§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the plans in each Government Department for targeting social need, and if he will make a statement. [22109]
§ Mr. AncramTargeting social need is one of the Government's expenditure priorities in Northern Ireland and is an integral part of departmental policies and programmes. Departments seek to ensure that resources in all relevant programmes are targeted on areas of greatest need. The following specific measures have a particular TSN impact: the Department of Education skews financial resources to board areas and individual schools with highest social need. Current initiatives include measures to raise standards in under-achieving schools and projects under the "Making Belfast Work" programme and the Londonderry initiative.
The Department of the Environment takes account of targeting social need in resource planning for each functional area. Budget areas with the most direct impact on social need objectives are "Making Belfast Work", the Londonderry development office, the regional development office, housing and public transport.
The Department of Health and Social Services made targeting health and social need one of the priority themes in its regional strategy for health and personal services 1992–97. The strategy addresses inequalities in health status and social well-being in the Northern Ireland population.
The Department of Economic Development in 1994 commissioned a review of how the objectives of TSN relate to those of the Department. Following the review's recommendations for improvements to the existing mechanisms for monitoring progress in the targeting of resources, guidelines on the application of TSN are being 430W drawn up. In addition, each agency is preparing a three-year action plan which will establish its current baseline, set out its proposals for action, and consider any need to adapt existing programmes or create new ones.
The Department of Finance and Personnel seeks to ensure that mainstream expenditure focuses resources on the most disadvantaged areas and people. TSN aims are consonant with the strategic objectives of the Northern Ireland single programming document 1994–1999 and are reinforced by many of its sub-programmes. Two specific targeting social need measures within the physical and social environment sub-programme aim to enhance employment opportunities in the most disadvantaged areas and to encourage the acquisition of educational and vocational qualifications.
The Department of Agriculture administers the rural development programme, which is targeted on areas of disadvantage.
The Northern Ireland Office applies TSN principles in funding crime prevention initiatives and the Probation Board's community development initiatives.