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20 Mar 2006 : Column 45W—continued
Deprivation
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for additional schemes to tackle deprivation in (a) (i) the Erskin and (ii) the Grange estates in Ballyclane, (b) housing estates in Antrim Town and (c) the (i) New Mossley and (ii) Ballyduff areas of Newtownabbey. [58052]
Mr. Hanson: In the upcoming four financial years the Housing Executive will improve some 1,330 dwellings in these areas at a cost in excess of £12 million through a number of programmes:
A number of other, non housing related initiatives are also under way in these areas. A neighbourhood partnership involving the local residents of the Grange and Thornhill and the statutory providers, including local schools and churches, is currently being established under the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The
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partnership will bring forward a vision framework and associated action plan to help address deprivation factors in the estate. In addition a number of environmental improvement schemes, to be taken forward under the creating common ground initiative, are also proposed for the main housing estates in Antrim.
All of these programmes will contribute substantially to improving living conditions in these areas.
Firefighters
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many part-time firefighters applied to become full-time firefighters in each Northern Ireland Fire Service station in each of the last five years, and how many of those applications were successful. [49106]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is not held centrally, either within the Department or by the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland and will take time to prepare. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when the information becomes available.
Substantive answer from Shaun Woodward to Mark Durkan:
The numbers of retained firefighters applying to become full-time firefighters in the recruitment campaigns in 2001 and 2003 are set out in the tables below. In the 2005 campaign, a process of random selection was used in the first instance and it is therefore not possible to identify the numbers of retained personnel eliminated at the first stage of selection. However, of the 300 applications randomly selected, 6 were from retained firefighters and of these, three were successful.
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Learning Disability
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what educational provision is made in Northern Ireland for young people with profound learning disabilities aged over 19 years; and in what locations. [58146]
Angela E. Smith:
In 2003–04 there were 1,696 students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (SLDD) aged between 19 and 25 years enrolled in the statutory further education sector, participating both in mainstream education and training provision alongside non-SLDD students, as well as on courses designed specifically for SLDD students. In addition to the provision within further education colleges, this figure also represents college provision in locations other than college sites; however information on the exact locations is not held by the Department. The term SLDD covers all degrees of learning difficulties, including those who
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may have profound learning difficulties, but the Department does not hold information on the actual number of such students with profound learning difficulties.
In addition, under the Skills and Science Fund, the Department for Employment and Learning will be developing more flexible provision focusing on the personal and social development needs of young people with disabilities and/or special educational needs.
Murals (Loyalist Areas)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Community Relations Council in Northern Ireland has to offer support and financial assistance for the development of cultural and historical murals in Loyalist areas. [58067]
Angela E. Smith: The Community Relations Council continues to welcome and consider practical proposals that will remove aggressive paramilitary murals, including those in Loyalist areas, and replace them with agreed cultural and historic imagery.
Policing Board
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members chosen for the Policing Board for Northern Ireland; and when he expects to announce the final composition. [57952]
Mr. Woodward: My right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain) announced the new membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 13 March 2006.
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