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8 Mar 2006 : Column 1586W—continued
Invest NI
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps Invest NI are taking to raise the level of local employment in consultancy (a) in general and (b) in relation to energy issues. [56397]
Angela E. Smith: Invest NI's direct support for business is targeted at firms in the manufacturing and internationally-traded services sectors and is aimed at helping them create sustainable employment opportunities through becoming more entrepreneurial, innovative and internationally-focused. Where the agency needs to employ consultants to assist with its work, it is normal practice for such appointments to be made using a competitive tendering process managed by the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel who may seek expressions of interest from both Northern Ireland and external consultants.
Where energy issues are concerned, Invest NI influence the provision of energy consultancy in Northern Ireland through its support for the Carbon Trust. The Carbon Trust is a UK-wide programme and commissions energy consultancy centrally from a pool of approximately 450 registered with the Energy Institute for the Carbon Trust. In the past year in excess of 300 commissions for energy advisory and technical appraisals were issued for Northern Ireland with around 25 per cent. of these having been serviced by Northern Ireland based consultants.
The Carbon Trust encourage all Northern Ireland based energy consultants to attend their free technical training events and will be holding a briefing session to help them meet the standards expected by the Carbon Trust and the businesses seeking support.
Janine Murtagh
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what issues were raised in the letter to the Health Minister from the coroner investigating the death of Janine Murtagh in the Royal Victoria hospital on 18 November 2002. [56949]
Mr. Woodward: HM Coroner raised 13 issues in his letter of 22 November 2004 to the Health Minister. These were:
1. Whether there is a need for further training of all surgical, anaesthetic and theatre staff in relation to the use of emergency theatres. Does the existing protocol provide sufficient clarity?
2. Whether there is a need for a more formal structure governing contact with theatres in relation to theatre availability and a recording of any such contacts to include what was discussed, by whom, and any decisions made.
4. Whether it should be a requirement for a doctor who is called by nursing staff to examine a patient whose condition has given rise to some measure of concern, to consult with the senior nurse on duty in the ward and any family members who are present at the time.
5. Whether, under present arrangements, consultants are kept adequately informed about such interventions, assessments subsequently made and any changes in the condition of their patient.
6. Whether it is appropriate for a staff nurse to be able to discontinue patient observations without consulting anyone else.
7. The role of a Ward Sister and whether she is always deemed to be a member of the team responsible for each patient in her ward.
8. Whether there is any confusion amongst surgical and anaesthetic staff as to the chain of responsibility for a patient at the various stages of their treatment and the circumstances in which responsibility changes.
12. Whether there is a need for a formal recording of a notification of bed availability by the Bed Manager, to include the name of the person to whom it was made and an acknowledgement by that person of the notification. Should the notification by the Bed Manager be to the surgeon concerned or any member of the ward staff?
13. Whether there is substance in the allegations of the consultant general surgeons who signed the letter to the Chief Executive of the Royal Group of hospitals of obstruction getting gravely ill patients into theatre for necessary surgery".
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the remit was of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority review into the death of Janine Murtagh. [56950]
Mr. Woodward: The terms of reference of the independent review group were:
To make recommendations as to the good practice that needs to be disseminated to all HSS trusts in Northern Ireland.
Licensing
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account the consultation on the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs (2006–11) will take of the recent consultation on liquor licensing reform; and if he will make a statement. [56446]
Mr. Woodward: Both the development of the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs and its current consultation have taken due account of the Liquor Licensing Review consultation and this continues. I anticipate that the final New Strategic Direction document, to be launched in May, will bear due testimony to that.
Modern Apprenticeships
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many modern apprenticeships were taken up in each (a) ward, (b) county and (c) constituency in the last year for which figures are available. [55575]
Angela E. Smith:
Information relating to Modern Apprenticeship take up in Northern Ireland is not available at Local Government District or parliamentary constituency level. The following tables detail the number of young people who entered a Modern Apprenticeship by County, and by Town for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005.
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| Number | |
|---|---|
| County Antrim | 872 |
| County Armagh | 100 |
| County Down | 1,188 |
| County Fermanagh | 169 |
| County Londonderry | 466 |
| County Tyrone | 451 |
| Belfast(29) | 698 |
| Unknown | 18 |
| Total: | 3,962 |
(29) Figures for Belfast have been provided separately as it falls into more than one county
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 10 highest paid chief commissioner and equivalent posts in non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland in 2005; and what the remuneration was of each. [56413]
8 Mar 2006 : Column 1589W
Mr. Hain: As at 1 April 2005, the 10 highest remunerated public appointees at chief commissioner, chair or equivalent position, for which the Secretary of State and his ministerial team have responsibility, were as follows:
(30) Vacant but advertised in the range £55–70,000.
(31) Part-time appointments.
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