I too welcome the Order presented by the Minister, and, as a Member of the Regional Development Committee, I echo what the Chairperson has just stated. One of the good things to happen since devolution is that Belfast harbour has not been privatised. We know that the previous Northern Ireland Office Administration intended to privatise it. The Assembly has demonstrated its commitment to keeping all the trust ports within the trust port framework. I welcome the fact that the trust ports will now have increased commercial freedom, which will allow them to engage in more port-related development, particularly because they will now have increased borrowing powers and limits.

The key question that concerned members of the Regional Development Committee, and those on the previous Ad Hoc Belfast Harbour Committee, was public accountability. That aspect has been duly considered, and the provision for increased councillor representation on each of the trust ports - four for Belfast and three each for Warrenpoint and Londonderry - is to be welcomed. I also welcome the fact that the memorandum of understanding has been agreed and implemented in relation to Belfast harbour, which, I hope, will mean better formal mechanisms and procedures with regard to the relationship between the Department and the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. In the past there was unease and concern, about how trust port harbour commissioners may have operated as semi-independent organisations. Given that they are trust ports, it is important that public accountability is transparent. I welcome the fact that there will be a tenure of four years' service for those district councillors appointed as commissioners.

All members of the Committee were concerned that Belfast harbour should not be allowed to develop on its own in a monopoly position. It is good that we have proposals for both Warrenpoint and Londonderry harbours today. As someone who lives in the west, 75 miles from Belfast, I am acutely aware of the importance of having more than one viable trust port in Northern Ireland. If we are serious about achieving a balanced regional and economic development throughout Northern Ireland, it is important that Warrenpoint and Londonderry ports are allowed to have the capacity and capability to become more successful and more relevant to their hinterlands.

I largely welcome the proposal by the Minister. I hope that the trust ports will be allowed to develop and contribute to the greater economic development of Northern Ireland.

I need comment only briefly. I thank Members for their positive contributions. I welcome the helpful views of the Committee for Regional Development, which will see its thumbprint on the Order and on some of the changes that it will bring about. The Committee Chairperson, Alban Maginness, was right to highlight the importance of improving public accountability, which he said would become all the more important in the light of the additional powers to be conferred by the Order and the extra borrowing facility that it allows. He also highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding. The Belfast Harbour Commissioners can regard positively the existing memorandum of understanding, which has worked well in the public's interest and protects the commissioners. It has been seen to provide a welcome level of transparency in the Harland & Wolff lands issue. Mr Byrne made that point also.

The Chairperson is correct to state that the main purpose of the short harbours Bill is to improve the accountability of the main commercial trust ports by requiring them to adopt a code of practice and to supply information to the Department. The Department also proposed to incorporate in this Bill a power of general direction to safeguard the public interest. I confirm that the code has been drafted; the Department will consult on it later this year.

Mr Byrne highlighted the possibility that if powers were given only to the Port of Belfast, it would fall out of kilter with the other trust ports; that is recognised. I visited the Warrenpoint and Londonderry ports and was impressed by their performance. I wish all three trust ports every success in the operation of the new powers, which I hope that the Assembly will affirm that they should have.

I remind Members that at 2.30 pm we will have to interrupt business for Question Time.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002

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I beg to move

Many of the provisions in the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order are identical to those in the Belfast Harbour Order. Therefore, I propose to restrict my remarks to the key differences between the two Statutory Instruments. First, as with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has concluded with the Department a memorandum of understanding as regards its harbour land. The memorandum came into effect on 1 March 2002, and a copy of the document has been placed in the Assembly Library.

As in the case with the Port of Belfast, article 4(2) of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order will give legal force to the arrangements set out in the memorandum of understanding with the Department. As with the Belfast Harbour Order, article 6(1) empowers the authority to borrow money upon the security of the revenues and the property of the harbour authority.

However, article 6(2) provides that the total amount of such borrowings must not exceed £2·5 million, or such greater amount as may be approved by the Department in writing. That lower amount reflects the smaller scale of the Warrenpoint harbour operation relative to Belfast harbour. The other borrowing provisions are similar.

