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16 Jun 2006 : Column 1501W—continued
Care Leavers
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the new regulations and guidance announced by his Department in Northern Ireland on 25 May 2005 to improve services for young people leaving care. [77310]
Paul Goggins: The Children (Leaving Care) Act (NI) 2002 and supporting regulations and guidance came into operation on 1 September 2005.
The Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) appointed a Regional Implementation Project Officer in September 2005 to contribute to the successful implementation of the Children (Leaving Care) Act, by ensuring that a framework is established to support the development of consistent standards and practices across Northern Ireland, so that young people leaving care are afforded optimal life chances as they make the transition to independent living. A number of working groups are currently working on the implementation of various aspects of the legislation taking account of both the guidance and regulations. A complete baseline analysis of the leaving care population was undertaken at the end of September 2005. This analysis will be repeated at the end of September 2006.
On 8 June 2006, the Department hosted a ‘stock take’ conference. This provided an opportunity for Health and Social Service Trust leaving and after care teams to share their experience of the new legislation and the implementation process to date. The Department will also host an assessment seminar on the implementation of the legislation in November/December 2006, i.e. roughly one year after the introduction of the legislation. The views of young people affected by the legislation and other stakeholders will be sought on all aspects of the legislation including the operation of the regulations and guidance.
Corporation Tax
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has discussed the impact on business growth in Northern Ireland of different rates of corporation tax between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. [77091]
Maria Eagle: The Secretary of State has discussed with business leaders a range of policy initiatives to stimulate the Northern Ireland economy, including the issue of a reduction in the rate of corporation tax. However, taxation is an excepted matter, which is the responsibility of HM Treasury.
Departmental Estate
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) land and (b) property his Department (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency; and if he will make a statement. [33251]
Mr. Hain: The NIO holds 70 properties of which 37 are leased and 33 owned.
The constituency background is as follows:
| Leased | Owned | |
The NIO does not hold any land other than the land on which the property is based.
Education and Library Board Expenses
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on (a) travel and (b) attendance for each independent member of the South Eastern Education and Library Board in each of the last five years. [77224]
Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer on 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 365W. Details of the emoluments paid annually by the South Eastern Education and Library Board to its members are published in the Board’s annual reports and annual accounts, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These include details of the highest payment for any Board member, the aggregate amount of emoluments, and the number of members who received emoluments falling within a five-band range.
Energy Efficiency
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent in Northern Ireland on raising public awareness of energy efficiency in each of the last five years. [75589]
Maria Eagle: Northern Ireland Government Departments incurred the following expenditure for the promotion of energy efficiency in Northern Ireland over the last five years.
| £ | |
Gas
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions has he has met representatives of Phoenix Gas to discuss gas prices in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [77222]
Maria Eagle: Angela Smith, the Minister formerly responsible for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, met with representatives of Phoenix Natural Gas (PNG) on three occasions in the last 12 months.
Illegal Food Imports
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much illegal food product was seized at each airport in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many people have been prosecuted. [77425]
David Cairns: The information is as follows:
| Belfast International Airport | ||
| Number of seizures | Animal and plant product total (Kg) | |
| Belfast City Airport | ||
| Number of seizures | Animal and plant product total (Kg) | |
Litter/Dumping
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fixed penalty notices for (a) litter and (b) illegal dumping in Northern Ireland (i) were issued, (ii) were paid, (iii) were rescinded and (iv) remained outstanding six months later in each of the last three years. [76646]
David Cairns:
The Department of the Environment does not hold information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for littering. There are currently no legislative powers to issue fixed penalty notices for
illegal dumping. However, The Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 permitted councils to retain receipts from fixed penalty notices issued for littering and dog fouling from 1 December 2005. It also gave the Department of the Environment the power to obtain information on the use of its fixed penalty receipts. Information on the use of the receipts, together with other relevant information, will be requested after the scheme has been operating for one year.
Mental Health
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were diagnosed with (a) schizophrenia and (b) catatonia in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [77363]
Paul Goggins: The number of people diagnosed with (a) schizophrenia and (b) catatonia in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years is not available as some people with such problems are not in contact with healthcare providers in a hospital setting. However, information is available on the number of in-patients in mental health hospitals in Northern Ireland as at 31 March 2003 and 2004, The following table provides figures on the number of such in-patients who had been diagnosed with (a) schizophrenia and (b) catatonia.
| Diagnosis | ||
| As at 31 March | (a) schizophrenia | (b) catatonia |
| Source: Northern Ireland Psychiatric Census of long-stay and detained patients. | ||
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) males and (b) females have suffered from (i) severe depressive illness, (ii) catatonia and (iii) a prolonged or severe manic episode in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by age group. [77364]
Paul Goggins: Information on the total number of people suffering from (i) severe depressive illness, (ii) catatonia and (iii) a prolonged or severe manic episode is not available as some people with such problems are not in contact with healthcare providers in a hospital setting. However, information is available on the number of in-patients in mental health hospitals in Northern Ireland as at 31 March 2003 and 2004. The following table provide figures on the number of such in-patients who had been diagnosed with (i) severe depressive illness, (ii) catatonia and (iii) a prolonged or severe manic episode. The small numbers involved make it unsafe to disclose the age-group and gender of these diagnostic groups without risking patient confidentiality.
| As at 31st March | ||
| Diagnosis | 2003 | 2004 |
| Source: Northern Ireland Psychiatric Census of long-stay and detained patients. | ||
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost was of overnight accommodation for (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in each Northern Ireland Department, including the Northern Ireland Office, staying overnight in the (i) UK, (ii) the Republic of Ireland and (iii) other countries in each of the last three years. [69229]
Mr. Hanson: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The cost of overnight accommodation for civil servants employed by Northern Ireland Departments, excluding the Northern Ireland Office, for the period 1 November 2004 to 31 March 2006 is set out as follows:
| £000 | |||
| UK | ROI | Others | |
These figures relate only to accommodation booked through the NICS contracted booking agent and do not include any accommodation booked through other channels as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost. Costs of accommodation booked through the booking agent prior to 1 November 2004 are not available. Costs by Department are also not available.
The cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence for civil servants employed by the Northern Ireland Office for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006 is as follows:
| £000 | |
| Amount | |
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