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Fisheries

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board has for the future use of each of its vessels. [100261]

Maria Eagle: The FCB is to be abolished under Stage 2 of the Review of Public Administration and its functions, assets and liabilities transferred to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The future use of FCB vessels will form part of the considerations on how to carry out FCB functions once transferred.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to ensure financial accountability on the purchase of vessels between the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board and his Department. [100262]

Maria Eagle: The financial relationship between the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Department is
7 Nov 2006 : Column 1221W
governed by a Financial Memorandum which sets out aspects of the financial framework within which FCB is required to operate. This includes any procurement exercise undertaken by the Board.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board financed the purchase of each of its vessels; what the purpose of each vessel has been; and what finances were provided by outside funding bodies; [100263]

(2) how many boats are owned by the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board; when they were purchased; and what the total cost was of each vessel. [100264]

Maria Eagle: The Fisheries Conservancy Board have 18 vessels at their disposal. The requested details are as follows:

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11 metre RIB
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on Lough Erne Fishery.
Financed by	INTERREG project: Combined Fishery Enhancement and Management Programme 024789.
Total cost	£135,435
Purchase date	December 2005.
6.1 metre RIB
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on Upper Lough Erne, Lough Melvin or coast as required.
Financed by	INTERREG project: Combined Fishery Enhancement and Management Programme 024789.
Total cost	£39,362
Purchase date	November 2004.
11 metre RIB
Purpose	Protection and Conservation of the North Coast salmon fishery and long-range coastal work if required.
Financed by	Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Total cost	£130,907
Purchase date	December 2003
Two 4-metre Honda inflatables
Purpose	Protection and conservation duties within jurisdiction of the Board, if required for rapid deployment and difficult access to waterway encountered.
Financed by:	INTERREG project: Combined Fishery Enhancement and Management Programme 024789.
Total cost	£3,120
Purchase date	November 2004
Orkney 590TT + trailer.
Purpose	Electrofishing/survey work.
Financed by	INTERREG project: Combined Fishery Enhancement and Management Programme 024789.
Total cost	£15,950
Purchase date	November 2004
Cygnus Tornado.
Purpose	Protection, Conservation and Sampling duties on Lough Neagh.
Financed by	Insurance claim as previous patrol vessel stolen.
Total cost	£95,175 (£72,000 from insurance claim, rest Board finance.)
Purchase date	2000
Bayliner Trophy 5.2 metre.
Purpose	Protection and conservation duties in Lough Neagh and inflowing river systems.
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£13,000
Purchase date	1996
Dell Quay Dory 4.5 metre.
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on east coast area.
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£16,000
Purchase date	1996
Skeeter 550C.
Purpose	Protection and Conservation of Loughs Erne and Melvin.
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£13,000
Purchase date	1996
Humber Inflatable 13 D
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on Lower Bann and Lough
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£2,000
Purchase date	1996
Dell Quay Dory 15 foot
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on Lough Neagh or other inland lakes (access permitting for launch).
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£3,525
Purchase date	2002
Pioneer 12 foot PVC
Purpose	Protection and conservation duties at river mouths leading to Lough Neagh or other inland lakes as required.
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£2,000
Purchase date	1995.
Ernecraft G.R.P 17-foot general-purpose anglers boat
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties on inland lakes and rivers in Fermanagh area.
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£1,410
Purchase date	1998
Tornado RIB and trailer.
Purpose	Tender back up for 11 metre north coast RIB and other watercourses as required
Financed by	Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Total cost	£12,102
Purchase date	December 2003
Dromidair 16 foot
Purpose	Protection and Conservation duties in Fermanagh area
Financed by	FCB
Total cost	£1,200
Purchase date	1994
Two 19 foot Sheelin G.R.P boats
Purpose	These boats are notionally owned by the Board but maintained insured and operated by Clogher and District Angling Association.
Financed by	INTERREG project: Combined Fishery Enhancement and Management Programme 024789
Total cost	£4,555
Purchase date	November 2004

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the (a) extent of the need for gastric bypass surgery in the Province and (b) merits of providing funding to allow such surgery to be performed in the Province. [99779]

Paul Goggins: A review of the need for a Bariatric (obesity) surgery service in Northern Ireland has recently been undertaken and the results and recommendations are currently being considered by commissioners.

General Practices

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether staff in general practitioner practices are entitled to cost of living pay rises. [99480]

Paul Goggins: The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract, which came into effect from 1 April 2004, is a contract between the relevant health and social services board and a GMS practice for the provision of general medical services. Under the contract it is a matter for each GMS practice to determine its staff remuneration arrangements.

Holywell Hospital

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for how long the nine additional beds being provided at Holywell Hospital to assist in the transition in inpatient admissions are expected to remain. [99761]

Paul Goggins: These additional beds are being provided until a safe alternative service becomes
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available. Work has now been completed by the Northern Health and Social Services Board and Homefirst Health and Social Services Trust on the development of a Home Treatment model of care, which would reduce the overall level of need for in-patient admissions and consequently allow for these beds to safely close.

Hospices

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funding is being made available to hospices in Northern Ireland in the 2006-07 financial year; and which of them offer specialist palliative care home care services. [99795]

Paul Goggins: Four voluntary institutions provide hospice care in Northern Ireland. They each receive funding from the HPSS for the provision of agreed inpatient and community hospice services which includes specialist palliative home care services. The funding planned for 2006-07 is approximately as follows:

	£ million
Northern Ireland Hospice Care	1.524
Marie Curie Cancer Centre	1.38
Foyle Hospice	0.305
Southern Area Hospice	0.967
Total	4.176

In addition to the funding for services, the NI Hospice also receives a core grant of £124,000 from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety towards its administration costs.

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