HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 cc584-5W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is target for special protection area designation under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds during 1992.

Mr. Atkins

Two. These are Swan island, Larne lough, Co. Antrim, which was designated on 10 March 1992 and Sheep island off the north Antrim coast, which will be designated later this year.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department and of what grades are engaged (a) full time and (b) part time, in preparing designations of special protection areas under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds.

Mr. Atkins

While there are no staff engaged full time in preparing designations of special protection areas, a portion of time is spent by the following on this work:

Grade Number of individuals
Senior Principal Scientific Officer 1
Principal Scientific Officer 1
Senior Scientific Officer 2
Higher Scientific Officer 1
Scientific Officer 4
Principal Officer 1
Deputy Principal 1
Staff Officer 1
Executive Officer I 1
Executive Officer II 1
Administrative Assistant 1

Board 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
Belfast 675 675 675 675 675 675 700 700 700 700
Western 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500
North-Eastern 725 725 725 725 725 725 725 725 725 725
South-Eastern 500 500 500 500 500 500 475 475 475 475
Southern 525 525 525 525 525 525 525 525 525 525

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide additional funding for education and library boards to increase provision of nursery school places in Northern Ireland to the same level as nursery provision in England.

Mr. Hanley

Government recognise the value of nursery education but limitations on resources for school building, and the need to give priority to provision for children of compulsory school age, have meant that only limited expansion of nursery provision has been possible in recent years. I can offer no immediate prospect of change.