| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1532W—continued
Post-primary Education
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what estimate he has made of the effect on public expenditure of the proposals for post-primary education in the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order; what estimate he has made of the period of time it would take to realise the estimated charges of those savings; and if he will make a statement; [50717]
(2) what estimate he has made of the (a) gross and (b) net cost to public funds of implementing the proposals for post-primary education embodied in the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order. [50718]
Angela E. Smith: The focus of the new post-primary arrangements is on the educational needs of the child. The new arrangements will be implemented locally by schools and school managing authorities working together, taking account of local needs and circumstances. Until local arrangements are developed the financial implications cannot be assessed. £24.7 million has been made available over the period 2005–06 to 2007–08 to support the preparation for, and phased introduction of, key elements of the new post-primary arrangements.
On 31 January 2006 the Secretary of State announced an independent review of education spending as well as the planning of the school estate and the effect of falling school rolls. The outcome of this review and the implementation of the new post-primary arrangements will result in a more effective and efficient education system for the benefit of all pupils.
Prostate Cancer
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the numbers of those diagnosed with prostate cancer in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last 10 years. [51328]
Mr. Woodward: The following table details the number of incidences of prostate cancer (ICD-10 C61) in Northern Ireland since 1994.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 481 |
| 1995 | 510 |
| 1996 | 452 |
| 1997 | 485 |
| 1998 | 492 |
| 1999 | 493 |
| 2000 | 574 |
| 2001 | 543 |
| 2002 | 648 |
| 2003 | 715 |
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1533W
This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up-to-date currently available.
Rates
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal guidance on the assessment and valuation of domestic properties produced by the Valuation and Lands Agency for the rates revaluation in Northern Ireland. [49815]
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) value significant codes and (b) property attribute types that the computer assisted mass appraisal system being used in Northern Ireland rates revaluation has the capacity to store and evaluate. [49568]
Angela E. Smith:
A full list of data fields relating to value significant codes and property attributes which are stored and evaluated by the computer assisted mass
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1534W
appraisal system being used in Northern Ireland will be placed in the Library.
Statins
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to make statins available free to patients with high cholesterol in Northern Ireland. [51181]
Mr. Woodward: Statins are currently available on health service prescription in Northern Ireland. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recently published detailed guidance recommending the use of statins for treating adults with cardiovascular disease and adults at risk of this disease. My Department will be reviewing this guidance and will advise the health and personal social services on its applicability to Northern Ireland.
Teaching Staff (Absenteeism)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the absenteeism rate was in 2005 among teaching staff at (a) controlled and (b) maintained schools in each of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland. [51354]
Angela E. Smith: The rate of absenteeism among teaching staff in the academic year September 2004 to August 2005 at (a) controlled and (b) maintained schools in each of the five Education and Library Boards in Northern is detailed as follows.
Vandalism
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of his Department's buildings in the last 12 months. [49501]
Mr. Woodward: There have been no recorded acts of vandalism, which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of Northern Ireland Office buildings in the last 12 months. This information does not include the Department's Agencies and NDPBs.
WALES
Robert Powell
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry into the death of Robert Powell of Swansea on 17 April 1990 of Addison's disease. [51486]
Mr. Hain: The responsibility in this instance rests with the National Assembly for Wales. The First Minister is currently considering whether a public inquiry should be held or what other steps if any should be taken.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Clerical Pensions
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what provision the Pension Board has made for the retention of pension rights for partners of those clergy who have entered into a civil partnership. [50871]
Sir Stuart Bell:
All pension schemes are required by the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the regulations made under that Act to provide benefits for a civil partner following the death of the scheme member on the same basis as for widows and widowers in respect of all pensionable service from December 2005.
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1535W
The Pensions Board will of course comply with those requirements in respect of the schemes that it administers and scheme rules have been amended accordingly.
Departmental Staff
Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many of the Church Commissioners' staff are paid on a performance-related basis. [50078]
Tenants
Mr. Swayne: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what measures the Commissioners are taking to expedite the transfers of their tenants who cause a nuisance to their neighbours. [50249]
Sir Stuart Bell: The Commissioners experience very few occasions of nuisance on their estates. If this arises they will seek to resolve the matter with the parties concerned. On the very rare occasions where this is unsuccessful, they reserve the right in leases to take legal action to protect the interests of all residents, and do so when necessary.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Barristers
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the 10 barristers instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Crown who received the highest sums for this work in the last financial year; how much each received; and if he will make a statement. [23498]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers have ministerial responsibility for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office. The Law Officers do not have ministerial responsibility for the other prosecuting authorities. The 10 barristers instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Crown by the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office and Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office who were paid the highest sums for this work in the financial year ending 31 March 2005 and the amounts paid are:
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1536W
A number of qualifications need to be added to these figures:
The amount paid to barristers in one financial year is not necessarily reflective of the work carried out during that year. Payment may take place during or some time after the work, including in different years, and Departments have different payment practices.
The figures must be interpreted carefully and do not represent the personal earnings of the barristers listed—figures are inclusive of VAT and disbursements incurred. After VAT has been deducted, barristers will typically pay 25–30 per cent. of fees in professional expenses. Additionally, barristers face the same expenses as any other self-employed person, including income tax and national insurance contributions.
Not all payments could be verified with the individuals concerned. Cases in dispute, where records of payments held by the Departments differ to those held by the practitioners, have been included. Where possible, amounts have been verified by practitioners and adjusted where necessary. Records may differ due to the inevitable lag caused by the post and bank clearing services.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |