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18 Apr 2006 : Column 495W—continued
Osteoporosis
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2006, Official Report, column 2153W, on osteoporosis, if he will ensure that additional funding for specialist drugs in 2006–07 and 2007–08 includes funding for new specialist drugs including teriparatide. [63516]
Mr. Woodward: I will be announcing shortly details of my plans for additional funding for specialist drugs in 2006–07 and 2007–08. The additional funding will include an amount for the introduction of new drugs, such as teriparatide, as well as other specialist drugs pressures.
It will be for the Health and Social Services Boards, as commissioners of services, to prioritise how this funding is used, taking into account the competing demands and pressures in their areas and the strategic objectives and priorities of my Department.
18 Apr 2006 : Column 496W
Parenting Strategy
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects a parenting strategy for Northern Ireland to be produced. [62391]
Mr. Woodward: The Department is currently developing a Family and Parenting Strategy", which will be looking at current intervention and support services focusing on parents needs.
It is envisaged that the strategy will be ready for consultation by early summer of this year.
Personal Care (Funding)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the funding required to provide free personal care for all individuals in the Province who are receiving it. [62471]
Mr. Woodward: The latest estimate of the potential cost of introducing free personal care is £45 million, which includes an element for the predicted increase in demand for personal care, based on experience elsewhere.
An estimate of this nature is of course subject to decisions about the level and scope of any such scheme.
Personal Debt Advice Schemes
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what personal debt advice schemes are available in Northern Ireland. [63469]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) has recently completed a tender process for the provision of a free face to face debt advice service across Northern Ireland. This will involve DETI providing direct funding to provide 11 advisers based at offices throughout Northern Ireland and two central training and research posts. A number of community and voluntary agencies will provide free advice in other offices that are not covered by this contract. In addition Consumer Credit Counselling, a registered charity, provides a telephone advice service while several private companies offer free to use advice for consumers and many others provide the service on a professional basis.
Physiotherapy Posts
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many physiotherapy posts were available in each (a) education and library board and (b) health trust in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [63381]
Mr. Woodward:
Physiotherapists are not employed by Education and Library Boards. The number of physiotherapy posts in each Health Trust is only available centrally for the last three years. This information is presented in the following table.
18 Apr 2006 : Column 497W
Notes:
1. H' count = headcount
2. WTE = whole-time equivalent
3. The number of Physiotherapy posts available is calculated as the number of staff in post as at 30 September plus the number of current vacancies available as at 30 September.
4. The figure for September 2004 combines staff in post figures as at September 2004 with current vacancy figures as at June 2004.
5. A current vacancy is an unoccupied post, which at 30 September 2003 (30 June 2004 or 30 September 2005) was vacant and which the organisation was actively trying to fill.
Sources:
Staff in post information—Human Resource Management System
Current vacancy information—NI HPSS Trusts and Organisations
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many physiotherapy graduates there were from higher education establishments in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many such graduates had not obtained employment in their chosen profession one year after graduating in each year. [63382]
Angela E. Smith: Students gaining qualifications from physiotherapy courses at Northern Ireland higher education institutions, 1999–2000 to 2004–05 are as follows:
| Academic year | Qualifiers |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 56 |
| 2000–01 | 90 |
| 2001–02 | 58 |
| 2002–03 | 63 |
| 2003–04 | 74 |
| 2004–05 | 78 |
Source:
HESA.
Figures include students gaining both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.
EU graduates from physiotherapy courses at Northern Ireland higher education institutions and not recorded as employed as physiotherapist six months after graduation, 1999–2000 to 2003–04 (overseas students are not included) are as follows:
| Academic year | Qualifiers not employed as physiotherapists |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 7 |
| 2000–01 | 8 |
| 2001–02 | Fewer than 5 |
| 2002–03 | 8 |
| 2003–04 | 8 |
Source:
HESA.
18 Apr 2006 : Column 498W
Graduates not employed as physiotherapists include those undertaking further study/training, employed in occupations other than physiotherapy, assumed to be unemployed and those not available for employment/training. Data on the destinations of 2004–05 leavers is not yet available.
