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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1527W—continued
Hospital Waiting Times
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time in accident and emergency has been at (a) Antrim area hospital and (b) Whiteabbey area hospital in each month since March 2005. [51051]
Mr. Woodward: The information is as follows.
(a) The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Antrim area hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the following table:
Source:
United Hospitals Group HSS Trust
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(b) The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Whiteabbey hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the following table:
Source:
United Hospitals Group HSS Trust
Jewish Festivals
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005. [46762]
Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland Office is committed to promoting a culture in which difference is appreciated, valued and respected and individuals are given the space to celebrate their own identity, including their religious identity, while respecting the views of others.
An event to celebrate a range of significant religious and cultural days, including Hanukkah, was held in 2005 and the Department aims to facilitate staff who wish to celebrate such events. The Department also promotes an awareness of different religious identities through its sponsorship of a multi-faith calendar. The theme of the 2006 calendar is the practice of prayer and it highlights the significant religious days of each of the major religious traditions.
Laurelhill Community College
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the (a) case and (b) compensation paid was in the recent Laurelhill Community College dispute in Lisburn, County Antrim. [49861]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested is as follows.
(a) The Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board has informed me that she is not in a position at this stage to respond to the question of the cost of recent defamation proceedings
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taken by the teacher involved against the Chairman of the Board of Governors at Laurelhill Community College. The Board has not yet received bills of costs from the plaintiff's solicitor nor has it received fee notes from its own Counsel.
(b) The teacher involved was awarded compensation of £7,500 following the recent joint consultation which took place at the High Court.
NHS Staff
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to health and social services boards of implementing UK-wide changes in NHS staff pay and conditions in 2005–06; and what the expected cost is for 2006–07. [50716]
Mr. Woodward: In the current year 2005–06 the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has allocated to each health and social services board the following amounts in implementing the Agenda for Change Agreement for staff in the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland.
| Board | Amount allocated (£) |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 30,645,592 |
| Northern | 10,078,041 |
| Southern | 9,134,583 |
| Western | 7,889,835 |
| Total | 57,748,051 |
The DHSSPS has secured funding of £70 million to meet the anticipated cost for 2006–07.
The DHSSPS has also allocated the following amounts to health and social services boards to meet the salary commitments arising from the new consultant contract.
| Board | Amount allocated (£) |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 13,930,496 |
| Northern | 3,371,550 |
| Southern | 2,971,944 |
| Western | 3,512,651 |
| Total | 23,786,641 |
The DHSSPS has secured funding of around £27.3 million to meet the anticipated costs for 2006–07.
Planning Service
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget was for the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000; and what funding has been allocated for each of the next five years. [51044]
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Angela E. Smith: The budget for the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000 is set out in Table A as follows.
The funding allocated to Planning Service for the next two years is set out in Table B as follows. Information is not yet available on funding to be allocated from 2008–09 onwards.
| Financial year | Current expenditure | Capital investment |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 11.9 | 0.6 |
| 2007–08 | 10.9 | 0.6 |
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation is undertaken by the Northern Ireland Planning Service with the Department for Regional Development's (a) Water and (b) Road Service in considering submissions for new residential developments. [51046]
Angela E. Smith: In determining any planning application for residential development the Planning Service consults with the Department of Regional Development's Water Service and Roads Service. The purpose of the consultation is to seek advice on issues relevant to the determination of planning applications such as the provision of drinking water supply, waste water disposal, safe access and the proper layout and adoption of public roads.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed by the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement on the future staff recruitment needs of the Service. [51069]
Angela E. Smith: Details of the staffing breakdown for the Planning Service in each year since 2000 are as follows.
The Planning Service has just completed a major recruitment exercise and will keep the need for additional staff resources under continual review.
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Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning submissions were received by the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000, broken down by Service district. [51070]
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Angela E. Smith: Details of the number of planning applications received, set out by Planning Service division, in each of the last five years are as follows.
(7) Up to 31 December 2005.
(8) Includes Coleraine Sub-Divisional Planning Office.
(9) Includes Enniskillen Sub-Divisional Planning Office.
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