Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way.

Friday 18 June 2010

Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
 Agriculture and Rural Development
Culture, Arts and Leisure
Education
Employment and Learning
Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Environment
Finance and Personnel
Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Justice
Regional Development
Social Development

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Titanic Quarter

Mr B Wilson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister if any declarations of interest were made by the First Minister in relation to departmental or Executive discussions on the Titanic Quarter.

(AQW 4328/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): There were no declarations of interest by any Minister. The only Executive discussions in relation to the Titanic Quarter were regarding the Titanic Signature Project.

Display of Flags in Public Areas

Mr C McDevitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the review of the inter-agency Joint Protocol in relation to the Display of Flags in Public Areas.

(AQW 7231/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The working group set up to look at the current Flags Protocol and to review it has so far met on two occasions on 7 October and 23 November 2009.

The Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) is currently being developed for consultation. When the consultation is completed and the CSI Programme launched then the Flags Protocol will be reviewed in the context of the new Programme.

Officials are still actively monitoring this issue of flags and research is continuing into the monitoring of a baseline report commenced in 2006.

Committee of the Regions

Mr J Shannon asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the annual cost of (i) air fares and travel; and (ii) wages for the representatives who attend the Committee of the Regions.

(AQW 7277/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: European Union Committee of the Regions representatives are not paid a salary for attendance. Their travel costs and permitted allowances are taken from the Committee’s budget, which is administered by its Brussels-based Secretariat. No costs accrue to Member States or regions.

Student Complaints

Mr P Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what progress has been made, to date, in establishing an Ombudsman, for the further and higher education sector, to address student complaints.

(AQW 7278/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: A review of the Offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints undertaken in 2004 recommended that the Ombudsman could assume responsibility for additional public bodies on the principle of ‘following public funds’. It was suggested that this might include universities and further education colleges.

Given the passage of time since Deloitte submitted its report in 2004, officials have undertaken an internal review of the report’s recommendations. Ministers are currently considering the advice provided by officials.

Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill

Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the reasons for the delay in publishing the statutory Code of Conduct in relation to the Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill and when this will be published.

(AQW 7482/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Working Group on Parades is still considering the detail of the draft Code of Conduct. It is still intended that the draft document will issue for public consultation in the next couple of weeks.

Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill

Mr C McDevitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of whether a full and informed consultation can take place on the Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill in the absence of the statutory Code of Conduct.

(AQW 7495/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Code of Conduct is being finalised. It is hoped that it will issue shortly in order to allow for an overlap with the consultation period of the draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill thereby allowing for full and meaningful consultation.

Prioritisation of Planning Appeal Hearings

Mr C McDevitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether their office has the authority to seek prioritisation of planning appeal hearings when an application is of strategic regional importance.

(AQW 7708/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Planning Appeals Commission is an independent tribunal Non-Departmental Public Body which operates at arms length from Government and exercises its functions independently and free from influence by OFMDFM or any other body.

OFMDFM holds sponsorship responsibility for the Commission and provides the financial and administrative support to the Commission. OFMDFM has no locus in planning appeal matters and has no operational remit.

It is for the Chief Commissioner therefore to schedule her workload and her ‘Procedure for Prioritising Casework’ is published on the Commission’s website.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Forestry Commission Tree Planting Target

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether her Department or the Forestry Commission has consulted their counterparts in Scotland on enhancing the Forestry Commission Tree Planting target.

(AQW 7271/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): DARD’s Forest Service officials have regular discussions with Forestry Commission Scotland colleagues on issues concerning new woodland creation. In 2008/09 Scotland achieved 3,440 hectares of new woodland against their target of 10,000 hectares and in the same year Forest Service achieved 289 hectares against our target of 550 hectare. Scotland and this part of Ireland both have forest strategies including ambitious afforestation aims, which seek to encourage more landowners to consider forestry as an alternative land use. In response to lower than expected levels of woodland creation, both organisations last year reviewed their respective grant rates and announced significant increases in Autumn 2009. Since then both Forest Service and Forestry Commission Scotland have noted renewed interest in their respective schemes and we will encourage landowners in the north of Ireland to convert this interest into new woodland in the 2010/11 tree planting season.

Staff at Glenree House in Newry

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many members of staff at Glenree House in Newry are currently off work; and to give the reasons recorded for their absence.

(AQW 7387/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The following details relate to staff at Glenree House who are off work at 7 June 2010.

No of staff off work Reasons for absence
11
Sickness absence (more than 20 days)
3
Maternity leave
5
Career break

Fine from the European Commission

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (i) to detail the reasons for the imposition of a €60m fine from the European Commission; (ii) to outline any shortcomings and where they took place within the Department; (iii) what measures have been introduced to prevent a recurrence of these shortcomings; (iv) to outline any concerns in relation to her Department's interpretation or understanding of European Legislation; (v) taking into account the current strain upon the public finances, to detail what the Minister has done and intends to do, in conjunction with her Executive colleagues, to achieve a reduction or removal of this fine from the European Commission with immediate effect; and (vi) to detail the urgency with which this fine will be expected to be paid.

(AQW 7631/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Firstly, there is no £60m fine. The Commission have advised of their intention to disallow a flat rate of 5% of area aids claimed from 2004 to 2006. Allowing for currency movements this is around £30m. This is based on a Commission audit in 2006 and its subsequent concerns that the Department had weaknesses in its control processes. These concerns related to:

A decision on this disallowance is expected later this month.

A further audit in 2008 (covering the scheme years 2007 and 2008) found that while our controls had improved, it was still not possible to estimate precisely the risk to the EU Fund. In these circumstances, the Commission view was that the correction should remain at 5%. This proposal is currently being taken through the conciliation process to help clarify both our and the Commission’s understanding of the actual risk to the Fund.

My Department has implemented a number of improvements including:

In 2009, we initiated a Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) Improvement Project. Through this we will systematically review and where necessary amend, every field with the DARD LPIS system. This project is being funded from the Executive’s Invest to Save Programme.

