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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:


 
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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:

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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Modern apprenticeships by county

Number
County Antrim872
County Armagh100
County Down1,188
County Fermanagh169
County Londonderry466
County Tyrone451
Belfast(29)698
Unknown18
Total:3,962


(29) Figures for Belfast have been provided separately as it falls into more than one county



Modern apprenticeships by town

AreaTotal
Antrim92
Armagh100
Augher1
Aughnacloy5
Ballycastle28
Ballyclare45
Ballymena213
Ballymoney55
Ballynahinch59
Banbridge66
Bangor112
Belfast698
Bushmills9
Caledon4
Carrickfergus76
Castlederg27
Castlewellan20
Clogher8
Coleraine73
Cookstown73
Craigavon181
Crumlin22
Derry246
Donaghadee20
Downpatrick68
Dromore46
Dungannon148
Enniskillen169
Fivemiletown4
Hillsborough12
Holywood17
Larne75
Limavady41
Lisburn121
Maghera23
Magherafelt76
Newcastle34
Newry377
Newtownabbey134
Newtownards176
Omagh142
Portrush2
Portstewart7
Strabane39
Unknown18
Total3,962

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]


 
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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:
Remuneration entitlement at 1 April 2005

PositionAmount (£)
Assembly Ombudsman for NI and NI Commissioner for Complaints116,515
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland116,515
Chief Commissioner, Planning and Water Appeals Commissions93,483
Chief Inspector, Criminal Justice Inspection89,210
Commissioner for Children and Young People80,869
Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for NI76,156
Chief Electoral Officer72,822
Chief Commissioner, NI Human Rights Commission(30)
Chair, Parades Commission for NI(31)53,000
Chair, NI Policing Board(31)51,725


(30) Vacant but advertised in the range £55–70,000.
(31) Part-time appointments.



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