Article 9(2) introduces schedule 1 to the Order, which contains new provisions relating to the constitution and procedures of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. Schedule 1 of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 differs from the Belfast Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 in the following respects.

Paragraph 2(1) states:

In the case of Belfast, the range is 10 to 15, reflecting its larger scale.

Paragraph 2(3) requires that

That has been changed from the previous three-year fixed term to provide greater flexibility.

Paragraph 3 states:

That represents a significant increase in the number of elected representatives serving on the authority, as previously only one member of the council could be appointed.

Article 10 of the Order provides for the repeal or revocation of certain statutory provisions relating to Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, as set out in column 3 of schedule 2 of the Order.

Those are the main differences, and as with the Belfast Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002, I commend the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 to the Assembly.

I call Mr McGrady. We have a short period only before Question Time, and therefore it is likely that his speech will be interrupted. He will be able to continue after Question Time.

I welcome this new initiative by the Department for Regional Development. It is important that the trust port of Warrenpoint should be made as viable as possible. It is an important contributor to the economic well-being of Warrenpoint and the surrounding district for employment and the general commerce engendered by the use of the port.

The three main features of the Orders are in common, and I do not intend to go into detail on each of them. The disposal of land is of academic interest to Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. Its concern is to try to acquire any piece of land in order to create a new deep-water facility, which, if not made available in the not-too-distant future, would put it in a much less competitive situation than at present. The authority has been exceptionally well run, and I compliment the board on the carrying out of its duties.

I welcome the enlargement of public representation on the harbour authority to provide the openness and accountability that has been referred to by other Members. The Minister said that a maximum of three members - presumably elected members - of Newry and Mourne District Council could be part of the new board. The Order uses the word "maximum". Is it the intention of the Minister and the Department to appoint the maximum number?

The Minister said that the board's membership would range from eight to 12. It would be appropriate that one third or one quarter, depending on the representation, should be from the publicly elected Newry and Mourne District Council. That openness and accountability is important for the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. I recall the difficulty in communication and the misunderstandings between the authority and the community in Warrenpoint regarding the proposed deep-water facility. Had that openness and accountability been there -

Order. I must interrupt the Member. However, he will be able to resume his speech after Question Time.

Oral Answers to Questions

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Education

Question 2, question 8 and question 9 to the Minister of Education, which stand in the names of Mr Ken Robinson, Mr Beggs and Mr McElduff respectively, have been withdrawn and will receive written answers.

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1.

asked the Minister of Education to outline the purpose and remit of the planned North/ South centre of excellence on autism; and to make a statement.

(AQO  1407/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): The centre of excellence for the education of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) will provide all-Ireland education and diagnostic services for children with ASD and their families. We expect it to come into operation in autumn 2003. Relevant education and health professionals will work with children of all ages and their families to achieve effective management of the condition. The centre is the first joint provision of its kind. It will be jointly funded by both Education Departments, and run jointly by a board of management and trustees from the North and the South.

It is a hugely exciting development, which will be of great benefit to children with ASD and their families. Children with autism represent a continuum of need, ranging from those with mild impairments to those with more serious autistic spectrum disorders. I am committed to achieving the best possible range of interventions to meet the special needs of those young people.

The Minister's announcements on the proposed centre for autism in Middletown are welcome, not only for the children, their parents and the staff, but for the constituency of Newry and Armagh.

The news of this announcement, allied to the recent report on autism, has given a sense that there will, at last, be some movement on autism on the part of the education authorities. Will the Minister ensure that as much information as possible is provided at the earliest opportunity on who the centre intends to treat, how they will be treated, what resources will be available to staff, and what training will be available for teaching staff and educationalists throughout the island?

Will the Minister also outline what resources have been made available for the ongoing implementation of the code of practice for special needs education?

I recently reported to the House on the outcome of our most recent North/South Ministerial Council meeting. The details of how the centre will be staffed and administered are the subject of continuing discussions between officials from my Department and from the Department of Education and Science in Dublin. It will be some time before we can provide an accurate breakdown of how that will proceed. However, a joint working group on special education was established under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council, and that will focus initially on autism and dyslexia. Northern task groups on autism and dyslexia were also established. The reports of those groups were published at the beginning of May 2002.