I have no concerns in relation to my Department's interpretation or understanding of European Legislation. Every effort is made by my officials to ensure that their understanding of what can be very complex issues is correct. My Department engages with all the other administrations in Scotland, Wales and Defra to ensure that our views are represented and that consistent lines are taken.

I, the ARD Committee and my officials have all lobbied the Commission. As stated we have used the conciliation process and we have engaged in both formal and informal discussions with Commission officials, these discussions are ongoing.


So far between the Executive and DARD, we have been able to meet the pressure for 2004, 2005 and 2006. We have challenged and countered the arguments put forward by the Commission. In our view, as many of the errors found are small, the real risk to the Fund is less than 2% and disallowance proposed is disproportionate and that no financial correction is required. DARD has challenged the Commission's proposal and is considering the possibility of legal action through the European Court of Justice".

As stated, we expect that a decision on the 1st flat rate correction will be made later this month. This amount will be deducted from our subsequent claim for reimbursement of subsidies paid.

Brucellosis in the Keady Area

Mr W Irwin asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail any contact she has had with the PSNI regarding the most recent case of Brucellosis in the Keady area.

(AQW 7711/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Veterinary Service continues to work closely with the PSNI in relation to brucellosis related irregularity and where we have evidence of unlawful activity we share it with them.

It would not however be appropriate to comment on the details of ongoing investigations.

Single Farm Payments

Mr W Irwin asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (i) to detail the total number of Single Farm Payment entitlements that have been withdrawn from farmers who failed to claim them; (ii) for an assessment of the monetary value of these entitlements; and (iii) where the money from the withdrawn entitlements has been used.

(AQW 7729/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: (i) Up to the present, a total of 12,523 Single Farm Payments (SFP) entitlements have been withdrawn from farmers because they failed to claim them.

(ii) The total monetary value of the withdrawn entitlements is €1,290,489. A breakdown of the number and value for each year has been provided in Annex A.

(iii) Withdrawn entitlements are placed in the SFP National Reserve. As these entitlements are no longer claimed or paid, the corresponding amount of money is not drawn down from the EU Budget.

Annex A
SINGLE FARM PAYMENT ENTITLEMENTS CONFISCATED (2005 to 2009)
Year Number of Entitlements Value (€)
2005
52
10,789
2006
218
38,806
2007
605
74,808
2008
7,633
776,579
2009
4,015
389,507
Totals 12,523 1,290,489

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE

Joint Initiatives Between Sport NI and the Irish Sports Council

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline any current joint initiatives between Sport NI and the Irish Sports Council aimed at benefiting sport in both jurisdictions.

(AQW 7307/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland): In order to benefit sport in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) have established an All Island Planning Committee. This Committee has a broad remit dealing with matters such as sports participation, facility development, high performance sports development, anti-doping and coaching in both countries. In addition, a bi-annual conference, alternatively hosted by SNI and ISC, is held to consider relevant sports development issues in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The next conference will be held in Dublin in October 2010.

Staff Salaries

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how many staff in his Department, and associated Quangos, are paid in excess of £100,000 pa in salary and/or remuneration packages.

(AQW 7342/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The remuneration of the most senior officials in each government department in Northern Ireland is routinely published in departmental Resource Accounts; DCAL Resource Accounts may be accessed at www.dcalni.gov.uk

The number of staff within DCAL and its Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) currently paid in excess of £100,000 per annum in salary and/or remuneration packages are as follows:

DCAL
1
ALB
1

Pool Cars

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how many of his departmental officials have the use of pool cars.

(AQW 7343/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Ministers have first call on the use of the cars in the central car pool. When available these cars can be used by officials at Grade 7 and above for business purposes.

Provision of New Stadia

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what progress has been made to date on the provision of new stadia for (i) the Gaelic Athletic Association; (ii) Ulster Rugby; and (iii) the Irish Footbal Association.

(AQW 7580/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Consultants have been commissioned, through Sport NI, to produce an Outline Business Case on the value for money, operational viability, sustainability and affordability of the Football, Rugby and Gaelic games options for regional stadium development, aimed at meeting their long-term needs.

The ongoing consultancy exercise has appraised the Governing Bodies’ options, together with a range of other options for stadium development, and will be advising on the most economically advantageous options. The sports’ Governing Bodies have been actively involved in discussion with the consultants, the department and Sport NI throughout the process.

It is anticipated that the consultants will formally report in the near future, following which the proposals will be reviewed within my department and Sport NI. It will also be essential that the Department of Finance and Personnel are able to scrutinise and comment on the Outline Business Case.

Ultimately, I will bring my proposals on regional stadium development and the attendant budgetary implications to the Executive for consideration.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Senior Management Posts in the Education and Library Boards

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of senior management posts, at Grade 5 and above, across the Education and Library Boards; and the amount spent on salaries for those posts since 2007.

(AQW 7314/10)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): Dhearbhaigh na Príomhfheidhmeannaigh ar na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne líon na bpost bainistíochta sinsearaí agus costais tuarastail na bpost bainstíochta sinsearaí i limistéir a mBord faoi seach, agus tá na sonraí seo mionsonraithe thíos. Cuirtear in iúl duit nár cuireadh an bronnadh pá don bhliain 2009/10 (d’fheidmiú le linn na bliana 2008/09) i bhfeidhm go fóill do na poist bhainistíochta sinsearaí seo cionn is go bhfuil sé á mheas ag mo Roinn faoi láthair.

The Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards have confirmed the numbers and salary costs of senior management posts for their respective Board areas, the details of which are outlined below. Please be advised that the 2009/10 pay award (for performance during 2008/09) has not yet been implemented for these senior management posts as it currently remains under consideration. As Minister of Education I have the ultimate responsibility for approving this pay award within the Department.

BOARD AREA
 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
BELB No. Senior Mgmt Posts
6
6
5
Salary Cost (000s)
569
657
525
NEELB No. Senior Mgmt Posts
5
5
4
Salary Cost (000s)
476
494
409
SELB No. Senior Mgmt Posts
6
6
5
Salary Cost (000s)
563
581
444
SEELB No. Senior Mgmt Posts
7
7
6
Salary Cost (000s)
583
512
454
WELB No. Senior Mgmt Posts
8
8
7
Salary Cost (000s)
740
777
714

DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

Northern Regional College

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to list the capital builds confirmed for the Northern Regional College; and the start date for each.

