House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Mar 2006 (pt 12)

20 Mar 2006 : Column 39W—continued

Tour Operators

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department regulates tour operators providing services to UK residents travelling overseas; and if he will make a statement. [60256]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Organisers and sellers of package holidays are regulated under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992 (S.I.1992/3288), which implement the Council Directive (90/314/EEC), on Package Travel, in the United Kingdom.

The regulations are enforced by Trading Standards Departments in Great Britain, and the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland.

20 Mar 2006 : Column 40W

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bioscience and Technology Institute

Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the remit is of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment inquiry into the Bioscience and Technology Institute. [59666]

Angela E. Smith: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is required under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 to appoint Company Inspectors when appropriate where a complaint is received from the public or members or officers of the company or any body or person connected with the company. The Department's function in this area is to protect the public and to regulate the market place.

In the case of the Bioscience and Technology Institute, inspectors were appointed by the Department on 22 December 2005 as a result of a complaint received by it.

As with all such inquiries, the Inspectors' terms of reference are to look into the substance of a complaint and any other matters which they may encounter during their investigation.

Caravan Sector

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the (a) static and (b) touring caravan sector has contributed to the economy of Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years. [58765]

20 Mar 2006 : Column 41W

Angela E. Smith: In 2004, domestic holidaymakers spent £11.3 million during holidays staying in static caravans, and £1.3 million during holidays in touring caravans. An estimated £3.3 million was generated from visitors to Northern Ireland, choosing to stay in the caravan and camping sector. An annual breakdown is provided in the following tables.
Estimated spend for visitors staying in caravans/camping

£ million
Spend

2004 3.3

2003 3.0

2002 2.7

2001 2.8

2000 2.7

1999 2.7

1998 2.2

1997 2.1

1996 2.1

1995 2.1

Estimated spend for domestic holidaymakers staying in towed and static caravans

£ million
Towed caravans Static caravans (owned and not owned)

2004 1.3 11.3

2003 3.2 13.0

2002 5.8 11.9

2001 4.8 16.2

2000 4.8 15.5

1999 5.5 16.1

1998 1.6 16.6

1997 1.7 13.9

1996 3.3 18.4

1995 6.0 14.9

£ million
	Spend
2004	3.3
2003	3.0
2002	2.7
2001	2.8
2000	2.7
1999	2.7
1998	2.2
1997	2.1
1996	2.1
1995	2.1

£ million
	Towed caravans	Static caravans (owned and not owned)
2004	1.3	11.3
2003	3.2	13.0
2002	5.8	11.9
2001	4.8	16.2
2000	4.8	15.5
1999	5.5	16.1
1998	1.6	16.6
1997	1.7	13.9
1996	3.3	18.4
1995	6.0	14.9

Citybus/Metro

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last occasion was that a person was convicted for non-payment of the proper fare on the Citybus system. [57905]

Mr. Woodward: Translink have advised that the last occasion that a person was convicted for non-payment of the proper fare on the Citybus system was 26 October 1999.

20 Mar 2006 : Column 42W

Coastal Erosion

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Department of the Northern Ireland Office is responsible for (a) the prevention of coastal erosion and (b) its effect on tourism in Northern Ireland. [58770]

Mr. Hanson: In response to (a) I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) on 8 February 2006, Official Report, column 1232W.

Regarding (b) our policies to tackle coastal erosion are guided by the Bateman formula, an historic interdepartmental agreement. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) is responsible for coastal protection works associated with schemes relating to tourism. DETI has not carried out an assessment of the effect of coastal erosion on tourism in Northern Ireland.

Cross-border Bodies (Bullying/Mismanagement)

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been lodged by Northern Ireland civil servants for alleged (a) bullying and (b) mismanagement in each of the cross border bodies in each of the last three years. [56679]

Angela E. Smith: In the last three years a complaint alleging bullying was made by a Northern Ireland civil servant working in Waterways Ireland. This complaint included allegations of mismanagement. No complaint has been lodged against any other cross border body.

Demographics

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent to which the demographic balance between communities in each city and county of Northern Ireland has changed in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [59152]

Mr. Hanson: Table 1 provides community background information from the 2001 Census for each of the five cities in Northern Ireland and each Local Government District (information at county level is not routinely produced).

