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18 Apr 2006 : Column 457W—continued
Probation Service
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the probation service. [62720]
Fiona Mactaggart:
There have been significant improvements in the performance of the probation service in recent years. However, we need to do more. We published on Thursday 30 March Working with
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probation to protect the public and reduce re-offending", a summary of responses to our recent consultation on restructuring probation. This sets out how we will work with the probation service and other partners and providers to develop more effective end to end management of offenders throughout their sentence. We intend to bring forward legislation to give effect to our proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Rahidar Aktar Coli
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will determine the status of Rahidar Aktar Coli, wife of Habibur Rahman, about whom he wrote to Dhama Douglas Solicitors on 27 August 2004 and about whom the hon. Member for Totnes wrote to the Home Secretary on 7 November 2005; and if he will make a statement. [63411]
Mr. McNulty:
I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 6 April 2006.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Academic Selection
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received from (a) individuals and (b) organisations about the draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order; how many of those representations favoured (i) retaining and (ii) prohibiting academic ability as a criteria for admission to post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [62609]
Angela E. Smith: The responses to the consultation on the draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order are currently being analysed and it is not possible to provide the information requested. I will consider the responses carefully and a summary report on the consultation will be made available when the draft order is laid in May.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much each health trust in the Province has paid for services from the Northern Ireland Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Family Support Group in each of the last three years. [62365]
Mr. Woodward: The Health and Social Services Trusts have not commissioned any services from the Northern Ireland ADHD Family Support Group in the last three years.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what multidisciplinary early intervention services are available in the Province for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [62366]
Mr. Woodward: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would usually be diagnosed at an early age and children suspected of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are in the first instance referred to child development clinics for diagnosis. Services for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are provided by community paediatric clinics and child and adolescent mental health services.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to increase the services available to those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Province. [62367]
Mr. Woodward: Policy and services for those with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder are currently being examined under the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland). The Review will make recommendations as to future service configuration.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been conducted in the Province into the education of those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [62368]
Angela E. Smith:
The Department of Education has not funded any research into the education of those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though does collect annual statistics on the number of children with this condition. However, Loughshore Education Resource Centre began documenting information about ADHD three years ago in a bid to be
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proactive in the effective teaching of these difficult to manage young people. The centre recorded specific behaviours, observable triggers, response times, lifestyle issues, parental effectiveness and community influences. It found that a child with ADHD could have a widely varying package of care depending on the circumstances of their diagnosis. The research is available in electronic or written form from the centre.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is available to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders in the Province. [62377]
Mr. Woodward: Services for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are provided by community paediatric clinics and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services. A person aged 18 or over presenting with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would be dealt with through primary care and generic mental health services.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have committed suicide in the Province in each of the last five years. [62378]
Mr. Woodward: The General Register Office only records information on the cause of death. No information is collected on whether the deceased had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been provided to the Northern Ireland Attention Deficit Disorder support centre in Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, in each of the last three years. [62379]
Mr. Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety assisted the Northern Ireland Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Support Centre as follows:
| Funding provided (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | (200)32,954 |
| 2004–05 | 25,000 |
| 2005–06 | 25,000 |
(200) Includes a one-off grant of £7,954 for equipment.
Aggregates Levy
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect in Northern Ireland of aggregates tax levels. [63470]
Angela E. Smith: The Government are aware of the unique market conditions that prevail in Northern Ireland and have already taken action by securing an 80 per. cent relief from the Aggregates Levy until 2012.
Members of the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme (ALCS) can avail of the tax relief in return for an undertaking to carry out environmental improvements on an incremental basis. Currently 163 sites are in the ALSC and further 15 sites are currently being investigated for membership. This represents virtually all the aggregates producers in Northern Ireland. Even at the reduced rate, there were concerns over the potential negative economic impact of the Levy at the time of its introduction in 2002.
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However, an examination of headline economic indicators shows that the sector has not suffered a downturn in performance. Indeed the sector appears to have performed quite well:
However, it will not be until 2008 before comprehensive data is available to show the level of environmental improvement attained through the creation of the ALSC.
Alcohol-related Conditions
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have presented with alcohol-related conditions at Accident and Emergency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [63466]
Mr. Woodward:
Information is not collected centrally on the number of people who have presented at Accident and Emergency Departments with alcohol-related conditions. However, the number of emergency admissions to hospital for alcohol-related conditions is available.
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The table provides figures on the number of emergency admissions 1 to acute hospitals in Northern Ireland, where the primary or secondary diagnosis was an alcohol-related condition, in each of the last three years for which data are available.
| Number of admissions1 to hospital for alcohol-related conditions | |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 6,581 |
| 2003–04 | 6,062 |
| 2002–03 | 6,137 |
(201) Discharges and Deaths are used as an approximation to admissions. It is possible that any individual could be admitted to hospital more than once in any year and will thus be counted more than once as an admission.
Source:
Hospital Inpatient System
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