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7 Nov 2006 : Column 1252W—continued
Royal Belfast Hospital
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the infant surgical unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. [99778]
Paul Goggins: The infant surgical unit in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) provides a service for sick infants, many of whom require highly specialised surgery and post-operative care.
The unit was originally situated in one of the oldest parts of the RBHSC building. That ward has been temporarily closed, and patients have been relocated within other wards in the hospital. As part of a refurbishment within RBHSC, the infant surgical unit will reopen in new facilities adjacent to an existing children’s surgical ward. This will provide improved accommodation that can more appropriately meet the needs of ill babies and their families. It is expected that this new unit be ready for use in March 2007.
These temporary arrangements have not led to any reduction in beds or diminution of the service.
School Governors
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full meetings of boards of governors from each (a) primary and (b) post-primary school in the Province have taken place in each of the last five years. [99470]
Maria Eagle: This information is not available from the Department. There is a requirement on the Boards of Governors of all grant-aided schools to meet at least once a term.
Septic Tanks
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responsibilities and obligations are placed upon the Department for Regional Development Water Service to empty septic tanks at residential properties in Northern Ireland. [100283]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
Letter from Katharine Bryan, dated 7 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what responsibilities and obligations are placed upon the Department for Regional Development Water Service to empty septic tanks at residential properties in Northern Ireland (100283). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Water Service’s Chief Executive.
The Department for Regional Water Service has no responsibilities or obligations to empty any septic tanks in Northern Ireland. Responsibility for the maintenance of private septic tanks lies with the householder and not with Water Service. However, under Article 37 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973, Water Service has the discretion to agree to desludge a private septic tank subject to conditions it considers appropriate, including those relating to charges.
Water Service has entered into a number of Septic Tank Emptying Agreements with householders in Northern Ireland where the specified conditions have been met. The conditions relate principally to health and safety and practical operational matters.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests received by the Department for Regional Development Water Service to empty septic tanks at residential homes in Northern Ireland were refused in each of the last five years. [100285]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 7 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many requests received by the Department for Regional Development Water Service to empty septic tanks at residential homes in Northern Ireland were refused in each of the last five years (100285). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
Water Service does not have a statutory duty to empty septic tanks but may enter into agreements with individual customers provided certain conditions are met (relating to health and safety and practical operational matters). The service is currently provided free of charge, on behalf of Water Service, by private contractors.
Water Service would only refuse to provide the desludging service to any property if the necessary conditions have not been met or the sewage treatment facility at the property was of a type considered to be outside the scope of the policy in place at that time. Information on such refusals is not held in a formatwhich is readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bio-disc septic tanks are in use at properties in Northern Ireland; and whether he plans to include the emptying of bio-disc septic tanks in the duties of the Department for Regional Development Water Service. [100286]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
Letter from Katharine Bryan, dated 7 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many bio-disc septic tanks are in use at properties in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to include the emptying of bio-disc septic tanks in the duties of the Department for Regional Development Water Service. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
The Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service, which is responsible for approving the use of septic tanks has advised that discharge consents have been granted for approximately 95,000 single domestic dwellings served by some form of septic tank. This Agency however, does not hold records to indicate how many of these septic tank systems would incorporate a bio-disc in the treatment process.
Water Service does not have a statutory duty to empty septic tanks but may enter into agreements with individual customers provided certain conditions are met (relating to health and safety
and practical operational matters). The service is currently provided free of charge, on behalf of Water Service, by private contractors.
However, because bio-disk sewage treatment plants have mechanical/electrical components, they present additional, and different, risks to contractor operatives than septic tanks and were therefore deemed to be outside the scope of the contract arrangements.
Water Service is aware that there are increasing numbers of these treatment plants being installed, generating requests to Water Service for an emptying service. As part of the ongoing wider review of our septic tank policy, consideration has been given to the feasibility and cost of including the desludging of bio-disc type tanks within the existing service. I am pleased to advise that following negotiation with our contractors, the desludging of bio-disc type septic tanks has now been included in the contract with the necessary practical arrangements concluded on 24 October 2006.
