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28 Nov 2006 : Column 587W—continued
Sexual Orientation (Discrimination)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses he has received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals to the consultations by the Office of First and Deputy First Minister on (i) proposals to outlaw discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services and (ii) its draft sexual orientation strategy; and if he will place the responses in the Library. [103394]
Mr. Hanson: The consultation on the proposals to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services received:
(a) 39 responses from organisations; and
(b) 334 responses from individuals.
The consultation on the draft sexual orientation strategy received:
(a) 18 responses from organisations; and
(b) 0 responses from individuals.
Copies of all the consultation responses from both consultations are being placed in the Library.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 were published prior to the publication of the results of the consultation by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister on proposals to outlaw discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services; and if he will make a statement. [103725]
Mr. Hanson: It was always the intention to publish the consultation responses and the Government's views on them around the same time as the Regulations were published.
The results of the consultation are now on the OFMDFM website along with all the consultation responses received. In line with a request in a separate
parliamentary question from the hon. Gentleman, copies of the consultation responses are being placed in the Library.
Tarlov Cyst
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services are available in the Province to people with a Tarlov cyst. [103454]
Paul Goggins: Tarlov cysts can be detected, treated and managed by orthopaedic specialists across the Province. It may often be managed in conjunction with neurosurgical input—although this is not exclusively the case.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many operations for Tarlov cysts have been performed in the Province in each of the last 10 years. [103455]
(2) how many patients from Northern Ireland have been referred for surgery for a Tarlov cyst to England in each of the last 10 years. [103456]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of patients in the Province diagnosed with a Tarlov cyst. [103453]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where patients in Northern Ireland with a Tarlov cyst are referred to if treatment is not available in the Province. [103457]
Paul Goggins: Decisions on referral are made on the basis of the individual case. Most cases of Tarlov cysts can be managed in Northern Ireland. Where a very specialised procedure is required then the patient will be referred to an appropriate UK facility.
Tattoos
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the annual costs to the health service in the Province of the removal of tattoos. [103471]
Paul Goggins: The episodes arising in a hospital daycase or in-patient environment which were specifically identified as including removal of tattoos were as follows:
| Financial year | Number of daycases | Total cost £000 |
Further information is not available.
Traffic Control Staff
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many traffic control attendants are employed by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service in Northern Ireland. [102477]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Gregory Campbell, dated 28 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding how many traffic control attendants are currently employed by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service in Northern Ireland. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
You will be aware that the responsibility for enforcing parking regulations was recently transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development. I should explain that National Car Parks Ltd. (NCP) was awarded the contract for the Operation of Parking and Enforcement Services on 18 August 2006, and their contract commenced on 30 October 2006. NCP are now responsible for employing Traffic Attendants to carry out the enforcement of parking regulations on behalf of Roads Service. These Traffic Attendants do not have any responsibility for directing traffic.
There are currently 129 Traffic Attendants employed by NCP to provide enforcement of parking regulations and this number will subsequently rise to approximately 178 to meet the deployment requirements stated in the Contract.
Victims' Commissioner Appointment
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement in response to the criticisms made of his Departments by Mr. Justice Girvan. [102378]
Mr. Hain: The Attorney General has announced that the issues raised by Mr. Justice Girvan in his judgment will be inquired into. There will be full co-operation with that inquiry. I absolutely reject any suggestion that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the court in relation to the appointment of Bertha McDougall to undertake important preparatory work prior to the appointment of a Victims’ Commissioner, including providing me with a report on Justice for Victims.
Water Service
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the asset value is of the (a) vehicles and (b) plant referred to in the answer of 30 October 2006, Official Report, column 205W; and why vehicles and plant will not be covered by the draft licence which is being developed by the Department of Regional Development. [103646]
David Cairns: The asset value of (a) the vehicles was £4,010,000 and (b) the plant £2,056,000 (this relates to mobile plant). The licence has been developed taking account of regulatory best practice in the sector and the inclusion of such assets within the licence does not reflect best practice.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated transformation costs are in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for Water Service to Northern Ireland Water Ltd. [103666]
David Cairns:
The Invest to Save budget for 2006-07 is £39.5millon. This funds transformation costs including major projects to deliver efficiencies and operational improvements. The transformation budget
for the financial year 2007-08 will be defined in the strategic business plan which has not yet been finalised.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which companies held the four contracts extended beyond the original agreement dates referred to in the answer of 30 October 2006, Official Report, column 191W; and what percentage of the original contract the extension value represented. [103675]
David Cairns: The hon. Gentleman's previous question had asked how many contracts, related to the reform of water and sewerage services since 2001, had been extended in terms of (a) costs and (b) services required.
