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Early Invoice Discounts

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what mechanisms are in place to ensure that early invoice payment discounts are secured by each Department in Northern Ireland. [58279]

Angela E. Smith: The Permanent Secretary, in his/her role as Accounting Officer of a Department, is responsible for securing value for money for all departmental expenditure. Guidance requires that payments take account of the 'Better Payment Practice Code' and also covers advance payments which may be sought in return for a price discount. Purchasing guidelines requires Departments to consider discounts as one element of the total cost of the purchase of goods or services. This is facilitated by arrangements which make use of specialist purchasing expertise. Experience suggests, however, that early invoice payment discounts are rarely offered, as standard contract terms tend to be used requiring that invoices are paid within 30 days.

Education Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent per (a) primary
 
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and (b) secondary school pupil in real terms at today's prices in each local education authority in Northern Ireland in each of the last 30 years. [55560]

Angela E. Smith: The information is not available in the format or over the time period requested. However, education spending for 2006–07 has increased by 6.8 per cent. over 2005–06 to a record of £1,846 million, at a time when pupil numbers are falling. Since 1997 investment in education has increased by over 60 per cent., evidence of this Government's commitment to this key Northern Ireland service.

Energy Supply

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to make a range of energy options available to all rural areas in Northern Ireland. [58115]

Angela E. Smith: The £59 million environment and renewable energy fund announced in February by the Secretary of State will increase the range of energy options available to all geographical locations in Northern Ireland. In particular the fund will support the installation of solar, photovoltaic, biomass, wind and geothermal technologies in at least 4,600 households as well as in industry and the government estate. Rural areas will be supported to develop energy crops for the provision of heat and energy from waste projects will make use of agricultural and industrial wastes to provide heat and power in rural locations.

In addition fuel diversity has been further enhanced by the North-West gas pipeline, which will bring gas to rural towns and the completion of the South-North pipeline by the end of 2006 which will increase the availability of gas to rural consumers. In total 28,000 consumers could have gas as a fuel option within the next 10 years.

Foreign Nationals

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign nationals are employed in each local authority area in Northern Ireland. [58122]

Angela E. Smith: It is not possible to provide robust estimates of the number of foreign nationals employed in each local authority area. However, for information, the Autumn 2005 Labour Force Survey estimated that there were 10,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland that reported their nationality as non UK or non Irish.

Foyle River System

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) salmon and (b) sea trout returned to each river of the Foyle system in each month of each year since 2000. [57343]

Angela E. Smith: The information will be placed in the Library of the House.

Gender Pay Gap

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the difference is in average
 
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pay between men and women in Northern Ireland; and what measures are being taken to reduce the difference. [57974]

Angela E. Smith: The median hourly earnings excluding overtime for females employed on a full-time basis at April 2005 in Northern Ireland was estimated to be £9.29 compared to £9.70 for males. Female hourly earnings at April 2005 were almost 96 per cent. of males, an improvement in the position at April 2004 when they were 94 per cent. of male hourly earnings.

The Women and Work Commission Report Shaping a Fairer Future", published on 27 February 2006, proposed a wealth of practical ideas on how to close the gender pay gap and opportunities gap. The 40 recommendations are founded on a thorough analysis of all available evidence across the UK including Northern Ireland. The Government are determined to take action to address all causes of the pay gap highlighted in the report. There will be a UK wide implementation project team which will work with Government departments including those in Northern Ireland on how to take the recommendations forward.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the pay gap between men and women in Northern Ireland. [57629]

Angela E. Smith: The median hourly earnings, excluding overtime, for females employed on a full-time basis at April 2005 in Northern Ireland was estimated to be £9.29 compared to £9.70 for males. Female hourly earnings at April 2005 were almost 96 per cent. of males, an improvement in the position at April 2004 when they were 94 per cent. of male hourly earnings.

Homelessness Strategy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the final strategy following the November 2004 release of the consultation document Promoting Social Inclusion: Addressing the Causes and Effects of Homelessness; and when he expects the strategy to be published. [57080]

Mr. Hanson: The Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on homelessness published its draft policy and strategy document on 4 November 2004 for comments by 4 February 2005, although the consultation period was extended in order to facilitate a number of organisations. A total of 48 responses were received, many of which raised new issues and potential actions that needed to be discussed with a range of relevant organisations. Draft action plans have now been prepared and the Department is in the process of consulting with organisations in the wider public and voluntary sectors to agree actions which can be taken forward. I hope this process can be completed in the near future, which will allow publication of the final report.

Illegal Dumping

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were prosecuted for illegal dumping in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [57745]

 
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Angela E. Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment acquired the responsibility for the prosecution of such offences in December 2002. EHS does not hold figures on prosecutions prior to 2003. Since then, its investigations of illegal dumping have led to the following successful prosecutions: four in 2003, 24 in 2004, 57 in 2005 and 18 to date in 2006. A further 126 cases have been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service.

Independent International Monitoring Commission

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the ninth report of the Independent International Monitoring Commission (HC 969) was not made available to hon. Members until 14:30 on 8 March. [58186]

Mr. Woodward: The ninth report of the Independent Monitoring Commission was laid before Parliament at 11.00 am on 8 March and was made available in the Libraries of the House. However, the Northern Ireland Office regrets that the embargo was not lifted with the Vote Office until later that afternoon.

Invest NI

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the (a) meetings, (b) discussions and (c) correspondence between representatives of Invest NI and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding potential inward investment into Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; [57060]

(2) what plans Invest NI has to lead a trade delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; [57061]

(3) what assistance Invest NI is giving to local companies in helping to develop trade links with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; [57062]

(4) what plans he has to meet the ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss potential economic links to Northern Ireland. [57063]

Angela E. Smith: There have been no meetings, discussions or correspondence between representatives of Invest NI and Saudi Arabia regarding potential inward investment into Northern Ireland in any year from 2000. Invest NI has, however, a long term commitment to helping its clients develop business in the Gulf States. Invest NI only recently organised a trade mission to the Gulf States of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates from 23 February to 6 March 2006 on which 10 local companies were represented. Four of the companies on the mission visited Saudi Arabia from 24 to 27 February.

Invest NI assisted the companies with travel and accommodation costs as well as advisory support with market research and arranging business meetings. The companies also received assistance from the various British embassies while in the markets.

Invest NI regularly takes trade missions to the Gulf States but no dates have yet been determined for any further visit to Saudi Arabia. I understand that my right
 
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hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has no plans to meet the ambassador of Saudi Arabia in the near future.

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many inward investment visits Invest NI expects to be made to East Londonderry constituency during 2006. [57679]

Angela E. Smith: Invest NI cannot predict, with any certainty, the number of future inward investment visits to the East Londonderry constituency.

Invest NI does not determine locations for visits for a potential investor; this decision is taken by the investor. However, Invest NI works closely with the company when preparing a draft visit programme to ensure that the locations to be visited meet their requirements and also provide the best opportunity for Invest NI to sell the Northern Ireland proposition in, what is, a very competitive global marketplace.

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trade missions have been undertaken by Invest NI accompanied by South Antrim business personnel. [58118]

Angela E. Smith: During the period 1 April 2002 to 28 February 2006, Invest NI undertook 88 trade missions which included 159 representatives of businesses located in the South Antrim constituency area.

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