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5 July 2006 : Column 1185W—continued
Since the launch in May 2004 up until 3 June 2006, 52,688 letters have been issued and 16,087 individuals have so far returned forms and have been admitted to
the scheme. Since that date a further 4,361 letters of offer have been issued for which registration is on-going.
In addition on 27 March 2006 I launched a mobile pilot handy van service in the Greater Belfast area. This service, which is being managed by Help the Aged, fits free additional home security measures for those older people who do not qualify for the LOC Scheme. There is also the Unknown Callers TV Advertising campaign aimed at providing information to older people about answering the door to bogus callers. This advert was screened for a total of six weeks during 2005.
The police offer free advice about home security and personal attack alarms to older people and several of the Community Safety Partnerships (there is a partnership in each district council area) have included the safety of older people as a priority issue in their action plans for tackling crime. These plans have now been agreed with the Community Safety Unit and the Partnerships are currently in the process of setting up their projects.
Finally, the police have established a special team to co-ordinate the investigations of attacks upon older people across the Downpatrick, Newry and Mourne, Craigavon, Banbridge, Armagh, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Cookstown, Omagh, Strabane and Magherafelt districts. I understand that this initiative has identified a number of persons who have been charged and are remanded in custody awaiting trail in relation to burglary offences against older people.
Teenage Pregnancy
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2006, Official Report, column 701-02W, on teenage births, how many under 16 year olds from Northern Ireland had a pregnancy terminated in each of the last five years. [81864]
Paul Goggins: The Abortion Act 1967 does not extend to Northern Ireland. Consequently the termination of a pregnancy is not permitted except where necessary to save the life of the mother or where continuation of the pregnancy would involve risk of serious injury to her physical or mental health.
While the information required is available, the numbers involved are very small and individual patients could potentially be identified. It is felt inappropriate therefore, to disclose information on the number of terminations performed on those aged 16 years or younger.
Under-age Drinking
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Police Service of Northern Ireland is taking to combat the delivery of alcohol by taxi firms to under-age drinkers; and if he will make a statement. [80118]
Paul Goggins: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has advised me that there have been a number of specific incidents in several District Command Units. Police in these DCUs have been in contact with local taxi firms/associations advising them of the implications should taxi drivers be found delivering alcohol.
Victims' March (Dublin)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 508W, on Victims' March (Dublin), whether he has had discussions with Republic of Ireland authorities on the attacks upon citizens of Northern Ireland while in Dublin. [69237]
Mr. Hain: I raised this issue with Irish Ministers at the time. The Taoiseach stated in the Dáil on 22 March that the rioting in Dublin on the day of the Love Ulster parade was in no way representative of the views of the vast majority of the people there. He further added that he did not believe that it would have any lasting impact on the peace process or on relations generally and that the rioting was organised by a small group of agitators and had been rightly condemned on all sides.
Violent Crime
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are being taken to tackle violent crime against the elderly in Northern Ireland. [48279]
Mr. Hanson: Older people in Northern Ireland are still the least likely group of citizens to become a victim of crime. However the recorded crime statistics for 2004-05 and 2005-06 to date would indicate that those persons aged 65 years and over are disproportionably affected by domestic burglary as a proportion of the population. It is also recognised that the fear of crime among older people is significant. To address these issues the Community Safety Unit of the Northern Ireland Office is currently leading on the development of a strategy for the safety of older people. It is planned to publish the draft strategy document for consultation in the autumn of 2006.
On a practical level the Unit has developed and funds a number of ongoing initiatives to tackle the problems of crime and the fear of crime amongst older people. These include the Unknown Callers TV advertising campaign which provides information to older people about answering the door to bogus callers and the Lock Out Crime Scheme that supplies and installs free of charge additional home security, in the form of door and window locks, door chains and viewers and external lighting to the homes of all those aged 65 and over who are in receipt of housing benefit or rate rebate. A mobile pilot Handy Van service was also launched on 27 March 2006 in the Greater Belfast area to fit free home security devices for the elderly who do not qualify for the LOC Scheme.
The police, in addition to offering free advice about personal security and personal attack alarms, have
introduced Operation Bullent in the Downpatrick, Newry and Mourne, Craigavon, Banbridge, Armagh, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Cookstown, Omagh, Strabane and Magherafelt districts. This project deals with the problem of travelling criminals who commit burglary offences, including those that involve violence, predominantly against persons over 65 years in these districts by co-ordinating their intelligence, investigations of crimes and delivery of preventative measures. I understand that this initiative has identified a number of persons who have been charged and are remanded in custody awaiting trial in relation to burglary offences against older people.
