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25 Mar 2004 : Column 951W—continued
SCOTLAND
Censuses
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the financial
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consequences of reducing the 100-year census closure period for decennial population census records for Scotland. [160428]
Mrs. McGuire: None. Responsibility for such an assessment lies with the Scottish Executive as this is a devolved matter.
The Minister responsible in the Scottish Executive is Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Justice.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the years in which each of the 1851 to 1901 decennial censuses were released for public inspection. [160655]
Mrs. McGuire: The General Register Office for Scotland (GRO(S)), an associated department of the Scottish Executive, is responsible for carrying out periodic censuses of Scotland's population.
The Scottish Census returns for 1841–71 were opened to public inspection in 1923. The returns for 1881 and 1891 were opened to public inspection, though with some restrictions on copying, in 1955. The records for 1901 were opened to public inspection at the end of 2001.
Energy Policy
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on energy policy in Scotland. [155909]
Mrs. McGuire: The February 2003 Energy White Paper "Towards a Low Carbon Economy" defines the Government's overall strategy for energy policy. Its four core objectives—cutting carbon emissions, maintaining reliability of energy supplies, promoting competitive markets to promote productivity and sustainable growth, ensuring every home is adequately and affordably heated—apply and will deliver benefits in Scotland as elsewhere. I take part in the work of the sustainable energy policy network in following through on the White Paper commitments. Scottish Executive Ministers are closely associated with this work.
Core aspects of energy policy and related issues of competition and regulation are reserved. Devolved policy responsibilities in Scotland include promotion of renewables and of energy efficiency. Co-operation in devolved policy areas including planning, environmental protection, encouraging economic development and a skilled work force is crucial to the success of energy policy in Scotland. Good working relations at all levels between the Scottish Executive and UK Government Departments are therefore especially important.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Assembly Ombudsman
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the remit of the Assembly Ombudsman to include further education colleges; whether he has met with representatives from further education colleges to discuss the issue; and if he will make a statement. [162703]
Jane Kennedy: The Government have no current plans to extend the remit of the Assembly Ombudsman to directly include Further Education Colleges. The Offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints are currently subject to review. Following consideration of the outcome of that review any proposed changes to the remit of the Ombudsman will be matters for public consultation.
Assets Recovery Agency
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the value of assets (a) recovered and (b) frozen is since the Assets Recovery Agency was formed. [161687]
Jane Kennedy: The Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland is currently dealing with 22 cases with a total asset value of over £9.9 million. Of these, 16 are under active investigation. The Agency has frozen assets totalling £2.8 million in five of the remaining cases and is pursuing one case through taxation.
Further Education
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) research was undertaken and (b) evidence was collected during the development of the recent further education strategy proposals, with particular regard to (i) the balance between full-time and part-time lecturing staff, (ii) the number of students taking vocational courses at further education colleges and (iii) the proportion of the 16 to 21 age cohort taking vocational courses at further education colleges. [162704]
Jane Kennedy: The publication of the Draft Strategy for further education is the result of a wide range of consultations and research exercises conducted since autumn 2002. In addition to a public consultation on the future role of further education and an analysis of course provision, enrolments and performance by the 16 local further education colleges, new research was commissioned by DEL to supplement existing information on the work of the colleges. This new research addressed: the qualifications of further education staff; the qualifications of 16–19 year olds entering full-time education; the contribution of further education to economic development; and, an evaluation of the current funding mechanism. The findings of this considerable body of information were augmented further by a number of study visits aimed at evaluating best practice in vocational education.
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The proposals set out in the draft strategy are now subject to a second period of public consultation that closes on 30 June 2004. Much of the research is already available on the DEL website and a summary document on this underlying evidence will be published shortly.
With regard to specific areas highlighted, the data collected by the Department
- (i) a total of 1,815 full-time and 3,113 part-time lecturing staff in respect of the 2001–02 academic year (source: college returns);
- (ii) the total number of students taking vocational courses across all colleges in the 2001–02 academic year was 121,930 (Source: Further Education Statistical Records—FESR);
- (iii) the total number of students aged 16–21, studying vocational courses across the N. Ireland further education sector was 48,792 in 2001–02. This represented approximately 33 per cent. of the 16–21 year-old mid year population estimate for 2001 (Source: 2001 census).
