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15 Jan 2007 : Column 945W—continued
There is a ministerial commitment that by March 2007 no one will have to wait more than six months for in-patient or daycase treatment.
Since the end of September 2006 continued progress has been made towards this target and based on provisional performance monitoring information, 2,681 patients were waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment at the end of December 2006—a reduction of approximately 29 per cent. on the position at the end of September 2006.
Official waiting list figures for in-patient/daycase admission for quarter ending December 2006 will be published on 1 March 2007 and will be available at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-pubs/stats-hospital_community_statistics.htm#waitinglists.
A copy of the next waiting list bulletin will be available in the House of Commons Library.
Housing
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the co-ownership housing support limit for first time buyers to reflect the house price rises in Northern Ireland. [115600]
Mr. Hanson: The value limits which apply to the co-ownership scheme were increased in April 2006, and again at the beginning of October, to reflect house price inflation. The Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association has also been given the flexibility to operate outside the value limits in cases, subject to departmental approval, where there are valid reasons for doing so. The issue of price limits will be considered again in the spring in the context of the annual price limits review and the recommendations of the Independent Review into Housing Affordability.
Legislation: Public Consultation
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the Government have consulted the public in Northern Ireland on legislation in each of the last five years; and on what pieces of legislation affecting Northern Ireland the Government (a) consulted and (b) did not consult. [103352]
Mr. Hain: My Department seeks to consult the public on Northern Ireland legislation wherever possible. Of the Acts and Orders in Council made since I became the Secretary of State, prior public consultation was carried out on the following:
Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006
(in respect of electoral registration, political donations and the devolution of policing and justice functions, which make up the majority of the Act)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2005
Drainage (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
Insolvency (NI) Order 2005
Unauthorised Encampments (NI) Order 2005
Colleges of Education (NI) Order 2005
Traffic Management (NI) Order 2005
The Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2005
The Firearms (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) (NI) Order 2005
Local Government (NI) Order 2005
Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2005
Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006
Safety at Sports Grounds (NI) Order 2006
Industrial and Provident Societies (NI) Order 2006
Rates (Capital Values) (NI) Order 2006
Stormont Estate (NI) Order 2006
Planning Reform (NI) Order 2006
Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006
Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006
Education (NI) Order 2006
Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2006
Water and Sewerage Services (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2006
Victims and Survivors (NI) Order 2006
Rates (Amendment) (NI) Order 2006
Smoking (NI) Order 2006
In the same period for a variety of reasons, prior public consultation was not carried out on the following Northern Ireland Acts and Orders in Council:
Electoral Registration (NI) Act 2005
Northern Ireland Act 2006
Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006
Terrorism (NI) Act 2006
Budget (No.2) (NI) Order 2005
Budget (NI) Order 2006
Budget (No.2) (NI) Order 2006
Local Government Boundaries (NI) Order 2006
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2006
Work and Families (NI) Order 2006
Electricity Consents (Planning) (NI) Order 2006
The information sought in respect of the remaining three and a half years of the five year period, is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Local Government Boundary Commissioners
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures were used to select the recently appointed Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioners for Northern Ireland. [114926]
David Cairns: The selection of Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioners for Northern Ireland followed the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
Medical Professional Vacancies
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to filling the medical professional vacancies created when non-European area students leave Northern Ireland after they complete their foundation programme. [115266]
Paul Goggins: Vacancies are monitored through the Department's on-going workforce planning mechanism, which includes a review of the medical workforce. Within that review, allowance is made for a net loss of doctors at the early stages of training.
While the group of doctors referred to may choose not to seek further employment following completion of the foundation programme, there remains a likelihood that opportunities will arise that are not taken up by European economic area doctors. These can be taken up by the group of doctors referred to or by others from outside the EEA.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in his Department are carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement. [103176]
Mr. Hain: The NIO is a participant in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.
All carbon emissions from central Government ministerial and official air travel are being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
NCP Contract
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service to National Car Parks (NCP) under the contract to enforce car parking restrictions in the most recent period for which figures are available; what performance indicators apply under that contract; how those indicators are (a) measured and (b) monitored; and what the maximum annual amount payable to NCP is under the terms of the contract. [112772]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Dr. D M McKibbin dated 15 January 2007
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary question regarding how much was paid by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service to National Car Parks (NCP) under the contract to enforce car parking restrictions in the most recent period for which figures are available; what performance indicators apply under that contract; how those indicators are (a) measured and (b) monitored; and what the maximum annual amount payable w NCP is under the terms of the contract.
As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
I can advise that to date, no payment has been made by Roads Service to National Car Parks Ltd (NCP) in relation to the contract for the operation of parking and enforcement services as no invoice has been submitted.
Performance measurement and monitoring is on the basis of 31 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which relate to the quality of the service being provided (see Annex A). These KPIs relate to all aspects of work covered by the contract and are not solely related to the enforcement of parking restrictions. They cover such items as the level of deployment of traffic attendants, training, quality of information recorded, car park management and cash collection. There are no KPIs related to the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued.
Given the wide scope of the KPIs, different methods are required to measure and monitor performance. For example, deployment levels are measured through payroll records and can be independently monitored from reports produced by Roads Service. Quality of information recorded will be analysed by examining the number of PCNs cancelled due to traffic attendant (TA) error.
The contract includes for the management of Roads Service's off-street charged car parks and the enforcement of parking restrictions. If NCP provides the appropriate level of service as measured against the KPIs, under the terms of the contract, the maximum annual amount payable to them will be £8,848,698.38. This sum includes the maximum performance related payment, and refers to the full service to be provided by NCP, not just enforcement of parking restrictions.
A. Effective Parking Enforcement
1. Number of TAs deployed.
2. Number of Supervisors deployed.
3. Coverage of Patrol requirements,
4. The availability and responsiveness of the rapid response unit.
B. Good quality, motivated and informed TAs
5. Initial TA training and accreditation.
6. Regular assessments and delivery of on-going training.
7. The Standard of TA appearance, courtesy and helpfulness.
8. The level of complaints and complaints handling,
9. Level of Absenteeism and staff turnover amongst all TA staff and car park staff.
10. Number of cancellations due to TA error.
11. Number of Void PCNs.
12. Good quality information.
13. Control of Pocket Books.
14. Linkage of good quality digital images to PCNs.
D. Clamping and Removal Operations
15. Availability of resources during hours of operation.
16. Adherence to removals/clamps criteria.
17. Good quality condition reports including digital images.
18. Timeliness of releasing clamps handling of requests for priority de-clamping.
19. Banking of cash via the car pound.
20. The availability of staff at the car pound.
21. Customer Service,
22. Inventory.
F. Full and timely reporting of all defective/missing lines and signs
23. The prompt reporting of all defects in lines, signs and relevant street furniture.
24. Car Park Management.
25. Enforcement and Compliance in kiosk car parks.
26. Car Park Cleanliness and Flower beds and surrounds.
27. Signs, lines and bay markings are in good condition.
H. Procurement, Reporting and Maintenance of Equipment
28. Maintain all pay and display machines in working condition.
29. Car park equipment will be maintained and all faults swiftly rectified.
I. Cash Collection, Counting and Banking
30. Cash must be regularly collected, counted and banked from all pay and display machines, 31. Cash must be collected, counted and banked from off street car parks (kiosk and pay on foot) at regular intervals.
31. Cash must be collected, counted and banked from off street car parks (kiosk and pay on foot) at regular intervals.
Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applicants there were for the post of Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner announced in December 2006. [114925]
Maria Eagle: There were 46 applicants for the post of Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland.
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