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Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) EU foreign nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals have been employed in (i) each department in Northern Ireland and (ii) the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last five years; what vetting procedures are in place for each category of staff; and whether this includes liaison with foreign law enforcement agencies. [68005]
Mr. Hanson: Recruitment Service of the Department of Finance and Personnel has responsibility for providing a vetting service for all employees appointed to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS).
The vetting process for all prospective appointees to the NICS includes a number of levels which will be determined by the nature of the duties the appointee is required to carry out. Approximately 95 per cent. of all appointees are required to satisfy a Basic Check level which consists of an identification check as well as a Criminal Record Check (CRC). The CRC, which is undertaken by the Criminal Records Division of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), identifies all instances where an individual has either been convicted of an offence or where a criminal case is pending.
A small number of posts within the NICS may require enhanced vetting. In addition to those checks carried out under 'Basic Check', enhanced vetting, which is undertaken by the NI Security and Vetting Unit of the NIO, includes an assessment of an applicant's credit and pecuniary history and an assessment of the individual as a security risk.
Recruitment Service does not have any direct links, or liaise in any way, with foreign law enforcement agencies, when vetting prospective recruits.
The figures for those employed by Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments within the years and the categories specified are contained within the following table.
| Financial Year | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |||||
| Classification | EU | Non-EU | EU | Non-EU | EU | Non-EU | EU | Non-EU | EU | Non-EU |
Domestic Rates
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the simulated average effective tax rate that would notionally have been levied on domestic rates bills in respect of the (a) district and (b) regional rate in (i) Northern Ireland as a whole and (ii) each district in Northern Ireland in 2006-07. [86816]
Mr. Hanson: The simulated average district rate for 2006-07 is 0.00258 or £2.58 per £1,000 of capital value, while the regional rate is simulated to be 0.00340 or £3.40 per £,000 of capital value. This gives an overall average rate of 0.00598 or £5.98 per £1,000 of capital value. This estimate simulates what domestic rates would have been in 2006-07 had capital values been in place. Individual district rates are shown in the table.
| Simulation of domestic capital value rates for 2006-07 | ||||
| District rate (pence) | Regional rate (pence) | Total rate (pence) | Total rate per £1,000 of CV | |
| Notes:
1. Based on VLA domestic revaluation data at 26 May 2006. 2.
Missing or zero capital values are omitted. 3. Rates based on
2006-07 rate revenues. 4. Simulates what domestic rates would
have been in 2006-07 had capital values been in place. 5. For
example, the average bill for a domestic property valued at
£112,000 would be: 112,000 x 0.00598 =
£669.80. | ||||
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest estimate is of the average domestic rates bill per dwelling that will be paid in 2007-08 in (a) Northern Ireland as a whole and (b) each district in Northern Ireland. [86819]
Mr. Hanson: The average rate bill for domestic properties in Northern Ireland in 2007-08 is estimated at £705. This figure takes into account the planned 6 per cent. increase in the regional rate between 2006-07 and 2007-08, but also assumes that the district rate set by councils will also increase by an average of 6 per cent. during this time.
The following table the information for each district council in Northern Ireland. Again, these assume that both regional and district rates will increase by 6 per cent. in 2007-08.
| Average domestic rate bills (projected) 2007-08 | |
| £ | |
It should also be noted that none of the estimates given take account of those households which will be in receipt of any of the domestic rate reliefs which will be available, such as housing benefit, the new rate relief scheme or transitional relief.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average domestic rates bill per dwelling was in (a) Northern Ireland as a whole and (b) each district in Northern Ireland in 2006-07. [86820]
Mr. Hanson: The average domestic rate liability for properties in Northern Ireland in 2006-07, combining both regional and district rates, is estimated at £668.
The following table provides the information for each district council in Northern Ireland.
These estimates show only the average rate liability for properties, as information is not available on the level of housing benefit that each household may receive.
| Average domestic rate liability 2006-07 (£) | |
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest estimate is of the net revenue to be raised from domestic rates in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. [86821]
Mr. Hanson: Domestic rates consists of two elements, the Regional Rate, set by the Secretary of State on a uniform basis across Northern Ireland, and the district rate, set separately by each district council relevant to the location of the property The current estimates of total revenue to be raised from domestic rates in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are detailed in the table as follows.
| Total estimated domestic rate revenue | ||
| £ million | ||
| ( 1) Regional rate | ( 2) District rate | |
| (1)
Based on domestic Regional Rate increases of 19 per cent. in 2006-07
and 6 per cent. in 2007-08 as set out in Northern Ireland Priorities
and Budget
2006-08. (2) District councils set their rate in February of the preceding year so figure for 2007-08 not yet available. | ||
These estimates will be subject to revision as information is updated.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the expected change in the regional domestic rate levy is for 2007-08; and what the change was in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2005-06. [86844]
Mr. Hanson: The expected change in the regional domestic rate levy for 2007-08 is £21.2 million. The estimated changes in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2005-06 are £42.1 million and £26.3 million respectively.
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