International Monitoring Commission
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what annual salary will be paid to members of the International Monitoring Commission; and what he estimates Commission members' average annual expenses will be. [160587]
Jane Kennedy: The Independent Monitoring Commission Commissioners will not be paid an annual salary. The Commissioners receive a per diem rate of £600, the Commissioners may also claim £25 per day and, in addition, their travel and subsistence costs are met.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the (a) cost of setting up and (b) annual running costs of the International Monitoring Commission. [160588]
Jane Kennedy: I estimate the costs associated with establishing and running the Independent Monitoring Commission up to the end of financial year 2003–04 to be approximately £600,000. I estimate that the annual running costs will be approximately £2 million, up to half of which will be borne by the Irish Government. I intend to make IMC accounts available in due course.
Mental Health Services
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency psychiatric bed spaces there are in Northern Ireland, broken down by location; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of this provision to deal with the demand. [163299]
Angela Smith: The Eastern Health and Social Board has six acute psychiatric units providing a total of 224 beds. These are located at Belfast City Hospital, Mater Hospital, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Lagan Valley Hospital, Ards Hospital and Downshire Hospital.
The Northern Board has three acute psychiatric units providing 134 beds. These are located at the Ross Thompson Unit, Holywell Hospital and Whiteabbey Hospital.
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The Southern Board has two acute psychiatric units providing 120 beds. These are located at St. Luke's Hospital and the Psychiatric Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital.
The Western Board has two acute psychiatric units providing 104 beds. These are located at Gransha Hospital and Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
A major review of mental health law, policy and service provision is currently under way. This will look at the issues of hospital provision as well as alternatives to emergency admissions.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many mental health trusts in Northern Ireland have fully established women-only day care facilities. [163048]
Angela Smith: There are no fully established women-only day care facilities in any of the Health and Social Services Trusts in Northern Ireland.
New Deal
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have gained employment as a result of enrolling in the (a) New Deal for 18 to 24-years-olds, (b) New Deal 50+, (c) New Deal for Disabled People, (d) New Deal for people aged 25+ and (e) New Deal for Lone Parents in each year since their introduction; and what steps he is taking to increase such figures. [161284]
Jane Kennedy: The New Deal programmes are a part of the Government's Welfare to Work Initiative and are aimed at assisting unemployed people from benefit into employment. All New Deal programmes are kept under review and developed to ensure that they meet the needs of their target groups. Independent evaluations are carried out on a regular basis as part of this review process.
The number of people who have gained employment as a result of participating in the New Deals are as follows:
| New Deal for 18 to24-year-olds | New Deal 50+ | New Deal for Disabled People | New Deal 25+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 2,165 | (3)0 | (4)0 | 307 |
| 1999–2000 | 3,296 | (3)0 | (4)0 | 4,114 |
| 2000–01 | 2,398 | 523 | 283 | 2,521 |
| 2001–02 | 2,010 | 529 | 177 | 1,697 |
| 2002–03 | 1,965 | 483 | 436 | 1,751 |
| 2003–04(5) | 1,455 | — | 511 | 1,036 |
| Full-time | Part-time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 543 | 35 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,213 | 115 |
| 2000–01 | 1,601 | 234 |
| 2001–02 | 1,779 | 221 |
| 2002–03 | 1,967 | 249 |
| 2003–04(5) | 1,125 | 157 |
(1) A participant is considered to have sustained employment if they remain in the same spell of employment for 92 days or more.
(2) A participant is only ever counted once as starting employment.
(3) New Deal 50+ was introduced in April 2000.
(4) New Deal for Disabled People was introduced across Northern Ireland in April 2000.
(5) Figures for 2003–04 will be subject to revision as data on those who moved into employment towards the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004 and subsequently sustain that employment becomes available.
(6) The Social Security Agency is responsible for the administration of New Deal for Lone Parents.
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Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of 18 to 24-year-olds in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Foyle constituency entered paid employment within six months of completing New Deal programmes in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [162937]
Jane Kennedy: During the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 the percentage of leavers from the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds entering paid employment within six months of completing the programme was:
- (a) 31 per cent. in Northern Ireland; and
- (b) 25 per cent. in the Foyle parliamentary constituency.
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