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20 Apr 2007 : Column 845W—continued
Water
Norman Baker:
To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate he has made of (a) the
carbon footprint associated with the use of bottled water within the House and (b) what the footprint would be were only tap water available. [132473]
Nick Harvey: No estimate has yet been made of the carbon footprint associated with the use of bottled water within the House, but one is now being drawn up.
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what measures are being (a) taken and (b) considered to promote efficiency in the use of water on the House of Commons estate. [131067]
Nick Harvey: The measures being taken to promote efficiency in the use of water on the House of Commons estate include: surveys of toilets, shower rooms and washrooms to obtain quotations for the installation of controls for urinal cisterns, conversion of existing turn or cross head taps to non-concussive self closing push taps, installation of pressure compensating aerators to taps to reduce water flow and the replacement of existing showers with aerated showers to reduce water flow. Thames Water staff inspected most of the toilets on the House of Commons estate in early 2006 and fitted a water saving device to approximately 20 WC cisterns. A consultant is currently investigating how to better promote and implement the energy and water saving policy among staff and other users of the estate's facilities.
A proposal to run an environment champions programme in each estate building is also currently being considered, which would promote better energy and water efficiency and waste management.
International Development
Overseas Aid: Water
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was allocated to projects involving water and sanitation by his Department in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. [132068]
Mr. Thomas: The UK has agreed that half of our direct aid to poor countries should be spent on basic services, including water. We will double our support to water and sanitation in Africa to £95 million a year by 2008-09 and then double it again to £200 million a year by 2001-11.
DFID's total support to the sector, including through the World Bank, the multilateral development banks and the EC, was £242 million in 2005-06. Our bilateral funding was just over half of this at around £130 million in 2005-06.
Our total support to sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly to £78 million (from £46 million in 2002-03), so we are on track to reach the World Water Day target of £95 million by 2007-08.
Further detail on DFID's expenditure in the sector can be found in our report ‘Financial Support to the water sector 2004-2006’, which will be placed in the Library of the House. This is our most recent report and was published in March 2007. Details of our 2006-07 expenditure are not yet available.
Northern Ireland
Aerials: Planning Permission
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications (a) to construct and (b) to add to existing telecommunications masts in each council area of Northern Ireland were approved in the last 12 months. [132188]
David Cairns: The Department of the Environment's Planning Service approved 155 planning applications for telecommunications masts between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007 and the following table shows the number approved in each district council area. I regret that the Planning Service's electronic records system does not provide a distinction between an application for the construction of a mast and an addition to an existing mast.
| District council area | Planning approvals in 2006-07 |
Community Support Officers
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities are to be provided for the training of community support officers to be recruited in Northern Ireland; and at what cost. [133043]
Paul Goggins:
Training for PCSOs will be based on a six-week programme, comprising both classroom and practical-based learning. It is envisaged that part of this training will take place within the community and the environments in which PCSOs will work. The programme will include role specific training, skills development, and the knowledge necessary for working
in the community—including human rights, diversity, ethics and problem solving. As with other members of police staff, PCSOs will have access to ongoing training as needed
Full costings for training are not yet available.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the recruitment of community support officers (CSOs) in Northern Ireland to begin; and when he expects the first CSOs to be deployed. [133044]
Paul Goggins: The following table sets out the proposed timetable for the first recruitment campaign. This has yet to be finalised and is therefore subject to change.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the operating costs of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland was in each of the last six years. [133029]
David Cairns: The operating cost of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland in each of the last six years was as follows:
| Amount (£000) | |
Further Education: Student Drop-outs
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what analysis has been carried out to ascertain the main reasons why students in further education in Northern Ireland dropped out of their courses in the last three years. [132185]
Maria Eagle: A range of analysis has been carried out by DEL to ascertain the main reasons why students in further education in Northern Ireland dropped out of their courses in the last three years. This includes analysis of the available data regarding the ‘reasons for withdrawal’ variable contained within the Further Education Leavers Survey (FELS) returns as well as analysis undertaken by the Education and Training Inspectorate on retention within a college as part of their inspection process.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students in further education in Northern Ireland failed to complete their course in the last 12 months; and how many of them were in the final year of their course. [132187]
Maria Eagle: During the 2005/06 academic year a total of 24,219 enrolments, which equates to some 16 per cent. of total provision, in the Northern Ireland Further Education Sector failed to complete their course. Some 16,157 of this total were final year enrolments.
Notes:
1. The source for this analysis is the Further Education Statistical Record (FESR) and the Further Education Leavers Survey (FELS).
2. The figures quoted include students who dropped out of their original programme of study and subsequently transferred to another course.
3. The data above pertain to “assessed” provision only and are the latest available.
Licensed Premises
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses were licensed to sell alcohol in each district council area in each of the last six years; how many of those businesses breached their licence over the same period; and what penalty was imposed in each case in which all proceedings are complete. [130922]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
Court data in respect of licensed premises are recorded by Petty Sessions District. The information requested is tabled as follows.
| Table A | ||||||
| Petty S essions D istrict | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
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