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26 Apr 2006 : Column 1186W—continued
Efficiency Initiatives
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efficiency initiatives have been implemented in each Northern Ireland department in each of the last five years. [63485]
Angela E. Smith: Over the last five years Northern Ireland departments have implemented a wide range of efficiency initiatives. Those implemented in 2005–06 are included in efficiency technical notes posted on departmental websites and a summary of initiatives implemented in the preceding four years has been placed in the Library.
Electricity and Rates Arrears
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much is owed in (a) electricity and (b) rates arrears in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) each council area of Northern Ireland. [63443]
Angela E. Smith: The following table sets out rate arrears at 31 March 2005. These have been extracted from the Rate Collection Agency's annual report and financial statements for 2004–05.
Final figures for 2005–06 will not be available until June 2006. A copy of the agency's annual report and financial statements for 2005–06 will be sent directly to the hon. Member after it has been laid in the Houses of Parliament in July 2006.
A total of approximately £8,958,000 was owed in electricity arrears across all categories of customers in Northern Ireland at 28 February 2006. A breakdown of this figure on a council area basis could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Farming (Funding Schemes)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many awards have been made in Northern Ireland under the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme; and what the total cost was, broken down by council area. [65366]
Angela E. Smith: 411 approvals have issued. The total grant cost is £12,259,505. The Department only records scheme data by county area and not by council area. The figures broken down by county area are as follows:
| County | Approvals issued | Total grant cost (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Antrim | 105 | 3,098,218 |
| Armagh | 40 | 1,338,194 |
| Down | 56 | 2,004,693 |
| Fermanagh | 49 | 1,042,517 |
| Derry | 52 | 1,499,961 |
| Tyrone | 109 | 3,275,922 |
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many awards were made in Northern Ireland under the Organic Farming (Conversion of Animal Housing) Scheme in 2005–06; and how much of the budget was unspent. [65367]
Angela E. Smith:
Of the 76 approved projects under the Organic Farming (Conversion of Animal Housing) Scheme, 34 received payments during the financial year
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in 2005–06. Although the entire £2 million budget for the scheme has been allocated, some £1.12 million remained unclaimed at 31 March 2006 due to difficulties experienced in completing approved projects and submitting claims for payment by that date. The date for completion was therefore extended to 31 March 2007.
Festivals
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 206W, on festivals, what steps he has taken to ensure equality of funding for cultural events for all community backgrounds. [63453]
Mr. Hanson: The Community Festivals Fund, which became operational on 1 April 2006, has been publicly advertised and is open to any organisation to apply. It introduces core criteria that must be satisfied before an event can receive financial support from the Fund. Amongst other requirements, festival organisers must demonstrate their commitment to promoting social cohesion, social inclusion, equality of opportunity and good relations.
Grievance Procedures
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grievance procedures have been initiated in each department and government agency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [63471]
Angela E. Smith: The Northern Ireland Civil Service Grievance Procedure deals with grievances arising from a Civil Servant's employment. However there are separate procedures for appeals against non-selection for a promotion board, appeals against a marking in an annual performance review, complaints about harassment or bullying, disciplinary matters, and matters raised under the Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Ethics or Public Interest Disclosure legislation.
Details of grievances initiated under the Grievance Procedure in each of the NI Government Departments and Agencies and the NIO in 2003, 2004 and 2005 are given in the table below. The figures given are those cases escalated for resolution to Departmental Personnel Divisions, as records are not readily available 'for grievances resolved with line management at the early stages of the procedure. Details are provided separately for the Child Support Agency (CSA), The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA), the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), the Planning Service and the Social Security Agency (SSA). Cases in other Government Agencies are included in the figures for the relevant Department.
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Harassment Complaints
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of (a) bullying and (b) sexual harassment have been investigated in each Department and Government agency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many complaints have been upheld. [63472]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested is set out in the tables.
The figures for the number of cases upheld in a year do not necessarily refer to the number of cases investigated in that year as a case may be investigated towards the end of one year while the decision whether or not to uphold the complaint may be taken early in the next year.
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(30) Denotes one complaint upheld in part.
(31) Denotes one complaint involving allegations of both bullying and sexual harassment.
(32) Figures relate to all complaints of harassment, as NIO does not require staff to identify specific equality grounds for harassment complaints.
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