§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to(a) the overlapping of social security benefits and (b) MOT testing; and if he will make a statement. [134829]
§ Angela SmithThe information is as follows:
(a) There is a long-standing policy of parity in social security matters between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. NI social security legislation relating to overlapping benefits is therefore already in line with that in GB.
(b) MOT testing in Northern Ireland is conducted to the same standards and within the same framework of EU requirements as elsewhere in the UK. However, an
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Number of additional specialist medical, nursing and other staff employed by Health and Social Services Trusts between 31 March 2001 and 30 September 2003 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland Specialist medical staff Nursing staff Other staff HSS1 Trusts Headcount WTE2 Headcount WTE Headcount WTE Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 8 4.40 21 19.16 14 14.00 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 1.00 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 5 5.00 12 12.00 44 41.24 Causeway HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 5 4.60 0 0.00 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust3 0 0.30 15 12.10 7 5.74 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 1 0.50 1 1.00 0 0.00 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 8 1.20 2 1.00 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 1 1.00 1 1.00 0 0.00 earlier proposal to lower the age at which private cars in Northern Ireland must undergo an MOT test from four years to three years, in line with practice in the rest of the United Kingdom, was deferred pending the outcome of a review of three year testing in Great Britain.
MOT tests, along with all other statutory vehicle tests, are carried out exclusively in Northern Ireland by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) of the Department of the Environment. There are no arrangements to al low private garages in Northern Ireland to carry out MOT tests on private cars, as is the practice in Great Britain, In light of the on-going difficulties with MOT test waiting times, there have been some calls for the GB arrangements to be introduced in Northern Ireland. However, following the recent programme to refurbish and re-equip DVTA's 15 test centres, under a £57 million private finance initiative contract, and on completion of the current project to introduce telephone, and subsequently internet, test booking, I expect the Agency to return to its previously high levels of performance and customer service. I believe these arrangements best suit the circumstances in Northern Ireland and I have no plans at present to review them.