The all-Ireland centre of excellence for the education of children with ASD will be developed on a North/ South basis. Many people are keen to see that put into operation as quickly as possible, and it is proceeding apace.

The code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, prepared on foot of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, gives detailed practical guidance to schools and boards on how to identify, assess, meet and review special education needs. Substantial additional resources have been provided to support the introduction of the code of practice here. From 1998 to 31 March 2002, some £25 million of earmarked funding has been made available.

The Department has commissioned a survey of parental opinion to ascertain whether they consider the system achieves its aim - for example, how user- friendly it is, and whether it results in their children's special educational needs being met in the best possible way. The University of Ulster at Coleraine is undertaking the survey, and parents' views are being sought. That is vital.

Through my experiences and contact with people with dyslexia and the parents of dyslexic and autistic children, I know it is important to maintain a high level of contact with parents so that we can monitor the service provided. That is it is why it is important for parents to give their opinions in that survey.

I welcome the Minister's statement and the new centre that is being set up in Middletown. How will the centre help, if at all, in the early and effective diagnosis and statementing of children suspected by their parents as having autistic tendencies? Will the Minister assure the House that there will be maximum formal co-operation between health and education providers to ensure that autistic children and their families are taken seriously?

The decision to establish a centre of excellence was taken only recently. The facilities and expertise that will be available at the centre are the subject of ongoing discussions between my officials and officials in Dublin. It is critical that the centre deals with the treatment of autistic children from a very early age, as it is to be a centre of excellence. It will be essential to have procedures, mechanisms and expertise in place at the centre to deal with those matters.

The purpose of the centre is to provide education and diagnostic services on an all-Ireland basis for children with autistic spectrum disorders and their families. The relevant education and health professionals will work with children of all ages, and their families, to achieve effective management of the condition. I am happy with the way the centre is proceeding. It is a tall order to have everything in place by autumn 2003, but the Education Departments in Dublin and here are determined to have it operational. I am sure that the parents are also looking forward to that.

Will the Minister say how many sites were considered for the centre of excellence? What were they, and what criteria were used to assess the suitability of each site?

A full economic appraisal, which presented a range of options, accompanied the proposal made to the Executive programme funds for the establishment of the centre on a North/South basis. The favoured option was for the purchase of the former St Joseph's adolescent training centre in Middletown in line with a valuation provided by the Valuation and Lands Agency. The economic appraisal was scrutinised and endorsed by the Department of Finance and Personnel. That did not identify any other existing premises as an option. As the centre will be acquired by the purchase of existing premises, a tendering process was not appropriate. The criteria used to locate the centre of excellence were that the services provided should be cost effective; it should be situated within a reasonable distance of both jurisdictions, North and South; it should be accessible to the main centres of population in the area; it should be able to provide a mix of residential, non-residential, long-term and short-term placements with children with autistic spectrum disorders; and it should enable the development of professional expertise in the area of autistic spectrum disorders among educationalists.

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3.

asked the Minister of Education whether those schools which were on the list of contenders for this year's capital schemes, but were unsuccessful, have been informed of the reasons why they did not receive capital funding.

(AQO  1397/01)

It has not been practice to tell schools which did not get a place on the capital programme why they are not to receive capital funding. My Department is reviewing the capital allocation process with a view to including a provision to advise unsuccessful contenders. The need for improved accommodation in those schools is recognised, but it is not possible to include them all, given the resources available.

It is because of the procedures that the Minister has outlined that there are increased difficulties and disappointments for those unsuccessful schools. Most schools, regardless of the authority they are under, write to the Department when they come into contention, so I welcome the Minister's suggestion that his Department should write to the schools stating why they were unsuccessful. Can the Minister confirm that the procedure will be in place in future years?

As I have said, we are reviewing the capital allocation process with a view to including a provision for advising unsuccessful candidates. Through our discussions in the Education Committee we know that there are difficulties with this and that much disappointment is felt by schools that do not make the capital funding programme. The Department has a duty and a responsibility to explore ways of improving that, and we are determined to expedite this as soon as possible so that we do not have recurring difficulties of this nature.