(AQW 7223/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Sir Reg Empey): The only confirmed capital build for the Northern Regional College is at the Newtownabbey campus. Building work commenced in the spring of 2009 and is due for completion by September 2010.

A high level case has been prepared by the college to build new premises at the Coleraine and Ballymena campuses. More detailed business cases, however, are required before any decision will be taken to proceed with these projects.

Northern Regional College

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the budget for the Northern Regional College in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7224/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Recurrent block grant funding for the Northern Regional College is allocated annually on an academic year basis. The 2005/06 and 2006/07 budgets were determined using historical enrolment data. From 2007/08 onwards with the introduction of a new funding model and the College Development Plan process, budgets are determined on planned rather than historical provision. The block grant allocation for Northern Regional College for the last five years is detailed below

2005/06 - £19,837,633

2006/07 - £19,660,269

2007/08 - £22,027,757

2008/09 - £21,776,400

2009/10 - £22,614,401

Careers Advice

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of unemployed people, aged 16-22, that have sought careers advice in the North Down constituency, in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 7226/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department’s Careers Service does not collate statistics in this format. The attached appendix details the total number of Careers Adviser contacts with unemployed clients, aged 16-22, in careers offices in the North Down constituency, within each of the last twenty four months.

These figures may include clients who have been seen by a Careers Adviser on more than one occasion.

Appendix 1
Total Careers interactions with unemployed clients aged 16-22 Bangor and Newtownards Careers Offices (North Down Constituency) June 2008 – May 2010
Month YP (16 & 17) AP (18-22) Total
June 2008
24
4
28
July 2008
31
0
31
August 2008
32
1
33
September 2008
19
2
21
October 2008
11
2
13
November 2008
8
1
9
December 2008
8
0
8
January 2009
21
2
22
February 2009
17
2
19
March 2009
20
2
22
April 2009
19
0
19
May 2009
26
1
27
June 2009
16
6
22
July 2009
21
1
22
August 2009
25
4
29
September 2009
50
13
63
October 2009
11
6
17
November 2009
16
0
16
December 2009
20
5
25
January 2010
24
2
26
February 2010
27
2
29
March 2010
18
2
20
April 2010
22
1
23
May 2010
13
0
13

Programme-led Apprenticeships Scheme

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what consultation has taken place with the skills sector in relation to Programme-led Apprenticeships; and to make a statement on this matter.

(AQW 7363/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Programme Led Apprenticeship (PLA) provision was introduced in September 2009 as a contingency measure. The urgency to respond to a changing and worsening economic downturn meant that consultation was more restricted than would have been the case in normal circumstances. However, a number of FE Colleges and the Education and Training Inspectorate were involved in the design of the programme.

Officials also met with Summit Skills, the SSC for the building services industry and ETT and PMST, the training delivery bodies for electrical, plumbing, heating, refrigeration and ventilation, during the development stages of the PLA programme.

Since the introduction of PLA there has been a range of meetings with stakeholders to address difficulties in gaining work-based placements and future provision. The DEL Committee also hosted a meeting at the end of

April with Department officials, some Sector Skills Councils, employers and FE Colleges and these discussions have continued under the chairmanship of the Alliance of Sector Skills. A further meeting is planned.

You will also be aware that I responded in the DEL Committee’s motion in the Assembly on 8 June last.

I trust this response helpful.

Apprentices

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what consideration he has given to (i) the provision of financial incentives to employers during the current economic recession, in order to retain apprentices and recruit new apprentices; and (ii) measures, where appropriate which support employers to continue to employ apprentices rather than engage in a Programme-led Apprenticeship scheme.

(AQW 7364/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: (i) During the current economic recession, financial incentives for employers within the ApprenticeshipsNI Programme have remained unchanged. The apprenticeship training package on offer to employers is very attractive, in that the apprentices’ directed training costs are paid by the Department. For some frameworks this could amount to £5,000 for a Level 2 or up to £6,500 for a Level 3. On completion, an incentive between £500 and £1,500 is paid to the employer.

During the recession, I have introduced a number of schemes to support employers to retain apprentices in the workplace. The use of employment incentive schemes has also been considered but these raise issues such as state aid and risk of possible displacement of existing experienced workers. However, I will continue to keep such initiatives under consideration.

(ii) ApprenticeshipsNI is the Department’s flagship employer-led programme and is the preferred option for those wishing to follow an apprenticeship. In order to ensure that the ApprenticeshipsNI Programme is not undermined by the Programme-Led Apprenticeship scheme, I have put in place measures whereby employers are not permitted to offer placements to Programme-Led participants if they have made ApprenticeshipsNI apprentices redundant in the previous 6 months.

Additionally, the Department’s 2010 ApprenticeshipsNI advertising campaign will have a strong focus on encouraging employers to recruit apprentices.

My Department will continue to work to raise employment levels and, within that, to encourage employers to provide apprenticeship opportunities.

Northern Ireland Regional Area Network

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for his assessment of the contribution of the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network and the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network II to the further and higher education sector.

(AQW 7370/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Northern Ireland Regional Area Network provides an extremely high quality and value for money service, achieving average reliability levels of 99.9% uptime on all Internet connectivity. This enables further and higher education institutions in Northern Ireland to pursue world-leading international research projects, and to deliver "anytime-anywhere" on-line learning programmes to students within Northern Ireland and around the world.

Therefore, the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network’s contribution to the Northern Ireland further and higher education sector is invaluable. Its unique combination of high-speed bandwidths and outstanding reliability provides a vital infrastructure to facilitate both the essential business operation of the institutions and, above all, their fundamental purpose of teaching, learning, and research.

Northern Ireland Regional Area Network

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what representations have been made to the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and the Joint Academic Network UK (JANET) in relation to proposed changes to the management of the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network.

(AQW 7371/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Department has consulted with the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN) Board to assess the implications of the proposed changes to the management of NIRAN. Consequently, the Department is of the opinion that the proposed changes to the present governance arrangements, which include the loss of local control, may be detrimental to the interest of the further and higher education sectors in Northern Ireland.

The Department has written to the Joint Academic Network UK (JANET), expressing its concern at the proposal to centralise the Regional Network Operators, of which NIRAN is one, and requested that a discussion takes place before the proposal is developed further.

Programme-led Apprenticeships Scheme

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the number of young people, under 24 years old, on the Programme-led Apprenticeships scheme in each of the last five years; and (ii) the current level of funding for this scheme.

(AQW 7385/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Programme-Led Apprenticeships were first introduced on 7 September 2009 and consequently there are no figures for recruitment to Programme-Led Apprenticeships in the years prior to that date.

A total of 3,352 participants have enrolled on the programme since it was introduced. All enrolled participants were under 24 years of age at the time of enrolment.

The Department has spent £11,291,303 between September 2009 and May 2010 on Programme-Led Apprenticeships.

Further Education College Staff

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail, for each Further Education College, the current number of staff, broken down by gender, (i) employed at Deputy Director/Vice Principal level (ii) paid at (a) Head of Department level; (b) Principal Lecturer level; (c) Senior Lecturer level; (d) Lecturer level; and (e) Associate Lecturer; (iii) the number of staff receiving a former L2 allowance paid at Senior Lecturer level; and (iv) the number of hourly paid lecturing staff employed at 1 June 2010.

(AQW 7415/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The six Further Education Colleges have confirmed the number of current staff, broken down by gender in the categories requested. This information has been placed in the Assembly Library and Department for Employment and Learning’s website.

Further Education College: Full Cost Recovery Courses

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail, for each Further Education College, (i) the number of full cost recovery courses; (ii) the name and duration of each course; and (iii) the number of people, broken down by gender, employed to deliver each course in (i) 2007/08; (ii) 2008/09; and (iii) 2009/10.

(AQW 7416/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not hold this information. Whilst I have a general responsibility for the performance of the Colleges and their use of public funds, issues relating to course provision, including full cost recovery courses, are matters for each of the individual College Directors and their respective Governing Bodies. I have asked each of the College Directors to write to the Member.

Academic Staff on Fixed Term Contracts

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of academic and academic-related staff employed on fixed term contracts in (i) Queen's University; and (ii) the University of Ulster, broken down by gender, in the 2009/10 academic year.

(AQW 7417/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not hold information on university staff or their terms of employment. However, the Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Ulster have provided the following details of the number of academic and academic-related staff employed on fixed term contracts, broken down by gender, in the 2009/10 academic year.

 

 

 2009/10
(i) Queen's University Belfast Male
390
  Female
371
 
Total
761
(ii) University of Ulster Male
95
  Female
120
 
Total
215

University Staff

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of academic and academic-related staff who were employed on fixed term contracts and then awarded permanent status in (i) Queen's University; and (ii) the University of Ulster, broken down by gender, in the 2007/08; (b) 2008/09; and (c) 2009/10 academic year.

(AQW 7418/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not hold information on university staff or their terms of employment. However, the Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Ulster have provided the following details of academic and academic-related staff who were employed on fixed term contracts and then awarded permanent status, broken down by gender, in the 2007/08; 2008/09; and 2009/10 academic years.

    Academic Year
    2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
(i) Queen's University Belfast Male
4
10
3
  Female
3
7
3
 
Total
7
17
6
(ii) University of Ulster Male
16
16
16
  Female
19
11
17
 
Total
35
27
33

University Staff

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of persons employed on an hourly-paid basis to deliver teaching to students for the (i) 2007/08; (ii) 2008/09; and (iii) 2009/10 academic years, in (a) Queen's University; and (b) the University of Ulster, broken down by gender.

(AQW 7451/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not hold information on university staff or their terms of employment. However, the Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Ulster have provided the following details of the number of persons employed on an hourly-paid basis to deliver teaching to students for the (i) 2007/08; (ii) 2008/09; and (iii) 2009/10 academic years, broken down by gender.

    Academic Year
    2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
(i) Queen's University Belfast * Male
1076
983
624
  Female
1053
978
637
 
Total
 2129 1961 1261
(ii) University of Ulster Male
139
163
243
  Female
182
216
261
 
Total
 321 379 504


* QUB has advised that it does not employ staff specifically on an hourly basis to deliver teaching to students. Rather, it engages individuals on a contract for service for a given time period and details are set out above.

University Staff

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline the employment terms which apply to staff engaged on an hourly-paid basis in (i) Queen's University; and (ii) the University of Ulster; and to detail the hourly rate of pay made to these staff.

(AQW 7452/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not hold information on university staff or their terms of employment. However, the Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Ulster have provided the following information on hourly paid staff including the hourly rate of pay made to these staff.

(i) Queen’s University Belfast

As indicated in response to AQW 7451/10, the University does not employ staff specifically on an hourly basis to deliver teaching to students. Rather, it engages individuals on a contract for service for a given time period. Those engaged on contract for services are paid £33 per hour for recognised University courses, and £22 per hour for extra mural courses.

(ii) University of Ulster

Hourly paid lecturing staff are contracted for either a semester or an academic year. The contract stipulates the number of teaching hours to be delivered during the engagement period and the rate of pay. Hourly paid staff are only paid for the actual hours which they work. There are two rates of pay: the higher rate is £34.28 per hour and the lower rate is £22.43 per hour. The hourly rate is pro-rata to the full-time rate of pay.  Hourly paid lecturing staff are granted access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension scheme for the duration of their engagement.

Apprenticeships

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how many people enrolled in apprenticeships in East Antrim in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 7464/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Department has supported a total of 701 apprentices between the 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2010 and whose given address is within the East Antrim constituency. The data in the table below lists the number of apprentices who have enrolled in each of the last 24 months. Although these apprentices reside within the East Antrim constituency, they may not have enrolled with training providers in the East Antrim constituency and may not be employed by companies within the East Antrim constituency.

Number of enrolments for apprenticeship programmes in the East Antrim Constituency 1st April 2008 – 31 March 2010.
Apr-08
16
May-08
7
Jun-08
15
Jul-08
15
Aug-08
4
Sep-08
131
Oct-08
45
Nov-08
15
Dec-08
21
Jan-09
29
Feb-09
25
Mar-09
19
Apr-09
26
May-09
28
Jun-09
35
Jul-09
23
Aug-09
27
Sep-09
89
Oct-09
25
Nov-09
27
Dec-09
6
Jan-10
15
Feb-10
17
Mar-10
41

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the amount of Education Maintenance Allowance paid to students attending college in the Mid-Ulster area in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7475/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Data is not available in the constituency format requested, however, the table below details the total amount of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) paid to students at Further Education (FE) colleges in Northern Ireland in each of the last three full academic years.

Academic Year 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Total EMA paid to students at FE colleges
£6,272,300
£6,258,000
£6,824,600

Future Jobs Fund

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when he will report to the Assembly on the pilot scheme of the Future Jobs Fund.

(AQW 7749/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Pilot, which is know locally as the Young People’s Employment Initiative, is currently underway. It is due to finish in mid-September and will be evaluated in the autumn. I will publish the report when the evaluation is complete.

DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Jobs in the West Belfast Constituency

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the number of visits she has made to businesses; and (ii) the number of announcements she has made in relation to the creation of jobs in the West Belfast constituency since becoming Minister.

(AQW 7238/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster): (i) Since taking up this post in June 2008 I have made 5 visits to the West Belfast Parliamentary Constituency Area. Details of these visits are as follows:

24/10/08 - Official opening of Small Wonders Childcare - Shankill Women's Centre

02/12/08 - Branding of the Shankill to encourage tourism - Shankill Library  

06/02/09 - Visit to APT Audio Processing Technology Ltd - Whiterock Business Park

02/07/09 - Press Launch of the Orangefest/Spectrum Festival - Spectrum Centre

02/06/10 - Visit to Farset Enterprise Park and Invest NI Site - Springfield Road.

Additionally, I also met with representatives from Townsend Enterprise Park on 2 December 2008.

(ii) Although I have not been directly involved in making announcements about job creation projects in the area, Invest NI has approved support worth more than £1m to 17 projects that plan to invest over £8m in West Belfast and create 130 new jobs whilst safeguarding 8 existing jobs. These jobs are expected to attract salaries worth £3.65m per annum.

In addition, in December 2009 Invest NI announced an offer of over £400k to Colorite Europe Ltd to support a £3m investment, which is expected to create 12 new jobs and safeguard 26 existing jobs. Invest NI approved this offer of assistance in February 2008. As this was prior to the date of my appointment as DETI Minister, the assistance, investment, jobs and salaries are not included in those reported at (ii) above.

Furthermore, Invest NI has also offered support to 141 innovation-based projects in West Belfast since June 2008. These projects have been offered almost £4m in assistance contributing towards planned investment of nearly £10m. Although not directly related to job creation, these capability development activities will underpin business competitiveness leading eventually to growth and employment opportunities and included companies such as LBM Holdings who were offered £177k towards a £600k project aimed at developing staff capability and improving its commercial competitiveness.

Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps her Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy commissioned by the British and Irish Governments in 2006.

(AQW 7240/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy was published and taken forward during Direct Rule through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC). It has not been formally considered by either the Executive or the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).

European Seventh Framework Programme

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) how many projects Invest NI has secured under the European Seventh Framework Programme; and (ii) the total value of these projects.

(AQW 7286/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: With a budget of over €50 billion, the European Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) runs from 2007 and 2013 and is the European Commission’s main method of funding transnational collaborative research and development. FP7 participation is in response to "Calls for Proposals" and the topics are, in the main, decided at the European level (not regional priorities). FP7 is open to a broad range of organisations (public and private) including university research groups, large innovative companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Funding is drawn down by transnational consortia. Government departments are eligible participants in some schemes such as ERA-nets but generally cannot lead a funding bid. The main players are universities, research institutes and large industry.

In response to the specific question, Invest NI has secured funding for two ERA-NETs under FP7. The ERA-NET scheme seeks to increase coordination and cooperation of national and regional programmes and as such is aimed at the national and regional programme makers and managers. The two Northern Ireland ERA-NETs have a potential value of €52,431.

In the broader context of Northern Ireland participation in FP7, Invest NI provides a Collaborative R&D Support Service to assist Northern Ireland-based organisations develop applications for FP7. Highly confidential data on successful Northern Ireland FP7 participants is provided twice yearly from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). As at 1 November 2009, official figures released by BIS show that 61 Northern Ireland participants in FP7 have received €16,501,327 in funding. Unofficial sources indicate that this figure will rise to over €22m for the period ending April 2010.

Fuel Poverty

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what action her Department has taken to reduce fuel poverty in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7302/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My primary focus as Economy Minister is on business competitiveness. However, DETI continues to work with others on energy related matters such as fuel poverty, on which DSD has lead responsibility.

DETI is a member of the Inter-departmental Group on Fuel Poverty charged with ensuring effective coordination of policies and actions to address fuel poverty. Specific actions for DETI have included, continued monitoring of the roll out of the natural gas distribution network in urban areas supplied by the North-West and South-North pipelines to provide enhanced diversity and security of energy supply; and, in cooperation with the Utility Regulator, a study into the potential to extend the natural gas network to towns in the West and North-West of Northern Ireland where natural gas is not yet available.

The Department has continued to seek to secure ongoing benefits for the consumer from the mutualised Moyle electricity and Scotland to Northern Ireland (SNIP) gas interconnectors, and from the mutualised Belfast gas Transmission Pipeline, with combined savings of over £90m anticipated over the life of the three assets.

The Department is also continuing to examine scope for harmonising gas arrangements with the Republic of Ireland to bring long term benefits to consumers from a single operational regime with potential for economies and efficiencies of scale, reduced costs and enhanced investment opportunities in the natural gas system.

DETI also worked with the Utility Regulator to encourage competition in the domestic electricity market and the recent decision by Airtricity to enter the market is welcome news. This has seen the company offering electricity to direct debit customers from 1 June 2010, at a likely discount of up to 14% compared to current NIE Energy tariffs, and proposes from next April a service to electricity key pad (pay as you go) consumers.

In an effort to empower consumers to reduce their consumption, DETI introduced the Electricity and Gas Billing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. These regulations require electricity and gas suppliers to provide twelve months historical consumption data on energy bills, to better inform consumers.

The Department continues to work with the Utility Regulator to establish scope for regulatory action to make tariff changes for those in fuel poverty and is also about to bring to the Executive a new Strategic Energy Framework which will set the direction towards achieving a competitive, sustainable, long term future for energy in Northern Ireland.

Bank Lending to Businesses

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps she has taken to increase bank lending to businesses.

(AQW 7303/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Access to credit continues to be an important issue for Northern Ireland businesses in these difficult economic times. Banks are, of course commercial concerns and operate as such; and I have no powers to give them directions. I have, however, met a number of the local banks to discuss their contribution to helping Northern Ireland companies weather the recession; and my officials and I maintain contact with them in relation to this.

One of my priorities has been to encourage the maximum uptake in Northern Ireland of the UK Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee, which was introduced in January 2009 and provides a 75% government guarantee against bank loans of up to £1 million to small businesses. Over the last year Northern Ireland uptake has increased steadily, with almost £20 million having been offered and almost £16.5 million having been drawn down by the end of May 2010.

Invest NI

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of jobs created, with the support of Invest NI, in (i) the Banbridge Council area; and (ii) the Craigavon Council area in each of the last five years; and the amount of money invested.

(AQW 7361/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Table 1 shows the number of jobs promoted and safeguarded and the associated assistance offered by Invest NI to business-related investment projects in Banbridge and Craigavon District Council Areas in each of the last 5 years. The table also shows the total planned investment that this support contributes towards.

The total assistance offered and the total planned investment has been split into employment related and non-employment related projects. Non-employment related projects involve activities such as research and development, training, trade development, and technology and process development.

This represents the number of jobs that these projects plan to create or safeguard, the associated value of support which is expected to be paid towards them during their life-time and the total expected investment in the local economy generated by these projects.

TABLE 1: Jobs Promoted / Safeguarded and Assistance Offered to Invest NI Assisted Businesses in Banbridge & Craigavon DCAs (2005/06 – 2009/10)
  Year New Jobs Safe Jobs Job Related Assistance
£m		 Job Related Investment
£m		 Non-Job Related Assistance
£m		 Non-Job Related Investment
£m		 Total Assistance
£m		 Total Planned Investment
£m
BANBRIDGE
2005/06
127
0
0.38
1.94
0.16
0.40
0.53
2.34
2006/07
21
0
0.08
0.51
0.25
0.50
0.33
1.01
2007/08
19
7
0.23
2.69
0.48
0.98
0.71
3.66
2008/09
11
0
0.09
0.34
0.56
1.27
0.65
1.61
2009/10
42
13
0.52
3.43
0.58
1.33
1.10
4.76
Total
220
20
1.31
8.90
2.02
4.48
3.33
13.38
CRAIGAVON
2005/06
252
322
6.69
27.40
1.95
7.71
8.63
35.11
2006/07
175
5
1.81
24.48
3.74
10.41
5.55
34.88
2007/08
100
22
1.09
9.83
2.29
6.20
3.38
16.03
2008/09
127
2
7.01
21.88
1.72
5.35
8.73
27.23
2009/10
709
250
12.69
59.65
6.05
18.28
18.74
77.92
Total
1,363
601
29.29
143.23
15.75
47.95
45.03
191.17
NOTES:

1. Job related projects are directly related to job creation activities.

2. Non-job related projects involve activities such as research and development, training, trade development, and technology and process development.

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of businesses supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in (i) the Banbridge Council area; and (ii) the Craigavon Council area in each of the last five years; and the amount of money invested in each business.

(AQW 7362/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: I refer the member to the answer provided for AQW/7054/10 which details the last three years of financial support given to businesses in the Banbridge and Craigavon areas.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) did not provide financial assistance to any business in the Banbridge or Craigavon Council area in either of the financial years 2005/06 or 2006/07 under the Tourism Development Scheme (TDS).

NITB did not provide any financial assistance under the Tourism Innovation Fund (TIF) to these Council areas during 2005/06 or 2006/07 as the fund was not established until June 2009.

Northern Ireland Events Company

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether a completion date has been set for the inspection of the Northern Ireland Events Company.

(AQW 7519/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: As Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, I am keen that this company inspection should be completed as soon as practicable. In this case, the inspection, which is forensic in its nature, is both particularly complex and wide ranging, and therefore it is very difficult to set a completion date. I can however assure the Member that I am determined that it will not take any longer than is needed for the inspectors to produce a thorough and robust report to the Department.

Job Creation

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what support her Department is providing to small businesses and job creation in the Limavady area of the East Londonderry constituency.

(AQW 7529/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Between April 2002 and March 2009, Invest NI made almost 190 offers of support to its clients in the Limavady area of East Londonderry. These offers, to both indigenous and externally-owned companies, amounted to around £9.5 million of assistance which, when implemented, will contribute towards total investment in the area of £28 million.

Invest NI continues to work in assisting indigenous companies to grow and develop by helping them to exploit export opportunities. In Limavady one recent example is the Limavady Gear Company, whose purchase of the former Seagate Limavady facility last year was particularly encouraging. The company operates at the forefront of the renewable energy sector, which a recent Carbon Trust report identified as having the potential to create over 30,000 jobs. Limavady Gear, is now well placed to exploit the tremendous opportunities for the growth the sector offers, for the benefit of not only the Limavady Borough, but Northern Ireland as a whole.

