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9 Jan 2006 : Column 320W—continued

Departmental Staff

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department were (a) civil servants, (b) contractors and (c) other staff in each year since 1997. [27448]

Mr. Woodward: (a) The following figures exclude secondments, career breaks, temporary staff and Electoral Office staff.
Northern Ireland civil serviceHome civil serviceNorthern Ireland prison serviceTotal
20051,3401704101,920
20041,2501804101,840
20031,1401904201,750
20021,1001804401,720
20011,0701904301,690
20001,0102004101,620
19991,0002304001,630
19981,0102004001,610
19979902003901,580

(b) It is not possible to identify the number of contractors/consultants. This could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

(c) The information is as follows.
Northern Ireland civil service (agency/temp staff)Home civil service (agency/temp staff)Northern Ireland prison service (agency/temp staff)Total
20056001070
20044002060
20036002080
20024001050
20012001030
20002002040
19993002050
19984001050
19973001040

Domestic Rates

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Government have made of the average Effective Tax Rate to be charged on each property under the new discrete capital values system of domestic rates. [39499]

Angela E. Smith: It is not possible to determine the average Effective Tax Rate (ETR) for each domestic property at this stage until the outcome of the revaluation process, currently being carried out by the Valuation and Lands Agency, is complete. This is due to be finalised sometime in spring 2006. The Department, however, has carried out some analysis based on preliminary data which suggests a rate substantially lower than the 0.79 per cent. indicated by the University of Ulster study over two years ago, which was based on 1999 capital value estimates. The preliminary estimates are insufficiently reliable at this point in time given the current unavailability of valuation data but the Government does intend to provide an estimate of the ETR to coincide with the publication of the new values in 2006 to allow individual ratepayers to gauge their 2007–08 liability following the revaluation.
 
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Drinking By-laws

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Police Service of Northern Ireland has brought cases regarding the breach of drinking by-laws to Castlereagh borough council in each year since November 2001. [37591]

Mr. Woodward: Records held by Castlereagh District Command Unit indicate the following:
Number of referrals to Castlereagh borough council
20012
20023
20033
20043
200512

Drugs Seizures

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drug seizures have been made in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what their total estimated worth was. [36567]

Mr. Woodward: Data relating to the number of drug seizures by police together with the street value of drugs seized are only available from 1998–99 and are contained in table 1 as follows.

Similarly I am unable to supply data on the number and value of drug seizures that have been made by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, prior to 1999 as to do so would require a substantial manual exercise and would incur a disproportionate cost.

Data for the number of drug finds in prison establishments prior to January 2003 were not collated centrally and are not available. The value of drugs seized within Northern Ireland Prison establishments is not calculated.
Table 1: Number of seizures of class A, B and C drugs by Police Service of Northern Ireland—1998–99 to 2004–05 and value of drugs seized

Number of drug seizuresTotal estimated street value (£)
1998–991,5887,043,168
1999–20002,05811,425,982
2000–011,7509,994,769
2001–021,5336,559,700
2002–031,78111,082,910
2003–042,34715,108,410
2004–052,4029,507,689
1 April-30 November 20051,8035,835,120

Table 2: Number of seizures of class A, B and C drugs by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs—1999–2000 to 2004–05 and value of drugs seized

Number of drug seizuresTotal estimated street value (£)
1999–20001n/a
2000–012744
2001–02813,137
2002–0313343,254
2003–041576,046
2004–051357,440




n/a = not available





 
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Table 3: Number of seizures of class A, B and C drugs by Northern Ireland Prison Service 2003–05

Number of drug seizures
2003371
2004355
1 January-31 October 2005317

Education (Rural Areas)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to improve early years education and after-school activities in rural areas. [38615]

Angela E. Smith: Regarding early years education, in the current school year there are approximately 21,000 funded pre-school places, which provide for 93 per cent. of all children in their final pre-school year. It remains the Government's priority to provide age appropriate and high quality provision for all children in Northern Ireland including those in rural areas whose parents wish them to avail of a free pre-school education place.

The Children and Young People's funding package announced on 14 December 2005 includes an element for after-school activities. Final details have yet to be worked through but will take account of the needs of rural areas.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated to ensuring those in rural areas can access (a) early years provision and (b) after-school activities in each of the next three months. [38619]

Angela E. Smith: A profile of funding for each of the next three months is not available in the format requested. Funding of £23,243,426 was allocated in respect of the 2005–06 financial year for statutory nursery schools funded under the common funding formula, and for funded places in the voluntary sector and these take account of the needs of those in rural areas.

DE does not fund after-school activities direct though some schools are providing activities beyond the school day and meeting the costs from within their delegated budget, from charges to pupils or parents, or through funding received from grant making organisations.

The Children's and Young People's Funding package, which was announced on 25 October 2005, includes an element for the promotion of extended schools, including after school activities and I would expect that rural areas will qualify for a proportion of the funds available.
 
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Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to improve after-school activities for schoolchildren in Dungannon and South Tyrone. [38620]

Angela E. Smith: There are currently no plans specific to Dungannon and South Tyrone. However, the Children and Young People's Funding Package which I announced on 14 December includes an element for the promotion of extended schools, including after school activities. Final details will be announced in the new year and will take account of the needs of rural areas

Electoral Fraud

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many successful prosecutions were made against those involved in electoral fraud in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years. [21619]

Mr. Hanson: There have been no successful prosecutions with regard to electoral fraud in Northern Ireland since September 2000. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland holds no record of any prosecutions in the period 1995–2000.


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