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Can the Minister explain the process for selecting schools for the capital funding programme?

Schools are selected on the basis of educational need as reflected by reports from the inspectorate and information from the education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and other interested parties.

I trust that during today's sitting, which is in public, the Minister will be able to answer my question without descending into the same loutish behaviour that we saw during the private session of the Education Committee last Thursday. I am sure that he now realises that such behaviour is unbecoming of a Minister of the Crown, and perhaps he will take this opportunity to apologise to the Chairperson of the Committee for the way in which he conducted himself.

The Minister has reiterated the oft-repeated mantra that he deals with these issues fairly and that capital finance is allocated in accordance with educational need. On Thursday he said that 5% of the educational need was attributed to the integrated sector of education, yet in the past two years that sector has attracted 20% of the funds. Can he explain that? Is his allocation based on need or on his own narrow political agenda?

I have absolutely nothing to apologise for. The Member is speaking absolute nonsense, which is, of course, his forte. The school capital building programme is determined solely on the basis of educational need and not on any sectoral or area basis. I refute any allegation of bias in the allocation of resources. To do otherwise would result in some schools being elevated above others with greater need, and that would be unacceptable.

It may be of interest to the Assembly and the public that as Minister of Education, I have made three school capital building programme announcements. Controlled schools received £132 million, which is 40% of the total; maintained schools received £113 million, which is 34%; voluntary grammar schools received £48 million, or 15%; and integrated schools received £35 million, which is 11%.

Anyone who advocates the allocation of resources on a sectarian basis, rather than on the basis of educational need, is behaving as a bigot. Criticism - [Interruption].

Order.

- has been levelled at the allocation to Drumragh College, the integrated school in Omagh, County Tyrone, which is located in the grounds of a psychiatric hospital. I, and others, had serious concerns about that situation. Arguments such as those made by the Member imply that I should fund only a certain aspect of the new school - the toilet block or the canteen - rather than deal with the situation.

Such works in post-primary schools can be expensive for the schools capital building programme, especially where we must build a complete school, as in the Drumragh case. Following the economic appraisal and planning work, the Department decided that the best option was to build a new school. It was expensive, but some Members claim that the school got more money than it was entitled to, given its place, or the level of demand, on the list of contenders.

That argument is rubbish. It advocates that I, as Minister of Education, should give money to schools on the basis of a Catholic/Protestant headcount. I will not do that. When I make decisions vis-à-vis the school capital building programme, I base them on educational need. Statistics suggest that some people ought to reflect on the psychological damage they do in certain communities in the North by regurgitating such absolute nonsense.

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4.

asked the Minister of Education what action he has taken to secure funding for the construction of a new primary school at Carrick, Warrenpoint.

(AQO  1375/01)

The scheme for Carrick Primary School is at an early stage in the planning process, and an economic appraisal must be completed before the scheme can compete with others for a place in the capital funding programme. As part of the process, a feasibility study is under way that will assess the cost of various options for meeting the school's accommodation needs. However, given the number of schemes competing for a place in the programme, and the limited financial resources available, it is not yet possible to say when the school can be included in any future capital funding programme.

It is customary to thank the Minister for his reply. However, I cannot do so in this instance, because I am disappointed to learn that Carrick has not been prioritised. The school is bursting at the seams, with over 300 pupils, and it will be unable to enrol more children unless it is enlarged.

Will the Minister accept an invitation to visit Carrick Primary School to see the problem at first-hand and to advance the cause of the pupils in that area?

I will accept any invitation to visit the school. However, I must reiterate that the Department's intention is to ensure that the project is thoroughly planned and can be included in a list of schemes for consideration for next year's new-starts announcement. I cannot guarantee that a school will be successful.

When a Member thanks a Minister for his or her reply, he or she is not expressing thanks for the content of the reply, but simply for the Minister's taking the trouble to reply. Otherwise, Members would be rarely thanking Ministers for replies. It is out of courtesy that they properly do so.

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5.

asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the range of educational experience represented by the members of the Burns inquiry team.

