31 May 2000, and £2,900 for other properties. The higher reasonable cost allowance for existing properties not connected to the public watermain reflects the importance attached to reducing the number of such properties. The policy provides Water Service with an objective mechanism to consider applications for new water and sewerage services in a consistent and equitable manner. The policy seeks to strike a balance between the interests of householders and taxpayers, within the context of resources made available for water and sewerage services.
Where the cost of providing a first-time service exceeds the total reasonable cost allowance, Water Service will proceed with the scheme if the householders who will benefit from the scheme agree to meet the balance.
Mr. Donaldson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the average volume of water used by a (a) domestic residence and
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(b) domestic residence where the supply pipe also supplies a farm in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years. [37012]
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, dated 14 December 2005:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the average volume of water used by (a) domestic residence and (b) domestic residence where the supply pipe also supplies a farm in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years (37012). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
The volume of water used by domestic properties varies considerably depending on the type of property, the household size and other factors such as the number of domestic appliances. However, the average volume of water used by all types of domestic properties in Northern Ireland was 348 litres per property per day in 2003/04 and 346 litres per property per day in 2004/05. These figures are derived from data obtained from a sample of 102 discrete areas, containing 5,000 domestic properties, which broadly represent the proportion of property types across Northern Ireland.
Domestic residence, where the supply pipe also supplies farms are metered. The volume of metered supply includes water for both domestic and agricultural consumption and information on these two elements is not directly available. In other words, we do not collect directly the information you require on the volume of water used by farmhouses. However, the nearest estimate of the domestic consumption could be obtained from the data relating to detached properties which is included in the sample of 5,000 domestic properties. The volume of water used by detached properties was 415 litres per property per day in 2003/04 and 448 litres per property per day in 2004/05.
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