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15 Dec 2005 : Column 2236W—continued

Tsunami

Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what collaboration there has been between the Government and the Commonwealth in support of countries affected by the tsunami. [37674]

Mr. Thomas: The Commonwealth Secretariat has, on behalf of Commonwealth countries, sent a relief co-ordinator and specialist doctors to the Maldives, co-ordinating directly with the affected Governments.

The Commonwealth countries of Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives, which were affected by the tsunami, have received UK Government assistance.

DFID seeks to co-ordinate its activities with all donors, including Commonwealth countries, as the best way to ensure that there is no overlap and activities meet identified needs.
 
15 Dec 2005 : Column 2237W
 

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

MPs (Outside Appointments)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by his Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment. [36688]

Mr. Hoon: None. The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is not responsible for making appointments to any public bodies.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Arms Movement Certificates

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which body is responsible for the issuing of arms movement certificates; how many have been issued; and what criteria are applied in deciding whether such a certificate should be issued. [30784]

Mr. Woodward: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) issue arms movement certificates", as described in the decommissioning scheme within the meaning of section 1 of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act of 1997, in connection with the decommissioning process.

Until such time as the IICD are satisfied that their mandate has been fulfilled and, as their report of 26 September 2005 stated, the arms of loyalist paramilitary groups, as well as other paramilitary organisations, remain to be addressed, it would not be appropriate for them to release the numbers of arms movement certificates or any date involved during the decommissioning process. It would not therefore be appropriate to comment at this time.

Belfast Hospitals (Security)

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the security firms employed at each hospital in Belfast. [37585]

Mr. Woodward: Each hospital in Belfast delivers security by means of in-house staff employed on Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) contracts. Hospitals, which employ external security firms to undertake specific functions, are listed as follows:

Greenpark Hospital Trust engages G4S Cash Services (UK) Ltd (previously Securicor) for cash movement.

Ulster Community Hospital Trust engages J.M. Securities for wheel clamping.

Business Rates

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 372W on business rates, what consultation his Department carried out with (a) businesses in Northern Ireland and
 
15 Dec 2005 : Column 2238W
 
(b) Invest NI on the impact of the Government's Northern Ireland business rates proposals, prior to their announcement. [36523]

Angela E. Smith: The decision to phase out industrial derating, as part of the review of rating policy, was subject to a full and rigorous public consultation process initiated by the NI Executive in May 2002.

Four political parties, 13 district councils, three Assembly Committees and a range of business organisations responded to that consultation and most of these commented upon the issue of industrial derating. In addition two of the Assembly Committees, Finance and Personnel Committee and Enterprise, Trade and Investment, which were in favour of removing the exemption, took evidence on the issue and this was duly submitted.

Further consultations took place in 2003 on the Government's proposals and on the draft legislation, which included a regulatory impact assessment.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment was involved from an early stage. Invest NI was consulted and submitted evidence.

Civil Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel applied the public interest test to Derry City council's application under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for release of the Equality Impact Assessment for the Northern Ireland Civil Service e-HR programme. [36175]

Angela E. Smith: In applying the public interest test, the Department decided in conformity with Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act, not to disclose the EQIA because it intends to publish the EQIA, and expects to do so within the next three months in line with the arrangements set out in the Department's equality scheme. In addition, the draft EQIA remains a working document and to release it now would inhibit the development of the draft and the orderly administration of the process.

Community Relations Council

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council awarded in (a) core funding and (b) project funding to (i) the Irish School of Ecumenics, (ii) the Northern Ireland Inter Faith Forum, (iii) Roman Catholic groups and (iv) mainstream evangelical organisations in each of the last 15 years. [36213]

Angela E. Smith: The information requested for 1990–91 to 1997–98 is not available.
 
15 Dec 2005 : Column 2239W
 

£

	Irish school of ecumenics		NI interfaith forum		Catholic groups		Evangelical organisations
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
2005–06	45,000	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	44,000	54,843
2004–05	45,000	6,850	nil	nil	nil	nil	44,000	28,721
2003–04	45,000	nil	nil	3,450	nil	20,385	50,750	33,665
2002–03	45,000	2,201	nil	123,590	nil	nil	43,2 11	95,9860
2001–02	45,000	3,790	nil	nil	nil	nil	37,632	12,475
2000–01	nil	3,800	nil	nil	nil	nil	37,627	36,275
1999–2000	nil	1,700	nil	34,600	nil	2,200	35,244	98,683
1998–99	nil	69,000	nil	15,000	nil	35,714	35,890	141,216

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Community Relations Council has awarded to Evangelical Contribution on Northern Ireland in (a) core funding and (b) project funding in each of the last 15 years. [36260]

Angela E. Smith: The information requested for the years 1990–91 to 1997–98 is not available.
£

	Core	Project
2005–06	44,000	11,000
2004–05	44,000	nil
2003–04	50,750	6,750
2002–03	43,211	302,875
2001–02	37,632	3,575
2000–01	37,627	17,800
1999–2000	35,244	36,000
1998–99	35,890	44,000

Disability

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a Minister in his Department is planned to be nominated to take responsibility for liaison with the Office for Disability Issues; and if he will make a statement. [37087]

Angela E. Smith: There are no plans to nominate a Minister in Northern Ireland to liaise with the Office for Disability Issues. Officials in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will liaise with ODI officials as appropriate. Ministers in Northern Ireland will be involved as necessary taking into account the work of the Interdepartmental Group on Promoting Social Inclusion for Disabled People in Northern Ireland.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the initial activity undertaken by his Department in response to those recommendations in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People" where lead responsibility was assigned to all Government Departments. [37088]

Angela E. Smith: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People" only applies to Government Departments in England, and to Wales and Scotland where the recommendation relates to reserved rather than devolved matters. However, in reporting progress against priorities, it will include progress in Northern Ireland in line with the objectives set in the Improving the Life Chances" report.
 
15 Dec 2005 : Column 2240W
 

While Improving the Life Chances" is a GB strategy, work is being progressed in Northern Ireland by the Promoting Social Inclusion Inderdepartmental Working Group on Disability. In November 2004, the then Minister with responsibility for disability issues in Northern Ireland, established the Group. It is chaired by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and is made up of representatives from voluntary, community and statutory organisations alongside trade unions, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and all Northern Ireland Departments. The Minister asked the Group to produce recommendations on what Government can do to promote greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the economic and social life of Northern Ireland and is due to report during 2006.

This work in Northern Ireland will take account of Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People". OFMDFM officials are liaising with officials in the recently formed Office for Disability Issues to ensure co-ordination of actions.

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