(AQO  1393/01)

Members of the review body were chosen on the basis of their relevant experience and expertise, following consultation with the Executive and the Committee for Education. They included representatives from schools, further education, higher education, business and training. Collectively, they had a detailed knowledge of the public education system; professional expertise in teaching at all levels; professional expertise in teacher training; extensive knowledge of business and commerce and of training and employment needs. The review body was supported by a team of five education advisers and an education consultative forum.

The Burns recommendations, particularly those regarding the development of collegiates, would, if implemented, have major, and perhaps negative, effects on further education and on issues on which they overlap such as careers education or business-to-education links. Given that, does the Minister agree that it is strange that none of the 10 members listed on page 229 of the Burns Report appears to have had any further education teaching experience? Their experience of teaching in schools appears to be limited. Five of the 10 members have taught, but at university level rather than at school and further education level.

The review body comprised highly professional people with a wide range of experience and expertise relevant to the education service. Half of the members had been schoolteachers, and several of them had served as school governors. The review body also had access to advice from a panel of eminent educationalists and an education consultative forum that represented all local education interests. The chairperson of the review body was a former further education lecturer.

I am satisfied that the people appointed to the review body, following much discussions between the Executive, the Committee for Education and myself, were well qualified to carry out the review. Undoubtedly, they have produced a detailed and thought-provoking report that has been followed by what has probably been one of the best debates on education in recent years.

I have been encouraged by the recent debates. The Governing Bodies Association and the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland have made important contributions. During the past few weeks important and constructive contributions were made by the Transferors' Representative Council, which acts on behalf of the Protestant churches within the education system.

Consensus is emerging on the issues raised by Burns - for example, on ending the 11-plus; ending academic selection; pupil profiles: and on increasing co-operation and collaboration between schools. It is important to emphasise that recent, wide-ranging meetings have produced useful contributions.

During many meetings I have met with the principals of further education colleges, and I have listened to their criticisms. I am listening carefully to the views of those who are involved in further education, and I am determined to take this important debate forward to its conclusion.

I have noticed that the House has not been getting through many questions at Question Time. I encourage the House to try to get through as many questions as possible. We are still only on question 5, one question having been withdrawn.

Does the Minister agree that the present system is unfair to children from disadvantaged backgrounds?

I have said several times that it is unacceptable that only 8% of grammar school pupils are from disadvantaged backgrounds. The objective of all post-primary arrangements must be to ensure that all pupils, whatever their gifts, can progress and fulfil their potential. It is wrong to focus on any single group to the exclusion of others. I seek post-primary arrangements that provide flexible, diverse and high-quality pathways to suit the varied abilities and aptitudes of all children. Every child must be given the opportunity to succeed.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that the response forms to the Burns proposals will be sent to around 670,000 households. I cannot stress enough how critical it is that people respond to the consultation. It is a unique opportunity for the community - which is the key constituency - to effect change that will enhance and strengthen the education system. The public have a key role. The form is straightforward; it asks six questions on the Burns proposals. It has a freepost envelope -

The questionnaire relates to the Burns review. Some of the responses may be lengthy, preventing other questions from being asked. I hope that we can move on promptly to other questions.

It is critical that all Catholics, Protestants and Dissenters in society recognise their unique opportunity to put in place a world-class education system for the twenty-first century. The focus must be on children's needs. Children - not institutions, and certainly not political parties - must be at the centre of the review. I hope that all political parties will rise above -

I am sorry, Minister; you know that I do not often intervene, but 27 minutes of the time allotted for questions have elapsed.

Hear, hear.

From those Benches, other Ministers have also taken substantial time over questions recently. I hear them saying "Hear, hear" to that also.

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6.

asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) the impact of demographic changes on the school system over the next eight to 10 years and (b) how this might affect any restructuring of post-primary provision.

(AQO  1408/01)

The Department projects a decrease of 10,000 enrolments in the post-primary sector over the next six years. It is projected that throughout the North pupil numbers will continue to decline well into the next decade. No school will be immune to the effects of the decline in pupil numbers. The status quo is not an option. Grammar schools already admit pupils who achieved lower grades in the transfer test, and the ability ranges of their pupils will widen further.

