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Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the projected deficit for National Health Service provision in north Cumbria for the current financial year. [HL2937]
Lord Warner: The 2005–06 forecast position at month six for all National Health Service organisations has been placed on the Department of
19 Dec 2005 : Column WA231
Health publications website. This information can be found under "recently added classes of information" and can be accessed via the following link:
www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/ FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en.
Northern Ireland: Decommissioning
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the basis of their assessment that all Irish Republican Army guns, explosives and ammunition have been decommissioned. [HL1745]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): The Government believe that General de Chastelain's declaration that the IRA has completed disarmament has created an historic opportunity for progress.
The chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), General John de Chastelain, announced on 25 September 2005 that it had witnessed full and final decommissioning by the PIRA of arms and weaponry. The seventh Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report, published on 19 October 2005, recognises that statement as "very significant" and that,
The IMC's January report will be important in showing whether the commitments made in July are being met.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who selected the independent witnesses for the Irish Republican Army decommissioning acts; on what basis; and when. [HL1746]
Lord Rooker: On 26 September, the IICD gave a press conference and submitted a report to the British and Irish Governments. The Reverend Good and Father Reid attended that conference in their capacity as independent witnesses. The identities of the independent witnesses were known from that point onwards. The IICD's report to the two Governments of 26 September referred to the role of Reverend Good and Father Reid in witnessing the decommissioning. The Government have always maintained that nomination of independent witnesses is a matter for the IICD and the IRA.
Northern Ireland: Prosecutions
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have had discussions with the Public Prosecutor's Office in Northern Ireland on the reasons given for dropping all charges arising
- from the police raid on the private offices of Sinn Fein on 5 October 2002. [HL3052]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): The only discussions the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has had were with the Attorney-General in his statutory role of superintending law officer. In respect of all prosecutorial decisions, the Attorney-General acts independently of government.
Northern Ireland: Public Sector Appointments
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
In determining appointments to the public sector in Northern Ireland, whether individuals are asked to identify their community background. [HL2547]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): Applicants for public appointments sponsored by the Northern Ireland administration and the Northern Ireland Office are asked to provide details of their community background. This information is sought for monitoring purposes only and forms no part of the selection process.
For appointments to the following Northern Ireland Office public bodies, there is a legislative requirement that the Secretary of State shall, as far as practicable, secure that the commissioners/membership, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland;
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;
Northern Ireland Policing Board; and
Parades Commission for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland: Security of Private Residences
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what conditions they will fund security equipment in private residences in Northern Ireland; and how much was spent on such protection in each of the past five years. [HL2621]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): Security measures are provided under the auspices of the Key Persons Protection Scheme at the homes of individuals employed in certain occupations or who fulfil certain public roles who are considered by the police to be under a substantial or severe terrorist threat. In addition, security measures can be provided if Article 2 of the European Convention is engaged and the Secretary of State concludes it is appropriate to do so. Costs for the past five years are.
19 Dec 2005 : Column WA233
| Year | Expenditure |
| 2000–01 | £4.9 million |
| 2001–02 | £4.9 million |
| 2002–03 | £11 million |
| 2003–04 | £13 million |
| 2004–05 | £7.5 million |
| 2005–06 | £3.8 million (anticipated) |
Parliament Square: Statue to David Lloyd George
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide financial support to the project for a statue to David Lloyd George in Parliament Square. [HL2995]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government do not usually sponsor statues, memorials or monuments, the funding for which usually derives from private donations or public subscription. The Government have no plans to provide financial support for the project for the statue to David Lloyd George in Parliament Square, funds for which are being generated by the David Lloyd George Statue Appeal Trust.
Physiotherapy
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to redress the current imbalance in physiotherapy posts, where some senior positions are unfilled and yet a substantial number of this year's new physiotherapy graduates are unable to find posts. [HL2977]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Department of Health is working closely with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the National Health Service workforce review team and NHS organisations to help junior physiotherapists to find first posts.
A physiotherapy workforce action plan was created by the NHS workforce review team, in partnership with a range of stakeholders. It outlines short, medium and longer-term strategies that local managers can use to help new graduates to secure posts, including the promotion of conversion of long-term senior physiotherapy vacancies and accelerated competency-based promotion.
Powers of Entry
Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:
In what circumstances officials of the Northern Ireland Office and of public bodies answerable to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland can search and enter the homes or business premises of
- United Kingdom citizens; and, in each case, what is the statutory authority for that power. [HL2412]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend the Minister of State for the Home Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal) on 23 November 2005 (Official Report, cols. WA 218–19).
Primary Care Trusts: Psychiatric Care
Lord Stratford asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): This information is not collected centrally by the Department of Health. Primary care trusts can commission services from other National Health Service trusts, independent providers or provide services themselves to meet the healthcare needs of their populations.
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