Plastic Bags
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a ban on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Northern Ireland. [63615]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of the Environment plans to start a preliminary Cleaner Neighbourhoods" consultation exercise covering a range of local environmental quality issues by the end of May 2006. One of the issues to be addressed in the consultation document is the subject of litter, including plastic bag litter. The consultation will outline a number of options designed to reduce litter, including options to deal with plastic bag litter, and will seek views from consultees on the best way forward.
Police
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hours of training police recruits in Northern Ireland receive in (a) dealing with ethnic disputes and (b) awareness of ethnic minorities. [61494]
18 Apr 2006 : Column 499W
Mr. Woodward: Police trainees currently receive approx 9 hours direct training in relation to working with ethnic minority groups. This training varies from people making reports to police and police dealing with victims of crime.
This aspect, as with all strands of diversity, is core themed throughout the 21 week training programme.
Police Trainees are assessed in relation to how they deal with ethnic minorities on a pass/fail basis.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the recent statement by the vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board regarding the policy of 50:50 recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [61615]
Mr. Woodward: The temporary 50:50 recruitment measures are being applied as a response to the imperative of achieving a police service in Northern Ireland that is more representative of the community that it serves. Our goal, in line both with the patten report and the comments made by Mr Bradley at the Social Democratic Labour party conference in November 2005, is to achieve a 30 percentage Catholic composition amongst officers by 2010–11. As we are on target to achieve this goal, these measures will not be applied after this time.
These provisions are subject to review and possible renewal every three years, next due in March 2007, when the policy will be subject to detailed review, extensive consultation, and debate in both Houses.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigators employed by the police ombudsman have experience in the investigation of terrorist-related crime. [63497]
Mr. Woodward: The police ombudsman has advised that of those investigatory staff currently employed by her office, forty-five have experience in the investigation of terrorist-related crime.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of applications to the police in Northern Ireland in the last two open competitions were (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic; and what percentage from each community were subsequently appointed. [61419]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised that the community breakdown of applications for the last two PSNI trainee constable competitions have been as follows:
| Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Protestant on application | Catholic on application | Non-determined |
| 9 | 63.48 | 33.87 | 2.65 |
| 10 | 59.45 | 37.07 | 3.48 |
The appointment process for both of these competitions is still in the early stages. I am advised, however, that a projected number of 220 applicants from each competition will be recruited under the temporary 50:50 recruitment provisions of which 110 Catholics and 110 non-Catholics will be appointed.
18 Apr 2006 : Column 500W
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time police officers in Northern Ireland have (a) retired and (b) been recruited over the past five years. [62101]
Mr. Woodward: The number of full-time police officers retired and recruited between 24 March 2001 and 24 March 2006 can be found in the following table:
| Retired | Recruited | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Officers | 2,569 | 2,187 |
| Full Time Reserve | 1,481 | (221)— |
(221) Recruitment ceased in 1998.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the research project tasked with ascertaining the justifiable requirements for visual standards for recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [63418]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised that during the original visual task analysis specific concerns were raised by the research team with regard to safety issues and the impact of colour deficiencies on both firearms handling and operational police driving.
Therefore a further detailed visual risk assessment has been carried out on these police functions which will be reported on shortly by the City of London University researchers. In addition, senior staff from the Royal Victoria hospital have been asked to give specific advice on the practical implications of the findings. With this information, an appropriate risk assessment will then be carried out to ensure the new visual standards at recruitment are sufficient to protect both the public and officers in the performance of their duties.
An exact timescale for the publication of the researchers' report is not yet known.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Mr. Colin Ashe's role is in the Northern Ireland Police Fund; what his key tasks are; and what relevant experience he has. [63461]
Mr. Woodward: Mr. Colin Ashe is currently performing the role of acting chief executive of the fund. He is a civil servant with a range of experience which includes policy development, finance, customer support services and project management.
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