| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
NHS: Sexual and Reproductive Health
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to increase the number of specialists in sexual and reproductive health working in the National Health Service.[HL6774]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): Sexual and reproductive health services are provided in a range of settings including genito-urinary medicine clinics, community contraceptive services and general practice. The Department of Health has led and supported initiatives which support training and development of the workforce and multidisciplinary working. Workforce planning for these services is a matter for local determination.
NHS: St Thomas's Hospital
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will investigate the causes of the suspension and dismissal of a senior member of staff at the sickle cell anaemia unit of St Thomas's Hospital; and why these causes have not been communicated to him after several months.[HL6995]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): This is a matter involving an individual member of staff who I understand is fully aware of the position and is in contact with the trust. It would be inappropriate for the trust to communicate details to any third party without their explicit consent. The trust's internal procedures are continuing and it would not be appropriate for me to comment.
Northern Ireland: Festivals
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How grants from the transitional fund, which were used to fund an extra £100,000 to the West Belfast Nationalist Festival this year, are being equality tested.[HL6997]
Lord Rooker: The Community Festivals Fund is being piloted and the policy is the subject of a consultation exercise that will conclude on 30 September 2006. An equality impact assessment is being undertaken as part of this exercise.
Individual grants are not specifically equality tested.
24 July 2006 : Column WA233
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which organisations have been refused the full amount of funding requested from the first allocation of festival funding operated by the Northern Ireland Events Company.[HL6999]
Lord Rooker: A list of the organisations that were offered less than the full amount of funding requested from the first allocation of festival funding, including those that were rejected in full, are as follows:
Armagh Festival of Traditional and Folk Song
Ballymacarrett Community and Cultural Engagement Project
South Lough Neagh Regeneration Association
Gilford District LOL Number 13
Cairncastle LOL 692 Cultural and Community Group
Carlingford Lough International Currach Championships
Bangor District Educational and Historical Society
Coleraine District LOL Number 2 Festival Committee
South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP)
Crumlin Community Festival Group
Fiddlers Green Music and Arts Festival
Fern Community Relations Programme
Greater Shankill Community Festival
Lady of the Lake Festival Committee
Randalstown Arches Association
Richhill, Hamiltonsbawn and District Golden Jubilee Committee
Sandy Row Residents' Association
Northern Ireland Sheep Shearers' Association
Dollingstown Ulster Scots Cultural and Heritage Society
Longstone Community Association
Wilson Archer, Megalife Ministries
Merville May Day Festival Committee
24 July 2006 : Column WA234
Magherafelt and District Motorclub
Mid Ulster Vintage Vehicles Club
Only one applicant, Carrickfergus District LOL Number 19, was awarded the full amount requested.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 12 July (Official Report, WA 126) concerning funding for community festivals, what is meant by “this funding will be processed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure”; who will pay the funding; from what source the funding will be paid; and how much is available from that source.[HL7000]
Lord Rooker: This means that the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure will be responsible for the administration and payment of these funds.
Up to £145,400 will be available to three community festivals in the current year from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure under transitional funding arrangements.
Official Meetings: Sir Gulam Noon
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what dates in 2006 the Secretary of State for Health has met Sir Gulam Noon; where each meeting took place; and what topics were discussed.[HL7027]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Secretary of State for Health has not met Sir Gulam Noon in 2006 to date in her ministerial capacity.
Police: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were on duty in the south Armagh area on each day in the week commencing 19 June.[HL6660]
Lord Rooker: The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for the chief constable. During the week commencing 19 June 2006 the police strength in Newry and Mourne district was as follows:
24 July 2006 : Column WA235
Rally Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been paid in grants to Rally Ireland for 2005 and 2006; from what source; after what process; and whether they will place allthe documentation in the Library of the House.[HL6826]
Lord Rooker: As of 10 July 2006 Rally Ireland has received Exchequer funding of £321,099.21 for its 2005 event and £200,886.92 for its 2006 event.
This funding has been issued through the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) in accordance with its procedures on the payment of grant claims as follows:
The applicant can present grant claims as soon as a contract is signed and they have incurred expenditure, subject to it satisfying all conditions of offer. Each claim is accompanied by an auditor's certificate, bank statement evidencing expenditure and copies of invoices relevant to the claim and quotes/tenders if applicable. This is assessed by NIEC for accuracy and against conditions of offer and if everything is in order a payment is released.
Much of the documentation regarding the payment of grant by NIEC to Rally Ireland, and indeed any other body being funded, is commercially sensitive and as such is prohibited from disclosure in line with relevant information access legislation.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, since May 2005, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met with Ronan Morgan, promoter of Rally Ireland; if so, when; and where they met.[HL6847]
Lord Rooker: Since May 2005 my right honourable friend has met Ronan Morgan on a number of occasions as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Wales.
As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland he met Mr Morgan at the launch of the World Rally Championship bid on 4 July 2005 at Parliament Buildings and at the Rally Ireland events in October 2005 and March 2006. Mr Morgan was also part of a delegation which met the Secretary of State in Stormont Castle on 25 October 2005.
As Secretary of State for Wales, my right honourable friend attended a charity dinner at which Mr Morgan was in attendance as guest of someone else. He also attended the Wales Rally GB in September 2005, when Ronan Morgan was still working as event director of that event, and is likely to have met him there.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether hospitality was involved in meetings between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Ronan Morgan, promoter of Rally Ireland; and, if so, who paid for it.[HL6891]
24 July 2006 : Column WA236
Lord Rooker: Hospitality was involved in my right honourable friend’s meetings with Ronan Morgan at the October 2005 and March 2006 Rally Ireland pilot events. This hospitality was paid for by the event promoters.
Schools: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been spent on (a) upgrading, and (b) maintaining St Joseph's High School in Plumbridge, County Tyrone.[HL6661]
Lord Rooker: The Western Education and Library Board has advised that the cost of maintenance of St Joseph's High School incurred by the board and the school from its local management of schools (LMS) budget for the financial years 2000-01 to 2005-06 is as follows:
| Financial year | Board's Maintenance Budget | LMS Budget | Total |
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |