29 NOVEMBER 2001

ALL PARTY NOTICES

PLANNING AID SERVICE

Assembly Members and/or their researchers and staff are invited to attend a seminar in the Long Gallery on 5 December 2001 at 10.00 am to introduce the Planning Aid Service.

Planning Aid is a free service offering impartial professional advice on town and country planning to members of the public who cannot afford the services of a planning consultant.

The event will include:

• a presentation by Carole Ryall, Planning Aid Co-ordinator for London, on the successes achieved by Planning Aid in Great Britain;

• an address by Bill Morrison, Former City Planner for Belfast on the theme 'Why does Northern Ireland Need Planning Aid'?

The seminar, which is sponsored by The Lord Alderdice MLA, is aimed at demonstrating how Planning Aid can benefit Assembly Members and their constituents.

There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on 3 December 2001 at 4.00 pm in the End Reading Room of the Library.

A Carol Service will be held in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 1.00 pm on Wednesday 12 December 2001. The Service will last approximately 40 minutes. Members and staff are welcome to attend.

Memorial inscriptions in memory of the late Senator Jack Barnhilll and the late Senator Paddy Wilson will be unveiled in the Senate Rotunda on Wednesday 12 December 2001 at 11.00 am. Representatives from both the Barnhill and Wilson families will be in attendance.

All members are invited to attend.

Two official Assembly Christmas Cards are available this year and can be viewed in the Business Office (Room 32). Costs are as follows:

• Christmas Cards (either Card);- ;£3.50 per pack of 10

• Overprinting of Cards (Members only);- ;£40.00 for up to 1000 cards

A limited number of last year's cards will also be sold, at £2.50 per pack of 10, while stocks last. Overprinting is not available on these cards.

Order Forms and details of how to pay for cards are available from Paul Breen in the Business Office (Telephone 90 [5]21399).

Please note that Royal Mail's latest recommended posting dates for Christmas Cards and letters are:

• Friday 7 December;-;Airmail letters to destinations outside Europe

• Monday 10 December;-;Letters to Eastern Europe

• Friday 14 December;-;Letters to Western Europe

• Tuesday 18 December;-;Cards and letters sent Second Class

• Friday 21 December;-;Cards and letters sent First Class

The Assembly Commission has decided to divide the Members' Dining Room and create a Brasserie as a pilot scheme from Monday, 3 December 2001.

12.00 noon - 2.30 pm or 30 minutes after the House rises, whichever is the later.

• the Members' Dining Room offers an 'à la carte' menu with a choice of dishes for each course;

• a full bar facility is available with a House wine list to choose from.

• the Brasserie offers a menu with a choice of dishes for each course;
• a full bar facility is available with a House wine list to choose from.

The Members' Dining Room and the Brasserie are strictly 'Non-Smoking'.

• Access is restricted to Members, Officers of the Assembly and their accompanying guests, and authorised nominated users.

In addition to the above, access will be open to all permanent passholders.

Members may nominate a member of their permanent support staff to hold business lunches in the Brasserie.

Each Party may nominate one member of their permanent staff to hold business lunches in the Members' Dining Room. The 4 larger parties (UUP, DUP, SDLP and Sinn Féin) may nominate an additional member of their permanent staff.

Nominations of Members' permanent support staff and the Party permanent staff for inclusion on the authorised list of users must be in writing to:-

• Roisin Donnelly, Room B10, Office of the Keeper

In the circumstances where a Member must leave either of the dining areas an arrangement must be in place for the nominated staff member to be available to accompany guests.

The Members' Dining Room and the Brasserie should be booked at all times by using the 'Support Services Helpdesk - Extension 21041 or 90(5)21041. All Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance with the exception to Members who may make a reservation on the day up to 12.00 noon. At this stage tables will be released on a first-come-first-served basis.

Members will be given priority in both the Members' Dining Room and the Brasserie in relation to all the above bookings.