As grammar schools continue to fill through open enrolment, the greatest impact of the demographic decline will be felt by secondary schools, whose pupil numbers will fall by some 11% over the next six years. They will suffer consequential reductions in funding and will also have to deal with an increased number and concentration of the pupils with the greatest social and educational needs. Surplus accommodation will increase in the post-primary sector, and action will be required to ensure that we make the best use of the schools estate.

It is important that all relevant interests address those challenges and engage in honest discussions about how to manage them in a planned and co-ordinated way. The current review of post-primary education provides the ideal opportunity to do so.

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The Minister has consulted groups on the demographic changes to take place in the next eight to 10 years. What proposals did the Governing Bodies Association present for matching pupils in the coming years, particularly after the abolition of the 11-plus and the changes that will take place as a result of the demographic decline?

In February the Governing Bodies Association gave a commitment to identify an acceptable method of matching pupils to schools. However, no proposals have been produced yet. If the association has developed acceptable proposals, I urge that they be made available for public scrutiny. Moreover, I urge that the association's position on academic selection be clarified as soon as possible and before the end of the consultation period.

Before considering the future alteration of education arrangements, will the Minister tell us how he intends to address the chronic problems in the North Eastern Education and Library Board?

I will have to ask the Minister to reply in writing to that question, since the time for questions to the Minister is up.

Health, Social Services and Public Safety

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I wish to inform the House that question 2, in the name of Mr Éamonn ONeill, and question 3, in the name of Mr Barry McElduff, have been withdrawn and will receive written answers.

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1.

asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of beds presently occupied at the South Tyrone Hospital.

(AQO  1398/01)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Faoi láthair, tá 41 leaba in úsáid in Ospidéal Dheisceart Thír Eoghain.

At present, 41 beds in the South Tyrone Hospital are occupied.

Does the Minister understand the desire of people in Dungannon and south Tyrone to have more beds used in the local hospital and for the reinstatement of some of the services removed by her Department? Does her forthcoming consultation paper refer to the reinstatement of services at the South Tyrone Hospital? When does she intend to announce that consultation?

I have made it clear on several occasions that I want the valuable facilities in the South Tyrone Hospital to be used effectively. A wide range of services is already provided, for example, outpatient clinics and day-care surgeries, including new clinics for cardiac outpatients and brain trauma. In addition to the doctor-led minor injuries unit, there is a comprehensive radiology service; a day hospital for the elderly; inpatient medical geriatric wards; and a significant allied health professions service. Also, installation of a new CT scanner is to take place this year. At present it is not possible to make use of overnight care facilities for some services at the South Tyrone Hospital. That stems from the decision by the medical training authorities to remove professional training accreditation for the hospital. As Members know, that resulted in the temporary transfer to which Mr Gallagher referred in his question. I have stated on several occasions that the future of all hospitals will be part of the forthcoming consultation, and all points will be referred to in that paper. Members must await the consultation paper to see what it contains. That has been discussed on several occasions in the Executive. Following discussion, I expect to go to consultation and to be in a position to make final decisions during 2002.

Perhaps the Minister does not remember that the South Tyrone Hospital has 200 beds that could be used. Has the Minister had any contact with the Royal College of Surgeons with regard to reinstating the vital services which have been moved temporarily from south Tyrone to Craigavon? When does she intend to reinstate them?

I referred to the matter of reinstatement in my response to Mr Gallagher's question. Proposals for the future of the hospital will be considered as part of the acute hospitals review. As I have said on many occasions, no decisions have been made, nor will be they be made before a period of consultation. Any proposed changes for the long-term future of our acute hospitals will be subject to an equality impact assessment and public consultation. I have already dealt with the time frame for that. I am well aware of the need to make the utmost use of the facilities of the South Tyrone Hospital. Recently, I was glad to open the hospital's human/patient clinical simulator.

The Department is considering proposals from the boards and trusts to rebalance services pending the outcome of the acute hospitals review.

The Minister has answered comprehensively my question about the requirements for the South Tyrone Hospital.

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4.

asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps are being taken to reduce the number of births to teenage mothers.

