Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline his policy in regard to departmental running costs in all Departments and to detail the targets he has set for the next financial year.

(AQW 1711/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): As shown in Annex C in the Budget document I presented to the Assembly on 12 December 2000, Public Expenditure Plans: 2001/02 to 2003/04, the following allocations for departmental running costs for 2001/02 have been agreed by the Executive Committee.

In agreeing these allocations, the Executive has aimed to set realistic limits on the administrative costs of departments which should enable them to deliver their agreed objectives effectively and with due regard for value for money.

(AQW 1765/00)

Mr Durkan: Each case must be initially investigated by the employee’s Employing Department. Due to the broad spectrum of illnesses/injuries and particular circumstances which pertain, some are quite straightforward and can be investigated and determined fairly quickly. However, others are more complex and require further investigation and involvement of outside bodies. Therefore there is no set time for determination.

In their investigations Employing Departments are required to seek to provide the following information;

• Full details of the employee’s case;
• Welfare Officer’s report;
• Line manager’s report ( endorsed by branch manager).

Employing Departments are required to refer cases to Civil Service Pensions (CSP) to determine if the injury/ illness qualifies for an award under Section 11 of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland), [PSCPS(NI)]. Section 11 is an employer’s liability scheme which provides for the payment of benefits to employees who incur an injury due to the nature of their duties.

There are two types of award which may be payable, namely temporary injury and/or permanent injury award.

In Temporary Injury cases the Employing Department may decide to forward all information to the OHS seeking a medical report prior to forwarding the case to CSP for a final decision.

All applications for Permanent Injury Awards are referred to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) by CSP. If OHS advise that in their opinion a qualifying injury has occurred, then the process continues in that contact is made with various outside bodies such as the Social Security Agency, the Compensation Agency and the Litigation Unit of the Employing Department to establish if any claims have been submitted or settlements made in respect of the same injury as this will have a bearing on any award which may be payable under Section 11. Even in the best of circumstances this process takes at least 3 months. CSP aspires to advise the officer of the outcome of the application for a Permanent Injury award within 10 days of completing these processes.

In the case of a Temporary Injury application CSP aspires to advise the Employing Department of the outcome of the application within 4 weeks of receiving all relevant information required to enable them to make a decision.

(AQW 1818/00)

Mr Durkan: This issue was fully addressed in the statement given to the Assembly on 12 February 2001 as recorded in the Official Report, Volume 9, No 3, Pages 87-98.

(AQW 1823/00)

Mr Durkan: The Department of Finance and Personnel is in the process of preparing its E Business Strategy which will address the need to improve efficiency and public access to information by means of electronic methods. It is planned to have this work completed by Summer 2001.

(AQW 1865/00)

Mr Durkan: The General Register Office for Northern Ireland does not collect information on infant deaths by Trust area. This information is only registered at District Council and Health Board level, details of which are presented in the attached table. (Infant Death Rates in Northern Ireland, 1995 - 1999 on following page).

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail recent representations she has received about accountability within the National Health Service.

(AQW 1667/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Since the resumption of devolution I have not received any representations on the broad issue of accountability within the Health and Personal Social Services. However, I answered an oral Assembly Question on 25 September 2000 from Dr Alasdair McDonnell (AQO 68/00) relating to financial accountability for public expenditure, in the context of the Royal Group of Hospitals.

Ó tháinig cineachadh cumhachta i bhfeidhm arís ní bhfuair mé ráitis ar bith ar cheist fhairsing na freagrachta sna seirbhísí sláinte sóisialta agus pearsanta. D’fhreagair mé Ceist Tionóil ó bhéal ar an 25 Meán Fómhair 2000 ón Dr Alasdair McDonnell (AQO 68/00), áfach, maidir le freagracht airgeadais do chaiteachas poiblí i gcomhthéacs an Ghrúpa Ríoga Ospidéal.

Infant death rates in Northern Ireland, 1995 - 1999

(AQW 1669/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is set out in the table below.

Leagtar an t-eolas a iarradh amach sa tábla thíos.