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15 May 2006 : Column 696W—continued
Electricity Supply (Limavady)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answers of 28 February 2006, Official Report, column 665W, on mains electricity supplies, and 9 March 2006, Official Report, column 1736W, on electricity supply (Limavady), what the cost would be of locating the power lines in the area concerned underground. [69272]
Maria Eagle: Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) estimates that, subject to the outcome of technical feasibility studies, undergrounding the electric lines in the Limavady area would cost in the order of £2-£3million.
Fishing
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to promote fishing holidays in Northern Ireland. [65865]
Maria Eagle: The internet is a key marketing tool for providing detailed information on all aspects of angling. The Tourist Board's website www.discovernorthernire land.com/angling.aspx provides details and contacts on angling waters, licences, permits, tackle and bait, boat hire, ghillies and local angling events.
NITB further markets the angling product through familiarisation trips for angling journalists, media and tour operators, and attendance at specialist shows in Great Britain, Europe and Republic of Ireland.
Tourism Ireland represents NITB and the angling product on the international market. A suite of angling guides has been produced covering game, coarse, sea and pike fishing in the island of Ireland, distributed at all angling shows and servicing consumer enquiries.
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) promotes angling in Northern Ireland under the tourism Ireland banner at angling fairs and shows in Great Britain, France, Holland and Denmark. DCAL also takes stands at angling fairs in the Republic of Ireland. DCAL has developed a website promoting the public angling estate, which is specifically aimed at tourist anglers with direct links to travel and accommodation providers—www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk
Free Passports (Senior Citizens)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reduce the age at which free passports are provided to senior citizens. [69194]
Joan Ryan: I have been asked to reply.
The decision to give free passports for those born on or before 2 September 1929 was announced on 19 May 2004. This was a special concession intended to recognise the sacrifices made by adults of the World War two generation, whether in the services or on the home front. It would therefore not be appropriate, and there are no plans, to extend the scheme by reducing the qualifying age.
Human Rights Commission
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the running costs of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and what plans he has to change its annual budget. [7576]
Mr. Hanson: The Commission's annual budget is currently £1.35 million. There are no plans to change the budget in the current spending review period (April 2005-March 2008).
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received for the position of Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; how many were shortlisted for the position; and what the nationality was of each applicant. [7578]
Mr. Hanson: There were two appointment processes for the Chief Commissioner post. The interview panel on the first process could not recommend an appointment.
Applicants were not asked to confirm their nationality.
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