§ Mr.ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the performance of health and social services boards and trusts in Northern Ireland of their statutory duties under the(a) Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and the (b) Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. [82545]
§ Mr. McFallIt is the duty of the Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland to keep under review the exercise of the powers and the discharge of the duties conferred on the health and social services by the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. Information on the exercise of the powers is contained in the Commission's annual published report. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
Last year, the Department of Health and Social Services carried out a survey of Health and Social Services Trusts with regard to the performance of their statutory duties under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. This indicated that, in general, trusts were providing personal social services for children in need and their families in accordance with Part IV of the Order. However, there were some deficiencies, notably in the level of a suitable range of residential services. This particular issue is being addressed at present by the Department, in conjunction with the Health and Social Services Boards, within the context of "Children Matter", the Department's Review of Residential Services in Northern Ireland, with the aim of improving the position in both the short term and the long term.
The Department will continue to monitor the performance of trusts in the delivery of services for children in need and their families on an annual basis.
§ Mr.ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total debt outstanding in relation to health and personal social services in Northern Ireland for each(a) board and (b) trust; and if she will make a statement. [82551]
§ Mr. McFallThe total debt outstanding in relation to health and personal social services in Northern Ireland for each(a) board and (b) trust as at 31 March 1998 is disclosed in the table. This information was extracted from 1997–98 Accounts of the HSS bodies.
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Schedule of indebtedness of HSS boards and trusts at 31 March 1998 £000 Debt Boards Northern Health and Social Services Board 2,016 Eastern Health and Social Services Board 4,349 Southern Health and Social Services Board 4,625 Western Health and Social Services Board 1,899 Total 12,889
Schedule of indebtedness of HSS boards and trusts at 31 March 1998 £000 Debt Trusts Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust 111,154 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 102,243 Down and Lisburn HSS Trust 58,095 Ulster North Down and Ards Hospital HSS Trust 42,585 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 47,049 Mater Hospital HSS Trust 13,260 Northern Ireland Ambulance HSS Trust 9,770 North Down and Ards Community HSS Trust 13,779 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 31,035 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 53,080 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 51,281 Causeway HSS Trust 37,838 United Hospitals HSS Trust 75,466 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 13,797 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 37,895 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 22,296 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 39,876 Foyle HSS Trust 34,940 Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care HSS Trust 51,791 Altnagelvin Hospitals HSS Trust 46,422 Total 893,652 Boards and Trusts Total 906,541 Note:
The figures in the table were extracted from the 1997–98 Accounts of HSS bodies