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Education
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps (a) education and library boards and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools are taking in their rationalisation plans to ensure that the principles of the Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland: A Shared Future are delivered; [78978]
(2) what the timescale is for the strategic review of the schools estate; and whether it will consider how promoting cross-community and cross-sectoral sharing can be incorporated into rationalisation of schools. [78980]
Maria Eagle: The independent Strategic Review of Education will consider how strategic planning and rationalisation of the schools' estate can best encourage and support cross-community and cross-sector collaboration and models of schooling that promote greater integrating of education. It is due to be completed by November 2006. In line with the First Triennial Action Plan for A Shared Future, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and the Education and Library Boards will be required to demonstrate that options for collaboration/sharing on a cross-community basis have been considered and fully explored in developing their plans for reorganisation/rationalisation of the schools' estate. The outcome of the strategic review of education may lead to further refinement of the commitments and detailed actions in the Action Plan.
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role the new district councils will have in planning for educational choice in Northern Ireland following the Review of Public Administration. [78981]
David Cairns: As part of the implementation of the Review of Public Administration, district councils will be given community planning powers. The Department of Environment (DoE) is currently developing proposals to inform the necessary legislation. The community planning process will afford local government the opportunity to influence the planning for educational choice
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) who will be responsible for ensuring that actions to support greater sharing in education under the Triennial Action Plan for A Shared Future are monitored; [78984]
(2) what powers he has to ensure that all educational partners in Northern Ireland meet the requirements of the Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations: A Shared Future? [78985]
Mr. Hanson: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is responsible for monitoring the actions flowing from the Triennial Action Plan of A Shared Future.
The Shared Future Triennial Action Plan, published on 27 April 2006, sets out ministerial commitments and actions in relation to A Shared Future. Specific actions are set out to promote greater sharing in education.
The commitments and actions are underpinned by existing duties and obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 as amended.
Emergency Services
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks have been recorded on each emergency service in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [78726]
Paul Goggins: The numbers of attacks on emergency services in Northern Ireland in each of the last three calendar years are as follows:
Energy Prices
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the effect of gas prices on Northern Ireland industry. [78787]
Maria Eagle: As a result of increased prices in world energy markets, gas prices have increased across the UK in recent months.
On 30 January my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), announced the introduction of competition for natural gas users in the Phoenix licence area of Greater Belfast and Larne. This will be introduced on a phased basis to all customers by 1 January 2007 and end the monopoly position held by Phoenix. Competition elsewhere has provided consumers with increased choice of supplier, greater transparency, improved customer service and a downward pressure on the price of gas.
In March 2006 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a further five year exemption from 2006-11 from the climate change levy for natural gas industrial and commercial users in Northern Ireland. This will improve competitiveness and save £20 million over the five year period. It makes natural gas a more competitive fuel and encourages the uptake of gas which facilitates the roll-out to domestic customers in ten towns outside the greater Belfast and Larne area.
False Alarm Call-outs
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many false alarm call-outs have been registered by the (a) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, (b) Police Service of Northern Ireland and (c) Northern Ireland Fire Service in each of the last three years, broken down by constituency; how many prosecutions were pursued in each case; and if he will make a statement. [78514]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) dealt with the following numbers of false alarm call-outs in the last two financial years. Figures prior to 2004-05 are not available.
| 2005-06 | |||
| Parliamentary constituency | Hoax caller | No case/Nothing found at scene | Total |
| 2004-05 | |||
| Parliamentary constituency | Hoax caller | No case/Nothing found at scene | Total |
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) dealt with the following numbers of hoax calls in each of the last three calendar years.
| Parliamentary constituency | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |
In addition, NIFRS dealt with the following numbers of false alarms from Automated Fire Alarms:
| Parliamentary constituency | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has advised that the information requested is not collected in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Under the Communications Act 2003, the maximum penalty for those caught making hoax or malicious calls is a fine not exceeding £5,000 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months. NIAS and NIFRS have not pursued any prosecutions to date.
Hoax calls and false alarms are serious distraction to the excellent work done by the emergency services and are a waste of their time and resources. However, the most serious aspect is the potential for serious injury or loss of life if the emergency services are not available to respond to genuine emergencies or are delayed in responding because crews are deployed responding to hoax calls or false alarms.
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