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14 Jun 2006 : Column 1262W—continued
Medication (Sell-by Dates)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken by pharmacies in Northern Ireland to ensure that (a) over-the-counter drugs, (b) alternative medicines and (c) prescription medicines are all within their sell by dates; and if he will make a statement. [75475]
Paul Goggins: A pharmacist is required to conform to all the legal controls pertaining to the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, whether prescription or over- the-counter. In addition his/her professional standards of ethics and practice require him/her to ensure that dispensed products are in date.
This is also the case in relation to homeopathic or herbal medicines. However, many alternative therapies are not licensed medicines and are, therefore, subject to the laws governing foods.
National Insurance Numbers
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for National Insurance numbers made in Northern Ireland have been refused in each of the last five years; [76405]
(2) how many applications for National Insurance numbers made in Northern Ireland have been refused as the result of an immigration check in each of the last five years. [76446]
Mr. Hanson: The information is outlined in the following table.
| National Insurance number applications refused | |
| Financial year | Number |
Information on applications refused as a result of an immigration check is not available.
National Stadium
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many discussions officials from (a) his office and (b) the strategic investment board have had with (i) Lisburn city council, (ii) Belfast city council and (iii) other local authorities on the proposals for a new national stadium. [74717]
Maria Eagle: Officials from the Department of Culture Art and Leisure (DCAL) and the strategic investment board (SIB) have had one formal meeting with Belfast city council specifically on the proposal for a new multi-sports stadium. In addition SIB officials have had several informal discussions with Belfast city council officials. There have been no discussions between officials from either my office or SIB with Lisburn city council or other local authorities on the same issue.
NHS Finances
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what NHS trusts in Northern Ireland are currently in financial deficit; and what the size of each deficit is. [77325]
Paul Goggins:
Final audited and approved 2005-06 accounts for the 19 health and personal social services (HPSS) trusts will not be available until August 2006. However, based on projections as at 31 March, only one trust, Sperrin Lakeland, is forecasting a deficit. The forecast is £90,000, which is treated by the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety as being within an acceptable margin of break even as it represents only 0.06 per cent. of the trust’s 2005-06 income.
Planning Applications
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) residential, (b) commercial and (c) industrial planning applications were (i) received and (ii) decided by the planning service in Northern Ireland in (A) 2004-05 and (B) 2005-06. [76458]
David Cairns: The number of (a) residential, (b) commercial and (c) industrial planning applications that were (i) received and (ii) decided by the Planning Service in Northern Ireland in (A) 2004-05 and (B) 2005-06 are in the following table.
| Valid applications received | Decisions issued | |||
| Category | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
| Note: There is no direct correlation between the number of planning applications received and the number of decisions issued . | ||||
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of residential planning applications in Northern Ireland was processed to decision or withdrawal within 14 weeks in the last period for which figures are available. [76496]
David Cairns: In the fiscal year 2005-06 the proportion of residential applications processed by the planning service within 14 weeks to decision or withdrawal was 29.77 per cent.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of planning applications in Northern Ireland was processed to decision or withdrawal within 15 weeks in the last period for which figures are available. [76497]
David Cairns: In the fiscal year 2005-06 the proportion of applications processed by the planning service within 15 weeks to decision or withdrawal was 33.11 per cent.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what average time was taken by the planning service to process planning applications in the most recent period for which figures are available. [76498]
David Cairns: In the fiscal year 2005-06 the average time to process planning applications by the planning service was 31.04 weeks.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the conclusions were of the planning service’s 2005-06 Customer Satisfaction Survey. [76503]
David Cairns:
The 2005-06 customer survey of applicants/agents has just recently been completed and
results are currently being analysed. I will write to the hon. Member to advise him of the results when they become available.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of industrial applications were processed by the planning service to decision or withdrawal within 17 weeks in the last period for which figures are available. [76504]
David Cairns: In the fiscal year 2005-06 the proportion of industrial applications processed by the planning service within 17 weeks to decision or withdrawal was 40.01 per cent.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of commercial applications were processed by the planning service to decision or withdrawal within 18 weeks in the last period for which figures are available. [76505]
David Cairns: In the fiscal year 2005-06 the proportion of commercial applications processed by the planning service within 18 weeks to decision or withdrawal was 42.65 per cent.