(AQO  1400/01)

I ndiaidh an cháipéis chomhchomhairle 'Miotais agus Réaltacht' a fhoilsiú, bunaíodh grúpa oibre leis na freagraí a bhreithniú agus le straitéis agus plean gníomhaíochta a fhorbairt arbh aidhm dóibh breitheanna gan choinne do thuismitheoirí sna déaga a laghdú. Tá an plean sin le foilsiú sa mhí seo chugainn.

Following the publication of the consultation document 'Myths and Reality - Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood', a working group was established to consider the responses and to develop a strategy and action plan to reduce the number of unplanned births to teenage parents. The action plan will be published next month.

In the interim, the Department provided £250,000 in 2001-02 to fund 32 projects from a range of statutory and voluntary community organisations, mainly concentrated in areas with high rates of teenage pregnancy, to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies.

I welcome the fact that the teenage pregnancy and parenthood strategy will be published next month. How much funding will the Minister provide to ensure that it is successful? Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

The projects I referred to were funded to the end of the 2001-02 financial year and are being evaluated. In this financial year, £300,000 is available to implement the strategy and action plan. Details of the current year's funding will be available soon, and the evaluation of the projects will inform future decisions.

Question 7, in the name of Rev Robert Coulter, has been withdrawn and will receive a written answer.

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5.

asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the total expenditure on litigation cases in each of the last five years and (b) any action being taken to reduce this amount.

(AQO  1366/01)

Seo a leanas na suimeanna a íocadh sna cúig bliana seo caite: 1996-97 £5·3 mhilliún; 1997-98 £1·7 milliún; 1998-99 £14·7 milliún; 1999-2000 £5·5 mhilliún; 2000-01 £9·9 milliún. Níl figiúirí iniúchta don bhliain airgeadais 2001-02 ar fáil go fóill.

In 1996-97, £5·3 million was paid out; £1·7 million in 1997-98; £14·7 million in 1998-99; £5·5 million in 1999-2000, and £9·9 million in 2000-01. Audited figures for the 2001-02 financial year are not available yet.

Changes have been introduced to improve clinical and social care governance, particularly in specialities such as paediatrics and accident and emergency. Steps have been taken to ensure the safety of blood products and the sterilisation of surgical instruments. A risk management model for health and personal social services has been developed, and boards and trusts participate in a risk management forum that promotes quality in clinical governance and controls assurance and health and safety issues. Those measures will reduce health and social service's exposure to litigation.

It is an important issue. Money that could be used for patient services is being paid out in litigation costs. Will the Minister assure the House that safeguards are in place to ensure that work is being properly monitored and that there will be no future litigation claims against professional staff?

I am sure that the Member agrees that it is vital that all those who use health and personal social services should get the same high standard of care, no matter where they live. That is why, in April 2001, I issued for consultation our proposals to do just that. 'Best Practice - Best Care' proposed to establish a framework for setting clear, consistent standards from a single point in the Department, putting in place the clinical and social care governance to which I have referred. Under 'Best Practice - Best Care', health and personal social services will have timely access to the most up-to-date guidance to help it make the best use of its resources and skills. Legislation to implement some of those measures will be necessary, and I will put my proposals before the Assembly shortly.

In addition to the proposals in 'Best Practice - Best Care', the competence of professionals is a key element in maintaining high standards and addressing some of the Member's concerns. The introduction of consultant appraisals from April 2001 means that the competence of individual consultants is assessed regularly. Other initiatives will be aimed at setting and monitoring standards across a range of professions. Strengthened regulatory mechanisms will provide important and powerful assurance control at practitioner level. Taken together, the proposals in 'Best Practice - Best Care', the legislation that I will present shortly, and the initiatives aimed at improving practitioner performance will ultimately ensure that all of those developments reduce litigation claims.

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the steps that the Minister has already taken in this regard. She has welcomed 'Best Practice - Best Care', but what effect does its introduction have on litigation that results from clinical negligence?

As I have said, 'Best Practice - Best Care' will ultimately mean that litigation will be reduced. However, it will do more than that. For example, the inspections and reviews undertaken by the new regulation and improvement authority will provide a further assurance that systems are in place to identify and reduce risks and that services are being delivered to the required standard and, therefore, offering further protection to service users.

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