The information requested on each of the four contracts referred to in the answer of 30 October 2006, Official Report, column 191W, is as follows:
The Strategic and Financial Consultancy was provided by a UBS-led consortium; the contract was extended by £33,700 which represents just under 9 per cent. of the original contract value.
The Financial Advisory consultancy was let to Deloitte and Touche; this contract was extended by £351,000 and represents a 30 per cent. increase in the value of the original contract.
The Programme Management Consultancy was let to Hedra Consortium and was extended by £95,000; this represents an 86 per cent. increase in the value of the original contract.
With regard to the efficiencies and risk management consultancies, on further examination these were each let under separate contracts to the same firm (Ashburn Consulting). Neither contract was extended or exceeded the planned value. I apologise for the error in the answer of 30 October 2006.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reasons were for the overspend on consultancy budgets for the Water Service referred to in the answer of 30 October 2006, Official Report, column 191W. [103644]
David Cairns: There is no reference in the answer of 30 October 2006, Official Report, column 191W, to overspends on consultancy budgets for the Water Service.
The reasons for the extensions referred to are set out in the answer of 30 October.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors were taken into account when determining the salary of the (a) chief executive, (b) chairman and (c) non-executive directors of the Water Service. [103645]
David Cairns: In considering the remuneration for all of these positions the Department took account of the need to strike a balance between attracting the calibre of individuals required for these high profile posts and the impact on current and future appointments in the Northern Ireland public sector.
Water Supplies
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role has been given to the Northern Ireland General Consumer Council in developing the Strategic Business Plan and Water Reform. [103368]
David Cairns: The Department has sought the views of the General Consumer Council on an early draft of the Strategic Business Plan consistent with the council’s statutory role as defined in the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984.
The Government welcome the strong support that the General Consumer Council has given to the principle of paying for water and sewerage services. The Department has worked closely with the Consumer Council in the development of water reform policy consistent with the council’s current statutory role as defined in article 4 of the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 and also with the future role it will have as set out in articles 45 to 59 of the Draft Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role has been given to the Strategic Investment Board in developing water reform in Northern Ireland. [103369]
David Cairns: The Strategic Investment Board is assisting the Department with the water reform programme consistent with its statutory remit set out in The Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role the Northern Ireland General Consumer Council will play in reviewing the Strategic Business Plan for Northern Ireland Water Ltd. [103370]
David Cairns: The Government welcome the strong support that the General Consumer Council has given to the principle of paying for water and sewerage services. The future role of the General Consumer Council is set out in the articles 45-59 of the draft Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006. In discharging its consumer representation role, the Consumer Council may wish to monitor the service provided by Northern Ireland Water Ltd. against the targets set out in the company’s business plan.
Wind Farms
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the offshore wind farm proposals for the Tunes Plateau near Portstewart has (a) been amended and (b) progressed over the last 12 months. [104009]
Maria Eagle: No formal application has yet been received in respect of the consents that would be required for the proposed development. We are not aware of any actions taken by the development consortium that have amended or progressed the proposal over the past 12 months.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects all recipients of the winter fuel payment in Northern Ireland to have received their payments for 2006-07. [104013]
Mr. Hanson: Individuals in Northern Ireland, who are automatically entitled to a winter fuel payment or who submitted a claim before 24 September 2006 can expect to receive their payment before Christmas. Payments to those whose claims are received after 24 September 2006 and before the closing date of 30 March 2007 will receive their payment as soon as possible depending on when their claim was received.
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 28 November 2006
Duchy of Lancaster
Departmental Bodies
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed by the Office of the Third Sector, broken down by salary band. [102707]
Hilary Armstrong: The numbers of staff employed in individual Cabinet Office units will be set out in the Department's annual reports and accounts.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed by the (a) Social Exclusion Taskforce and (b) Better Regulation Executive in each salary band. [102750]
Hilary Armstrong: The numbers of staff employed in individual Cabinet Office units will be set out in the Department's annual reports and accounts.
Departmental Costs
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on vehicles by (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Prime Minister's Office in each year since 1997-98; and how much each office plans to spend in 2006-07. [102764]
Hilary Armstrong: I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent by the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on 6 February 2006. A copy of this is available in the Library for the reference of Members. Information on the cost and numbers of vehicles provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for 2005-06 will be published shortly.
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