HC Deb 22 May 1980 vol 985 cc362-4W
Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total amount donated and spent in free funds in each of the four health and social services boards for the past five years.

DONATIONS
£'000
Financial year
Board 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
Northern 37 56 48 43 57
Eastern 116 109 185 139 212
Western 17 25 22 26 34
Southern 16 19 29 37 31

EXPENDITURE
£'000
Financial year
Board 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
Northern 63 83 77 61 63
Eastern 404 164 267 411 265
Western 13 21 27 21 34
Southern 13 22 19 29 25

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the various studies made since 1973 by the Department of Health and Social Services in order to increase the financial control exercised by die area boards on spending; what has been the result of such studies; and what improvements have been effected.

Mr. Alison

The following areas have been the subject of specific studiesFinancial and Management Accounting Systems Budgetary Control Systems Staffing requirements in the management accounting field Organisation of Supplies Ambulance and transport services Computerised stores accounting Pharmacy: Computerised stores and stock control systems Catering Services Laundry Services

These studies involved professional advisers in several fields, and led to the introduction of a number of new and revised systems aimed at improved financial control. Following implementation of these systems there has been a steady improvement in control and in the use of resources generally, and audit criticism has been considerably reduced.

The search for improved and cost effective systems is a continuous one.

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cars have been hijacked by terrorists in the past 10 years in each police division; how many have been recovered without damage; and how many have been used in terrorist activity in each police division.

Mr. Alison

The information obtained from the audited accounts of the trust funds of the area health and social services boards is as follows:

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

Records of hijacked cars are not kept on the basis of individual police divisions. The table below shows the total number of cars hijacked in Northern Ireland in each year since 1973.

1973 955
1974 1,290
1975 483
1976 1,191
1977 661
1978 407
1979 540
1980 (to 30 April) 106

Records are not kept of the number of cars recovered without damage, nor is it possible to make any reliable estimate of the number of hijacked cars used in terrorist activity.