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27 Feb 2006 : Column 361W—continued
Business Start-ups
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of
27 Feb 2006 : Column 362W
29 November 2005, Official Report, column 372W, on business start-ups, how much was given in each of the last four years in each Belfast constituency. [52882]
Angela E. Smith: The table presents the amount of assistance offered to new business start-ups, by Invest NI, during each of the last three and half years, analysed by each Belfast parliamentary constituency.
(90) 2005–06 provisional information to September 2005 only.
Note:
The figures in the table may not add due to rounding.
Child Abuse
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2093W, on child abuse, what meetings have taken place involving the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Police Service of Northern Ireland and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church; what information was provided in relation to (a) each diocese fully within Northern Ireland and (b) each diocese that straddles the border with the Republic of Ireland; when he expects to be in a position to make recommendations; and what plans he has to establish an independent public inquiry into this matter. [53193]
Mr. Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 126W.
Since 30 January 2006, officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and representatives of the Police Service of Northern Ireland met jointly with senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church on 6 February 2006. DHSSPS officials met with senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and their legal representatives' on 8 February 2006 and again with senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church on 9 February 2006.
Civil Service (Meetings)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has met leaders of (a) the Presbyterian Church, (b) the Roman Catholic Church, (c) the Church of Ireland, (d) the Methodist Church, (e) the Baptist Union of Ireland, (f) the Free Presbyterian Church, (g) the Elim Pentecostal Church, (h) the Reformed Presbyterian Church, (i) the Congregational Union of Ireland, (j) the Evangelican Alliance, (k) ECONI and (l) the Caleb Foundation. [53141]
Angela E. Smith: This information, over such a lengthy period of time, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The current Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has met with leaders and representatives of a number of the organisations listed and would be very willing to meet with the leaders of any of the other denominations and organisations listed, if they wished to have such a meeting.
Cultural Diversity Training
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether external cultural diversity training is given to recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [53203]
Mr. Woodward: All new recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland receive specific training on equality and diversity issues delivered both internally and externally.
The first three days of induction are spent on a residential training course to explore, in a safe environment, issues around sectarianism, cultural and religious differences, empowerment, social history and reconciliation. This training also takes cognisance of wider diversity issues which are explored more fully in the Police College programme. This specific equality and diversity training focuses on issues around, amongst other things, prejudices, stereotypes, assumptions based on people's race, religion, community background, political belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality etc.
Other external speakers attend the college to deliver specific equality and diversity training, for example, on issues relating to the deaf community or other disability issues.
In addition to these initiatives the Police College also hosts a cultural traditions evening where recruits can meet and speak to representatives from various community groups.
Day Case Procedure (Costs)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average cost of a hospital day case procedure was in each health trust in the Province in 2004–05. [49405]
Mr. Woodward
[pursuant to the reply, 7 February 2006, Official Report, c. 1147W]: I am now able to provide the information requested.
27 Feb 2006 : Column 363W
The average cost of a hospital day case procedure in each trust in the Province in 2004–05 was as follows:
Source:
HSS Trust HRG Returns
27 Feb 2006 : Column 364W
Departmental Catering Budget
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is on the procurement of fair trade produce for consumption on its premises. [49921]
Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland Office's catering budget is not disaggregated in these terms. However, in all significant procurement for goods and services the opportunity to integrate environmental factors into the contract will be considered. Moreover, the providers of goods and services must comply with equality and race relations legislation.
Departmental Recruitment
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many job advertisements were placed by his Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what (i) total and (ii) average cost in each case. [50754]
Mr. Woodward: The following table provides details of the cost of advertising vacancies in the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and NDPBs, from 2001 to 2005. No advertising information is available prior to that date.
(91) There is no advertising cost associated with the placing of vacancies on the Northern Ireland Recruitment Service and Home Civil Service Recruitment Gateway websites.
(92) There were a further three recruitment competitions in 2001 for which information on advertising costs is unavailable.
Dissident Republican Paramilitaries
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of recent recruitment activities by dissident republican paramilitary organisations. [53053]
Mr. Woodward: As indicated in the recently published eighth IMC report, there is evidence that dissident republican terrorist organisations are attempting to recruit members.
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