Of course, our council areas are not self-contained labour markets and a project assisted in a particular location has the potential to create benefits across a much wider area. Within the wider East Londonderry constituency, Invest NI has offered over £32 million of assistance which, when implemented, will leverage total investment in the constituency of £107 million. This support has helped promote the growth and development of a number of key employers such as Armstrong Medical and Causeway Data Communications and has secured inward investments by international companies such as Nicobrand and Fugro-BKS.

I Can assure you that Invest NI's full range of support continues to be available to small businesses in the Limavady area to assist them in increasing export levels and stimulating a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Switching Electricity Suppliers

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps her Department is taking to ensure that pay-as-you-go customers will be able to switch electricity supplier to Airtricity.

(AQW 7638/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Electricity licenses are granted by the Utility Regulator under the authority provided by my Department. It is a requirement of electricity supply licenses that suppliers offer customers a minimum of three methods of payment, with one of these being by prepayment or ‘’pay as you go’’ meter.

In agreement with the Utility Regulator, Airtricity is currently moving towards compliance with this requirement, and is working to put in place the technical infrastructure to enable them to accept prepayment from customers. The company is expected to be in a position to offer the supply of electricity to prepayment meter customers by April 2011.

The Utility Regulator approved Airtricity’s conditional entry into the domestic market, on the clear understanding that the necessary systems to facilitate prepayment meters will be in place by the April 2011 deadline. This decision has been taken in order to enhance competition in the electricity supply market, albeit presently only within the credit customer market.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Electronic Planning Information for Citizens System

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment (i) how much his Department has spent, to date, on the Electronic Planning Information for Citizens system; and (ii) to detail the projected cost of rolling out the system to local authorities.

(AQW 7349/10)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): The approved capital budget and the projected capital cost of ePIC is £12.8m. To date the total Capital expenditure on the project is £11.2m. A further £1.6m will be spent this financial year to complete the Project.

Preliminary work is underway to identify any changes which may need to be applied to ePIC to ensure the system operates effectively in Local Authorities. This work will be fully scoped and business case prepared when clear direction is given regarding the Local Government delivery model. At this stage it is not possible to predict the cost for any remedial work required to the system.

Legal Costs Incurred by Seaport NI

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the contribution made by tax payers towards the legal costs incurred by Seaport NI in its judicial review challenges against the Northern Area Plan.

(AQW 7352/10)

Minister of the Environment: To date the tax payer has made no contribution to Seaport (NI) Ltd because all the terms and conditions of the agreement between the parties have not yet been met.

I should, however, point out that the terms and conditions of the settlement between the Department and the applicants in the judicial review challenges against the Northern Area Plan are subject to a confidentiality clause.

EU Legislation on Invasive Non-native Species

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of whether the proposed new EU legislation on invasive non-native species will protect biodiversity and the economy from invasive species; and when he expects the legislation to be introduced.

(AQW 7395/10)

Minister of the Environment: I understand that the European Commission plans to develop an EU strategy on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), under the framework of a broader EU Biodiversity Strategy, by mid 2011. This strategy will aim to protect biodiversity recognising, amongst other things, the economic threat posed by IAS. The Commission has not indicated any timeframe for legislation.

Taxi Vehicles

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of the Environment what measures are being put in place to ensure the full implementation of regulations which require all taxi vehicles to have meters and compatible printers; and to outline the timescale.

(AQW 7409/10)

Minister of the Environment: Two sets of new Regulations are being brought forward to require all taxis to be fitted with taximeters, receipt printers and to work to a regulated taxi fare.

Taximeter Regulations

My officials are developing a new set of Regulations relating to the specification of taximeters and, subject to consultation, it is scheduled to be introduced in early 2011. In the first instance only taxis already operating to a regulated fare will have to comply but the Regulations will apply to all taxis once the Northern Ireland-wide taxi fare is introduced.

Taxi Fares Regulations

The specification for receipt printers will be brought forward as part of the Taxi Fares Regulations. My Department intends to commission new research into the costs of running a taxi in Northern Ireland that will consider the way fares are calculated, reviewed and applied in other countries and provide recommendations for an information management system which will allow the Department to determine and review taxi fares. It is envisaged that new Taxi Fare Regulations will be introduced by 2013.

Illegal Dumping at Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the investigation into illegal dumping at Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick.

(AQW 7424/10)

Minister of the Environment: My officials are continuing an investigation and it is likely that a prosecution file will be submitted to the PPS for consideration.

Tree Preservation Order at Myrtle Lodge, Bryansford

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the action taken by his Department to enforce the Tree Preservation Order at Myrtle Lodge, Bryansford.

(AQW 7425/10)

Minister of the Environment: Planning Service is currently considering advice from the Departmental Solicitors Office on this matter.

Certificate of Lawfulness

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of the Environment whether planning enforcement action can be stopped by an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

(AQW 7474/10)

Minister of the Environment: The main enforcement powers available to my Department are contained within the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. My Department has a general discretion to take enforcement action against a breach of planning control when it regards it expedient to do so, having regard to the provisions of the development plan and any other material considerations.

The issue of an enforcement notice or the service of a breach of condition notice constitutes taking enforcement action. Such action cannot be stopped by an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

Where there is genuine doubt as to whether planning permission is required, and the owner is actively pursuing an application for a Certificate of Lawful Use or Development, any consideration of enforcement action may be deferred pending the determination of the application. A Certificate of Lawfulness confirms that a use or development is lawful, and prevents enforcement action being taken against the specified use or development.

However, where it considers a breach of planning control to be unacceptable, there is no obligation on my Department to delay enforcement action pending the outcome of an application or subsequent appeal.

Pollution Hotline

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment what action his Department is taking to ensure that the pollution hotline is publicised, in particular in high-risk pollution areas such as Mallusk; and what plans and resources there are to ensure that local stakeholders are trained to a standard useful to the Department in a pollution incident.

(AQW 7484/10)

Minister of the Environment: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is responsible for investigating reports of water pollution affecting ground or surface waters and operates a Freefone Water Pollution Hotline (0800 80 70 60) that is available to the public at all times (calls from mobile phones are charged at network rates).

