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7 Mar 2006 : Column 1322W—continued
Servicemen (Custodial Sentences)
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the armed services are serving custodial sentences imposed by courts-martial in (a) civilian adult prisons and (b) young offender institutions in England and Wales; and how many such people there were in each of the last five years. [55091]
Mr. Touhig: I have been asked to reply.
Under the Service Discipline Acts, if a member of the armed forces is sentenced to a custodial sentence by a court-martial, they are automatically dismissed from the service, other than in the most exceptional circumstances. No serving personnel sentenced by a court-martial are imprisoned in civilian adult prisons or Young Offenders' Institutions in England or Wales.
The following table shows the numbers of personnel sentenced to custodial sentences in each of the last five years.
Social Integration
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to increase social integration of Muslims in the UK. [54624]
Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to improving the life chances of all people.
The Government's Strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion—'Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society', places particularly emphasis on improving the life chances of those suffering greatest disadvantage and living in areas experiencing high levels of social deprivation. It provides for programmes tailored to the needs of specific groups, including the Muslim community.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Avian Influenza
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what cross-border preparations have taken place for the potential impact of avian influenza; and what plans have been agreed by the two administrations. [55872]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is working closely with the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF) in the Republic of Ireland in taking measures to deal with the threat of avian influenza. Given the mutual interest in ensuring that any outbreak on the island is identified quickly as a first step to its eradication and recognising the importance of the poultry industry, DARD officials have had frequent contact with their counterparts in Dublin over recent months to exchange information and discuss the respective approaches. These discussions have covered such issues as wild bird surveillance, the assessment of risk, preventive actions taken to date in both jurisdictions, and contingency planning. DAF officials have participated as observers in the exercises DARD has held to test its contingency plan and DARD officials have participated as observers in the Republic of Ireland. DARD has been invited to send an observer to meetings of the recently convened Republic of Ireland's Avian Influenza Expert Advisory Group.
The control of Avian Influenza is based on an EU legal framework, which means that the preventive measures being taken North and South, and the control
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measures that would be taken in the event of a disease outbreak, are broadly similar. Arrangements are in place to ensure that there is effective communication between the two Departments in the event of an outbreak and to regulate trade in accordance with EU requirements.
Dangerous Wild Animals
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dangerous wild animals were identified and recovered in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [55154]
Angela E. Smith: As a Commencement Order for the Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 has not been made there is currently no licensing arrangement for keepers of Dangerous Wild Animals (DWAs) in Northern Ireland.
Since the Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 gained Royal Assent the Department of the Environment has been building its capacity to deal with the new legislation. Recently resources have been secured to appoint an officer to oversee the implementation of the legislation and the Department is at an advanced stage in negotiations with an external provider to provide safe DWA holding facilities. It is expected that this holding centre will be available late in 2006 which will enable the Commencement Order to be progressed.
Domestic Property Ownership
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the number of domestic properties under the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was between 1995 and 2005. [56574]
Mr. Hanson: The Housing Executive at the beginning of 1995 owned 147,500 dwellings and at the end of December 2005 the total was 98,500.
Dual Carriageway
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the Department plans to commence work on the new dual carriageway between Dungannon and Ballygawley; and what the estimated cost of this work is; [54583]
(2) when the Department plans to commence work on the Cherrymount Link at Enniskillen; and what the estimated cost of the work is. [54584]
Mr. Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin ) has been asked to write to hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 7 March 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland two Parliamentary Questions regarding the commencement of road schemes:
when the Department plans to commence work on the new dual carriageway between Dungannon and Ballygawley; and what the estimated cost of this work is (54583); and
when the Department plans to commence work on the Cherrymo9unt Link at Enniskillen; and what the estimated cost of the work is. (54584)
I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
Subject to the availability of funding and the completion of the relevant statutory procedures and economic appraisals, it is anticipated that construction of the A4 Dualling Scheme between Dungannon and Ballygawley is likely to commence in the 2007/2008 financial year. The current estimated cost of the scheme is £102 million.
It is anticipated that construction of the Cherrymount Link is also likely to commence in the 2007/2008 financial year, subject again to the availability of funding and the completion of the relevant statutory procedures and economic appraisals. The current estimated cost of the scheme, as identified in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan is £3.8 million, however this will be revised to reflect the additional works envisaged as a result of increased development constraints and poor ground conditions in the area.
Health and Social Services Councils
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases each of the health and social services councils in Northern Ireland have dealt with in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [56575]
Mr. Woodward: The information in the following table shows the number of people assisted by the health and social services councils, either in relation to complaints or with advocacy support.
| NHSSC | EHSSC | SHSSC | WHSSC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 675 | n/a | 84 | n/a |
| 2003–04 | 804 | 1176 | 100 | 40 |
| 2004–05 | 803 | 1442 | 100 | 42 |
n/a = not available.
Key Persons Protection Scheme
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were given help under the Key Persons Protection Scheme in each year between 2001–02 and 2004–05; how many have been given such help in 2005–06; what the cost of the scheme (i) was in each year and (ii) has been in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [56530]
Mr. Woodward: The numbers of people admitted to the Key Persons Protection Scheme between 2001–02 and 2004–05 are listed in the following table. The information is only available in calendar years:
| Number admitted | |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 99 |
| 2002 | 565 |
| 2003 | 433 |
| 2004 | 89 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 (to date) | 2 |
The cost of the Key Persons Protection Scheme is given in the following table and the figures recorded include new works, maintenance and running costs, removal costs, staffing costs and expenditure associated with travel. The costs are calculated in financial years.
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| Cost (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 4.9 |
| 2002–03 | 11 |
| 2003–04 | 13 |
| 2004–05 | 7.5 |
| 2005–06 | (24)4.5 |
(24) Anticipated spend.
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