The provision of community background information, which was derived using information collected on both current religion and religion brought up in, was a new development in the 2001 Census aimed at meeting the need for additional equality monitoring data. Directly comparable community background information is not available from the 1991 Census.
Table 1: 2001 Census Community Background by City (approximated) and Local Government District

Percentage

Area All persons Catholic Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related) Other religions and philosophies None

City (approximated)

Belfast Urban Area 276,459 47.2 48.6 0.8 3.4

Lisburn Urban Area 71,465 41.7 54.2 0.4 3.8

Londonderry 83,699 79.1 19.4 0.4 1.1

Newry City 27,433 89.6 9.4 0.2 0.9

Armagh City 14,590 68.3 30.2 0.3 1.3

Local Government District

Antrim 48,366 38.6 56.7 0.5 4.3

Ards 73,244 12.6 82.5 0.4 4.5

Armagh 54,263 48.7 50.1 0.2 1.1

Ballymena 58,610 21.0 76.3 0.3 2.4

Ballymoney 26,894 31.9 66.2 0.1 1.8

Banbridge 41,392 31.5 66.0 0.2 2.3

Belfast 277,391 47.2 48.6 0.8 3.4

Carrickfergus 37,659 8.7 85.1 0.4 5.9

Castlereagh 66,488 18.3 77.0 0.6 4.2

Coleraine 56,315 27.2 69.4 0.5 2.9

Cookstown 32,581 57.6 41.1 0.1 1.1

Craigavon 80,671 44.7 52.9 0.5 2.0

Derry 105,066 75.4 23.2 0.4 1.1

Down 63,828 62.0 35.5 0.2 2.4

Dungannon 47,735 60.8 38.2 0.2 0.8

Fermanagh 57,527 58.7 39.8 0.3 1.2

Larne 30,832 25.2 71.7 0.1 3.0

Limavady 32,422 56.6 41.6 0.1 1.7

Lisburn 108,694 33.4 62.8 0.4 3.5

Magherafelt 39,780 64.1 34.8 0.2 0.8

Moyle 15,933 60.3 38.3 0.1 1.3

Newry and Mourne 87,058 80.6 18.5 0.1 0.8

Newtownabbey 79,995 19.4 76.2 0.5 4.0

North Down 76,323 12.6 80.5 0.5 6.4

Omagh 47,952 69.1 29.7 0.2 1.0

Strabane 38,248 66.2 33.3 0.1 0.4

Northern Ireland 1,685,267 43.8 53.1 0.4 2.7

Notes:
1. The term Catholic includes those respondents who gave their religion as Catholic or Roman Catholic.
2. Cities included in this table are defined using the statutory settlement development limits provided by the DOE Planning Service as at March 2004. The Belfast Urban Area does not include the urban areas of Castlereagh, Newtownabbey or Greenisland. Newry City includes the settlement of Bessbrook.
3. The boundaries for Banbridge and Newry & Mourne Local Government Districts in the 2001 Census are different from those in place at the time of the 1991 Census due to a boundary change in 1992.

20 Mar 2006 : Column 43W

		Percentage
Area	All persons	Catholic	Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)	Other religions and philosophies	None
City (approximated)
Belfast Urban Area	276,459	47.2	48.6	0.8	3.4
Lisburn Urban Area	71,465	41.7	54.2	0.4	3.8
Londonderry	83,699	79.1	19.4	0.4	1.1
Newry City	27,433	89.6	9.4	0.2	0.9
Armagh City	14,590	68.3	30.2	0.3	1.3
Local Government District
Antrim	48,366	38.6	56.7	0.5	4.3
Ards	73,244	12.6	82.5	0.4	4.5
Armagh	54,263	48.7	50.1	0.2	1.1
Ballymena	58,610	21.0	76.3	0.3	2.4
Ballymoney	26,894	31.9	66.2	0.1	1.8
Banbridge	41,392	31.5	66.0	0.2	2.3
Belfast	277,391	47.2	48.6	0.8	3.4
Carrickfergus	37,659	8.7	85.1	0.4	5.9
Castlereagh	66,488	18.3	77.0	0.6	4.2
Coleraine	56,315	27.2	69.4	0.5	2.9
Cookstown	32,581	57.6	41.1	0.1	1.1
Craigavon	80,671	44.7	52.9	0.5	2.0
Derry	105,066	75.4	23.2	0.4	1.1
Down	63,828	62.0	35.5	0.2	2.4
Dungannon	47,735	60.8	38.2	0.2	0.8
Fermanagh	57,527	58.7	39.8	0.3	1.2
Larne	30,832	25.2	71.7	0.1	3.0
Limavady	32,422	56.6	41.6	0.1	1.7
Lisburn	108,694	33.4	62.8	0.4	3.5
Magherafelt	39,780	64.1	34.8	0.2	0.8
Moyle	15,933	60.3	38.3	0.1	1.3
Newry and Mourne	87,058	80.6	18.5	0.1	0.8
Newtownabbey	79,995	19.4	76.2	0.5	4.0
North Down	76,323	12.6	80.5	0.5	6.4
Omagh	47,952	69.1	29.7	0.2	1.0
Strabane	38,248	66.2	33.3	0.1	0.4
Northern Ireland	1,685,267	43.8	53.1	0.4	2.7