Somme Commemoration
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to hold events in Northern Ireland to mark the 90(th) anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. [76647]
Maria Eagle: The award winning exhibition “Conflict: The Irish at War” opened in December 2003 and will be on display until the museum’s closure for redevelopment at the end of August. The exhibition incorporates artefacts and stories associated with the experience of Ulstermen at the Somme in 1916.
The Ulster Museum has also advised and contributed to a major exhibition marking the Battle at the Historial de la grand Guerre Chateaux in Peronne, France.
The Government will be represented at the service of remembrance at the cenotaph in Belfast by Lord Rooker who will lay a wreath.
The Secretary of State will attend the annual commemoration of the Battle of the Somme at the Ulster Tower in France on 1 July.
Sustainable Energy
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in Northern Ireland have requested Northern Ireland Electricity to supply them with eco energy in each of the last two years. [76325]
Maria Eagle: Northern Ireland Electricity has confirmed the following figures for the number of customers on their eco energy tariff:
| As at March each year: | Customers |
Vaccines
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many MMR vaccines the Department of Health and Social Services has committed to purchasing for use in Northern Ireland for 2006-07 and 2007-08. [77375]
Paul Goggins: The Department of Health (London) purchases stocks of MMR vaccine under the national childhood vaccine contract to meet the needs of the entire UK vaccination programme. Northern Ireland participates in this national contract and HPSS trusts purchase supplies of MMR vaccine as required to meet local needs. Vaccine is purchased on a demand basis from UK stocks based on previous usage. Therefore Northern Ireland has not committed to purchase any firm quantity of MMR vaccine for 2006-07 and 2007-08 but will purchase vaccine to meet the needs of the vaccination programme.
Waterside Health Centre
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the expected final cost to public funds is of the design, preparation and build of the new Waterside Health Centre in Londonderry. [76645]
Paul Goggins: The development of the new Waterside Health Centre, Distillery Brae, is being taken forward independently by three GP practices in the area. The full use of the building has yet to be confirmed, but, as part of the development, Foyle Health and Social Services Trust has agreed to utilise the third floor of the building in order to provide a range of essential local health services. The cost of the design, preparation and fit-out for this floor will fall to Foyle HSS Trust and is estimated to be £927,417.
| Level 3 | £ |
Solicitor-General
Child Sexual Abuse (Northern Ireland)
Lady Hermon: To ask the Solicitor-General what criteria are used by the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland in deciding whether to prosecute those found guilty of sexual abuse against children; and how many such prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [76402]
The Solicitor-General:
All prosecution decisions are reached in accordance with the provisions of the Code for Prosecutors in that there must be sufficient evidence to afford a reasonable prospect of a conviction and prosecution must be in the public interest. The Public
Prosecution Service takes all allegations of sexual abuse very seriously and an indication of the factors that are required to be considered in reaching decisions are set out in the Code.
The following table sets out the figures requested for prosecutions in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
| Crown court | Magistrates court | |
Constitutional Affairs
Antisocial Behaviour (York)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what representations she has received from the City of York council scrutiny board on the role of the courts in prosecuting repeat offenders of anti social behaviour resulting from alcohol and drug abuse; [74868]
(2) if she will meet the City of York council scrutiny board to discuss (a) reasons for anti social behaviour in York and (b) means of reducing and eliminating such anti social behaviour; [74869]
(3) if she will meet the courts service in York to discuss the conclusions of the City of York scrutiny board review of drug and alcohol-related anti social behaviour in the city. [74870]
Ms Harman: A letter to the Home Office from the Chief Executive of the City of York council, enclosing the ‘Final Report and Recommendations of the Economic Development and Community Safety Scrutiny Board’ on alcohol and drug-related anti-social behaviour, was received by the Department for Constitutional Affairs on 1 June 2006. A response will be sent shortly. If asked, I will meet with the City of York council scrutiny board and representatives of the court service in York to discuss the reasons for anti social behaviour in York and the means of reducing and eliminating such anti social behaviour.
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