HC Deb 13 March 1995 vol 256 cc424-7W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the costs of production and distribution of the Northern Ireland charter and where copies can be obtained by the public.

Sir John Wheeler

The Northern Ireland citizens charter which was published on 5 February 1992 cost £30,000 to produce and £4,200 to distribute. It is sold through HMSO at a cost of £8.50 per copy. A free summary guide is available from the Northern Ireland citizens charter unit on a freephone number, 0800 243174, and by using a freepost address, Freepost BE111 Belfast BT4 3SX, and at libraries and citizen's advice bureaux offices.

Copies of the main charter can be inspected at libraries and citizen's advice bureaux offices.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the costs of production and distribution of, and the availability of the charters of the Government Departments in Northern Ireland, with special reference to(a) the patients and clients charter,

Northern Ireland citizens charters and charter standard statements
Charter/Charter Statement Cost of Publication £ Cost of Distribution £ Where available
Patients and Clients 67,218 (includes the summary guide) 18,110(includes the summary guide) All health and personal social services bodies and related organisations. A summary guide was produced and distributed to every household in Northern Ireland
Social Security Agency Customer Charter 4,443 60 approx Copies were issued to voluntary organisations, Chief Librarians and advice bodies. Copies available in all Social Security Agency Offices
Training and Employment Agency Customers Charter 11,000 None All Agency local offices
Parents Charter 105,000 9,000 On request from the Department of Education. Copies were distributed, at the launch in September 1992, through schools, to all parents
Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tenants Charter 61,817 38,532 Initially copies were posted at the launch of the Charter in September 1992 to all tenants. New tenants get a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. All district offices of the NIHE have copies
Northern Ireland Railways Passengers Charter 30,000 None Libraries, government outlets and all main NI Railways stations.
Royal Ulster Constabulary Charter 25,000 (includes cost publication and advertising All RUC stations and RUC Headquarters
Ulsterbus/Citybus Passengers Charter 10,611 Minimal as copies were placed in bus stations At bus stations
Child Support Agency (NI) Charter 66,175 (includes reprint costsincurred in November 1994) £60 The Charter was widely distributed on the launch of the Agency in April 1993 and copies are available from the Agency's headquarters and each of its seven local offices.
NI Court Services 5,065 Less than £500 NI Court Service, Communications Unit, Court Offices. Citizen Advice Bureaux offices and public libraries throughout NI

(b) the Social Security Agency charter, (c) the Training and Employment Agency charter, (d) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive charter (e) the Northern Ireland railways charter, (f) the Royal Ulster Constabulary charter, (g) the Ulsterbus and Citybus charter, (h) the Child Support Agency charter, (i) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing (Northern Ireland) charter and (j) the Courts and Compensation Agency charter.

Sir John Wheeler

The table gives details of the cost of production and distribution and the availability of the charters of the Government Departments in Northern Ireland.

Individual public service organisations are responsible for producing and distributing their own charters for those who use their services. The table shows costs and other details of production and distribution in so far as they are available centrally.

Northern Ireland citizens charters and charter standard statements
Charter/Charter Statement Cost of Publication £ Cost of Distribution £ Where available
Redundancy Service 1,514 None Redundancy Services Offices, Training and Employment Agency offices, Social Security Agency office and Citizen's Advice Bureaux offices.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI) 878 Minimal as copies were placed in local offices Copies are available in all DVLI local offices
Compensation Agency Publication and distribution costs to total £500 Agency offices, solicitors dealing with compensation claims, Citizen Advice Bureaux and Victims Support Groups
Valuation and Lands Agency 1,485 None—distributed by Agency Staff as part of their duties Copies are available at Agency Headquarters, District Offices and Rate Collection Offices
Belfast Action Teams 8,245 600 Belfast Action Team offices, local libraries and on request. Copies were also circulated within NI Government Departments
Government Purchasing Service 850 Minimal-distributed at seminars and on request by post From all Government purchasing Service Managers and Headquarters
Our Service Standards (Department of Agriculture NI) 12,800 5,500 Approximately 30,000 copies distributed to individual addresses. Copies are also available form Divisional Veterinary Offices, County Agricultural Development Offices, District Forest Offices and the Department's Communications Unit