Information on current religion was collected in both the 1991 Census and the 2001 Census, however caution should be exercised when seeking to assess the extent of change over time due to factors such as:

changes in the question wording giving rise to different output categories;

differences in the levels of non-response to the religion question;

different population bases;

20 Mar 2006 : Column 44W

different treatments of non-response in each of the Censuses; and

different output geographies due to boundary changes.

Tables 2 and 3 present a breakdown of the religion information gathered in both the 1991 and 2001 Censuses at Local Government District level (comparable information for cities was not produced for 1991).
Table 2: 2001 Census Religion by Local Government District

Percentage

Area All persons Catholic Protestant Other religions and philosophies No religion or religion not stated

Antrim 48,366 35.2 47.2 0.3 17.3

Ards 73,244 10.4 68.7 0.3 20.6

Armagh 54,263 45.4 45.5 0.1 9.0

Ballymena 58,610 19.0 67.8 0.3 13.0

Ballymoney 26,894 29.6 59.1 0.1 11.3

Banbridge 41,392 28.6 58.7 0.2 12.5

Belfast 277,391 42.1 40.4 0.6 16.9

Carrickfergus 37,659 6.5 70.4 0.3 22.8

Castlereagh 66,488 15.8 64.9 0.5 18.8

Coleraine 56,315 24.1 60.5 0.3 15.1

Cookstown 32,581 55.2 38.0 0.1 6.8

Craigavon 80,671 41.7 46.7 0.4 11.3

Derry 105,066 70.9 20.8 0.3 8.1

Down 63,828 57.1 29.2 0.1 13.6

Dungannon 47,735 57.4 34.9 0.1 7.6

Fermanagh 57,527 55.5 36.1 0.2 8.1

Larne 30,832 22.3 61.9 0.1 15.8

Limavady 32,422 53.1 36.2 0.1 10.6

Lisburn 108,694 30.1 53.6 0.3 16.1

Magherafelt 39,780 61.5 32.0 0.2 6.3

Moyle 15,933 56.6 33.8 0.1 9.5

Newry and Mourne 87,058 75.9 16.4 0.1 7.6

Newtownabbey 79,995 17.1 64.5 0.3 18.1

North Down 76,323 10.0 64.5 0.4 25.1

Omagh 47,952 65.1 26.3 0.2 8.4

Strabane 38,248 63.1 30.9 0.1 5.9

Northern Ireland 1,685,267 40.3 45.6 0.3 13.9

Notes:
1. The term Catholic includes those respondents who gave their religion as Catholic or Roman Catholic.
2. The boundaries for Banbridge and Newry & Mourne Local Government Districts in the 2001 Census are different from those in place at the time of the 1991 Census due to a boundary change in 1992.

20 Mar 2006 : Column 45W

Table 3: 1991 Census Religion by Local Government District

Percentage

Area All persons Roman Catholic Protestant and Other None Not Stated

Antrim 44,516 31.7 54.8 4.6 9.0

Ards 64,764 11.3 73.8 6.0 8.8

Armagh 51,817 45.4 47.2 1.6 5.9

Ballymena 56,641 18.4 71.5 3.3 6.9

Ballymoney 24,198 30.2 61.5 2.2 6.2

Banbridge 33,482 27.6 61.4 2.8 8.1

Belfast 279,237 39.0 47.6 5.3 8.2

Carrickfergus 32,750 6.9 77.6 7.6 7.9

Castlereagh 60,799 9.5 75.5 6.3 8.8

Coleraine 50,438 22.5 66.4 4.2 7.0

Cookstown 31,082 53.2 40.3 1.2 5.3

Craigavon 74,986 40.1 50.0 2.6 7.3

Derry 95,371 69.5 23.6 1.4 5.5

Down 58,008 56.0 33.1 2.9 8.0

Dungannon 45,428 55.7 38.3 0.9 5.2

Fermanagh 54,033 54.9 39.0 1.4 4.7

Larne 29,419 22.1 64.9 4.4 8.6

Limavady 29,567 51.7 39.3 1.7 7.3

Lisburn 99,458 26.9 60.8 4.8 7.4

Magherafelt 362,93 58.9 34.8 0.9 5.4

Moyle 147,89 52.2 39.5 1.7 6.6

Newry and Mourne 82,943 71.8 19.8 1.1 7.2

Newtownabbey 74,035 13.0 71.8 6.1 9.2

North Down 71,832 9.0 73.5 8.6 9.0

Omagh 45,809 64.3 29.7 1.2 4.7

Strabane 36,141 61.8 33.4 0.8 4.0

Northern Ireland 1,577,836 38.4 50.6 3.8 7.3

Notes:
1. In 1991 Census outputs, non-Christian religions were combined with Protestants.
2. The boundaries for Banbridge and Newry & Mourne Local Government Districts in the 2001 Census are different from those in place at the time of the 1991 Census due to a boundary change in 1992.