At community level, several of the Community Safety Partnerships (there is a partnership in each council area) after conducting a community audit, have included the safety of older people as a priority issue in their respective action plans to tackle crime. These plans have now been agreed with the Community Safety Unit and the partnerships are currently in the process of setting up their initiatives.
Waste Incineration
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the incineration of (a) municipal and (b) industrial waste is eligible for funding under the Environment and Renewable Energy Funding package. [80877]
Maria Eagle: The Environment and Renewable Energy Fund has an £18 million allocation for Energy from Waste projects, and those which could utilise either municipal or industrial waste may be eligible for support. The Department of the Environment’s Waste Management Strategy and its guidance on Best Practicable Environmental Option will be strictly adhered to for all assisted projects and this could include incineration as a suitable technology.
Water Service
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what debt recovery powers the new Government-owned water company in Northern Ireland will have. [81615]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan of 5 July 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary Question about what debt recovery powers the New Government-owned water company in Northern Ireland will have (81615). I have been asked t reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
There are no special measures in the water reform legislation to assist Northern Ireland Water Ltd in recovering debt and the new company is unable to disconnect domestic customers if they fall into debt. Northern Ireland Water Ltd will rely o the normal law relating to civil debt, which involves enforcement through the courts and via the Enforcements of Judgments Office, under the Judgments Enforcement (Northern Ireland) Rules 1981. Consideration is currently being given as to whether the
company will require any of the additional debt recovery measures that are available to other utility companies.
The implementation plan for the introduction of the new customer charging and billing arrangements includes an intensive communications campaign covering the domestic and non-domestic sectors. It will reflect input from the Consumer Council, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Advice NI on payment plans and avenues for advice on debt.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on water and sewage infrastructural improvements in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how much is expected to be spent over the next five years. [81616]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan dated 5 July 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary Question about how much has been spent on water and sewerage infrastructural improvements in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how much is expected to be spent over the next five years (81616). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
In the 10 year period from 1996-97 to 2005-06, Water Service’s capital expenditure on improvements to the water and wastewater infrastructure amounted to £556 million and £614 million respectively. The following table sets out the annual investment for each of these years.
| £ million | ||
| Water | Wastewater | |
Over the next five years, Water Service plans to invest a further £185 million on water infrastructure and £340 million on wastewater infrastructure. This will be augmented, during the first two years, by a programme of infrastructure improvements. The Alpha Project will provide water supply projects valued at around £110 million and the Omega project will provide wastewater and sludge disposal management projects valued at around £122 million
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the pension rights of those employed with Water Service will be protected when they transfer to the new government-owned company in April 2007; and whether any changes to the pension scheme require the agreement of the Minister with responsibility for regional development. [85647]
David Cairns:
Those employees transferring to Northern Ireland Water Limited will become members of a pension scheme which mirrors as closely as possible the terms of the civil service pension scheme. The new scheme will be required to have a certificate of broad comparability from the Government Actuary’s
Department in line with the ‘Fair Deal’ policy. The scheme’s members will have protections through the running of the scheme by the trustees who will be drawn on a 50:50 basis from management and member nominees; from the pension regulator under whose remit the scheme will fall; and through the scheme’s membership of the pension protection fund.
The precise terms of the trust deed and rules have yet to be finalised.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Department for regional development from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2006 on water infrastructure improvements; and to what projects the funding has been allocated. [85649]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 5 July 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how much was spent by the Department for Regional Development from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2006 on water infrastructure improvements; and to what projects the funding was allocated (85649). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
During the period from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2006, Water Service invested some £428 million on improvements to the water infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland. Almost 950 major capital projects, together with many minor works projects, were carried out to improve a number of water treatment works, including Drumaroad, Lough Bradan, Fofanny and Derg. Improvements to the watermain network system were also carried out. The scale and extent of this work varied from small watermain extensions to serve individual housing developments, to large-scale projects such as the replacement of part of the Mourne Conduit which transfers water from the Silent Valley to supply Belfast and surrounding areas.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what European Union funding was spent on the upgrade of water infrastructure in Northern Ireland between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 2006; and to what projects the funding was allocated. [85650]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 5 July 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how much European Union funding was spent on the upgrade of water infrastructure in Northern Ireland between 1st April 1990 and 31st March 2006; and to what projects the funding was allocated (85650). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
During the period from 1st April 1990 to 31st March 2006 Water Service, received £44.822 million of European Union funds for improvements to water treatment works. The funding was allocated to projects benefiting the following works:
| £ million | |
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