However, it should be noted that the new arrangements will only be short-term, as the free septic tank emptying service will be terminated in April 2007 following the introduction of the new domestic charging scheme for all services provided by the Government-owned Company.
Severance Payments (Police)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons his Department gave prior approval to the Northern Ireland Police Fund to make a severance payment to Mr. Desmond Clayton; how much was approved as a payment; and what information the Northern Ireland Police Fund submitted to his Department on (a) the dismissal of and (b) the severance payment for Mr. Clayton. [100314]
Paul Goggins: It has not been possible to answer this question before the end of the current parliamentary session.
Sewerage
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment was made of the potential model for the operation of the water sewerage service; how and by whom that assessment was conducted; how much it cost; and if he will make a statement. [100311]
David Cairns: A Strategic and Financial Review of the Water Service was undertaken on behalf of the Department for Regional Development. This provided advice on a range of options and a detailed analysis of two structural and financial options for the future delivery of water and sewerage services including a Government corporation model under which Water Service would be Government-owned, but subject to Companies Act legislation. The work was undertaken by a consortium led by UBS Investment Bank, supported by NERA Economic Consulting, Halcrow, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Deloitte and Touche. The assignment cost £482,000.
The report was published on the DRD website and can be accessed at http://www.waterreformni.gov.uk/water_service_final_report.pdf. A copy of this report will be placed in the Library.
South Eastern Education and Library Board
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much in costs and expenses was incurred by the commissioners overseeing the management of the South Eastern Education and Library Board in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by main cost area. [99787]
Maria Eagle: I understand from the chief executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board that the costs and expenses incurred by the commissioners during the period 7 July 2006 to31 October 2006 were as follows:
| Amount (£) | |
Special Educational Needs
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding was allocated by his Department for special educational needs services in the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) area in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what plans he has for future such funding; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of special educational needs provision in the SEELB catchment area. [98373]
Maria Eagle: Column A of the table shows the funding spent on special needs education from the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s (SEELB) budget in each of the five years from 2000-01. Column B shows the corresponding funding from the Department to voluntary grammar and grant- maintained integrated schools in each of these years.
| £ million | ||
| Financial year | A | B |
Special Needs
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults with special needs there are in each health and social services trust area in Northern Ireland; and what care facilities are available to them in each trust area. [92215]
Paul Goggins: The number of adults with a learning disability in contact with social services in health and social services trusts, for the year ending 31 March 2005, are given in the following table.
| Trust | Learning disabled |
Information on care facilities available in each trust area is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information becomes available and place a copy in the Library.
Speech and Language Therapy
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Minister for Health expects to bring forward funding and other measures to improve delivery of and access to speech and language therapy in the Western Board area. [92177]
Paul Goggins: The Children and Young People’s Funding Package, announced in March 2006 provided £4 million recurrent funding to establish multi-disciplinary health teams to work in school settings. Two multi-disciplinary teams will be established in the Western Health and Social Services Board. They will support existing services and help reduce waiting lists for speech and language therapy. When the Speech and Language Therapy Task Force reports in June 2007 it will inform future service provision.
Surveillance
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his approval is required before the Police Service of Northern Ireland is permitted to install bugging equipment as part of a surveillance operation. [90714]
Paul Goggins: The hon. Gentleman will understand that it is not Government policy to comment on specific national security and intelligence matters
Sustainable Schools Policy
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the sustainable schools policy is expected to be published; and what factors have delayed the completion of the policy. [99770]
Maria Eagle: The Department of Education plans to issue the policy approach on sustainable schools once the independent Strategic Review of Education being led by Professor Bain has reported. The review is expected to be completed at the end of this month. The review includes in its terms of reference the strategic planning and organisation of the schools estate and its conclusions and recommendations will inform the policy on sustainability of schools.
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