		Percentage
Area	All persons	Catholic	Protestant	Other religions and philosophies	No religion or religion not stated
Antrim	48,366	35.2	47.2	0.3	17.3
Ards	73,244	10.4	68.7	0.3	20.6
Armagh	54,263	45.4	45.5	0.1	9.0
Ballymena	58,610	19.0	67.8	0.3	13.0
Ballymoney	26,894	29.6	59.1	0.1	11.3
Banbridge	41,392	28.6	58.7	0.2	12.5
Belfast	277,391	42.1	40.4	0.6	16.9
Carrickfergus	37,659	6.5	70.4	0.3	22.8
Castlereagh	66,488	15.8	64.9	0.5	18.8
Coleraine	56,315	24.1	60.5	0.3	15.1
Cookstown	32,581	55.2	38.0	0.1	6.8
Craigavon	80,671	41.7	46.7	0.4	11.3
Derry	105,066	70.9	20.8	0.3	8.1
Down	63,828	57.1	29.2	0.1	13.6
Dungannon	47,735	57.4	34.9	0.1	7.6
Fermanagh	57,527	55.5	36.1	0.2	8.1
Larne	30,832	22.3	61.9	0.1	15.8
Limavady	32,422	53.1	36.2	0.1	10.6
Lisburn	108,694	30.1	53.6	0.3	16.1
Magherafelt	39,780	61.5	32.0	0.2	6.3
Moyle	15,933	56.6	33.8	0.1	9.5
Newry and Mourne	87,058	75.9	16.4	0.1	7.6
Newtownabbey	79,995	17.1	64.5	0.3	18.1
North Down	76,323	10.0	64.5	0.4	25.1
Omagh	47,952	65.1	26.3	0.2	8.4
Strabane	38,248	63.1	30.9	0.1	5.9
Northern Ireland	1,685,267	40.3	45.6	0.3	13.9

		Percentage
Area	All persons	Roman Catholic	Protestant and Other	None	Not Stated
Antrim	44,516	31.7	54.8	4.6	9.0
Ards	64,764	11.3	73.8	6.0	8.8
Armagh	51,817	45.4	47.2	1.6	5.9
Ballymena	56,641	18.4	71.5	3.3	6.9
Ballymoney	24,198	30.2	61.5	2.2	6.2
Banbridge	33,482	27.6	61.4	2.8	8.1
Belfast	279,237	39.0	47.6	5.3	8.2
Carrickfergus	32,750	6.9	77.6	7.6	7.9
Castlereagh	60,799	9.5	75.5	6.3	8.8
Coleraine	50,438	22.5	66.4	4.2	7.0
Cookstown	31,082	53.2	40.3	1.2	5.3
Craigavon	74,986	40.1	50.0	2.6	7.3
Derry	95,371	69.5	23.6	1.4	5.5
Down	58,008	56.0	33.1	2.9	8.0
Dungannon	45,428	55.7	38.3	0.9	5.2
Fermanagh	54,033	54.9	39.0	1.4	4.7
Larne	29,419	22.1	64.9	4.4	8.6
Limavady	29,567	51.7	39.3	1.7	7.3
Lisburn	99,458	26.9	60.8	4.8	7.4
Magherafelt	362,93	58.9	34.8	0.9	5.4
Moyle	147,89	52.2	39.5	1.7	6.6
Newry and Mourne	82,943	71.8	19.8	1.1	7.2
Newtownabbey	74,035	13.0	71.8	6.1	9.2
North Down	71,832	9.0	73.5	8.6	9.0
Omagh	45,809	64.3	29.7	1.2	4.7
Strabane	36,141	61.8	33.4	0.8	4.0
Northern Ireland	1,577,836	38.4	50.6	3.8	7.3

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 65 years there are in Northern Ireland. [59522]

Angela E. Smith: At mid-year 2004, the official estimate of the Northern Ireland resident population aged 65 years and over was 233,400 people.

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