In addition to promoting the Water Pollution Hotline, through advertisements in telephone directories, on the NIEA website, through the supply of promotional materials such as business cards, posters and key fobs, NIEA promotes and publicises the Water Pollution Hotline at a number of public events including:

  1. At each of the 9 biannual Catchment Stakeholder Group meetings held throughout NI;
  2. At meetings held with various angling groups;
  3. With councils, in some areas exploring the potential for installation of pollution hotline signage close to waterways;
  4. At many events across NI held either at NIEA properties and at the properties of other organisations such as the National Trust and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; and
  5. At local events such as ‘Banks of the Ballinderry’ Fair promoting the importance of water quality and the effectiveness of stakeholders reporting incidents via the pollution hotline.

NIEA has also developed a partnership agreement with the Association of Rivers Trusts. The aim of this partnership is to improve water quality through the promotion of water quality projects and existing initiatives such as the pollution hotline. NIEA have supported the development of the Six Mile Water Trust who have helped promote the pollution hotline at events such as ‘Celebrate the Six Mile Water’ and the Launch of the Mallusk Heritage Trail.

During a comprehensive programme of pollution prevention inspections, carried out on business premises on the Mallusk Industrial Estate, the Water Pollution Hotline was highlighted to businesses as the appropriate mechanism to report water pollution issues to the agency.

NIEA is very aware of the potential role stakeholders could play in assisting NIEA staff in the investigation of pollution incidents. Plans are underway for NIEA to provide support to the establishment to an Anglers Monitoring Initiative pilot project this year. This partnership initiative, aims within available resources, to work with volunteers on how to monitor the health of their local river by keeping an eye on the populations of riverflies such as the mayfly and stonefly.

In the longer term NIEA is considering the issues surrounding the specific training of local stakeholders to enable them to assist NIEA during a pollution incident. Consideration is currently being given to the health and safety and legal issues involved, with the aim being to run a trial in due course, possibly in the Six Mile Water catchment.

Estrogens and Anti-androgens in Rivers

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment what steps are being taken to ensure that estrogens and anti-androgens are not allowed into rivers, particularly in the Six Mile Water river basin.

(AQW 7488/10)

Minister of the Environment: In April 2009, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) started monitoring rivers for di-n-butylphthalate, a substance that is believed to have an anti-androgenic effect, as part of its Water Framework Directive (WFD) surveillance monitoring programme at 85 river sites throughout Northern Ireland. This includes one on the Green Burn at Millvale, part of the Six Mile Water River Basin. Data on this will be available shortly.

During 2009 the NIEA also deployed passive samplers at a small number of river sites across Northern Ireland, including a series of deployments at several sites located within the Six Mile Water River Basin. Passive samplers sequester pollutants including the female hormones as they flow through the sampler but cannot be used to provide accurate aqueous concentrations. However for some substances, such as the female hormones, the data generated from analysis of passive sampler media can be used to calculate an approximate average aqueous concentration, referred to as a time weighted average concentration. Time weighted average concentrations are in the process of being calculated for the Six Mile Water deployments.

There are at present no controls on use of oestrogens and anti-androgens but fifteen of Northern Ireland Water’s larger Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW’s), including Ballyclare WWTW, have Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) treatment systems which offer limited removal of these substances.

However, there are currently no WWTW processes that guarantee full removal of these substances.

Pollution Incidents at Lismore Stream

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the number of pollution incidents notified at Lismore Stream in each of the last five years; (ii) if any reports have been prepared as a result; (iii) the type and source of pollution identified in each case; and (iv) what action was taken to address each incident.

(AQW 7509/10)

  1. Minister of the Environment: the number of pollution incidents notified at Lismore Stream in each of the last five years

Year No of Incidents
2005
0
2006
0
2007
1
2008
2
2009
1

(ii) Reports are made for every water pollution incident in the form of a record on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Water Pollution Incidents database. All of the notified incidents at Lismore Stream were considered low severity by NIEA.

(iii & iv) The following table details the type and source of pollution, and the action taken.

Year Type and Source of Pollution Action Taken
2007
 A mis-connected washing machine discharging to the surface drainage network was detected following an investigation. The source was identified and the mis-connection was corrected
2008 (1)
 The waterway was found to be running clear when inspected and no source could be identified following investigation. Paint washings, associated with home improvement, or similar were suspected. No further action taken
2008 (2)
 Waterway clear when inspected, similar circumstances to incident 2008 (1). No further action taken
2009
 A further report of white discoloration in the river. No source could be confirmed following investigations. No further action taken

Three Mile Water Salmonid Status

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what steps his Department has taken, in each of the last five years, to protect the Three Mile Water salmonid status from pollution, in both the main river and its tributaries, some of which traverse urban areas.

(AQW 7513/10)

Minister of the Environment: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) carries out regular inspections and consent compliance sampling of waste water treatment works, industrial and other sites to ensure appropriate environmental performance is maintained. There is also a routine environmental sampling programme with samples taken on a monthly basis at certain points on the river network.

The Agency has taken a pro-active approach in protecting Northern Ireland’s water environment from pollution by developing a programme of risk assessments in order to identify potential polluting discharges that could be damaging to the receiving waterway as well as providing advice on how to mitigate those risks.

As the Three Mile Water River has had a low frequency of pollution incidents over the past five years, and has not had any particular pollution threats identified in the area, the Agency has not deemed any specific risk assessment activity in the catchment as currently being necessary under the EU Water Framework Directive.

NIEA published River Basin Management Plans in December 2009 which cover the period 2009 – 2015. These Plans highlight where the Northern Ireland water environment needs to be protected or improved, and the time frame to make these improvements.

The Plans are being implemented through a rolling programme of Local Management Area (LMA) Action Plans - this will include the Belfast Lough area which will cover the Three Mile Water and its tributaries. Implementation of the Belfast Lough LMA Action Plan will further contribute to the protection of the Three Mile Water salmonid status. 

Stakeholders can become involved in implementing LMA Action Plans through public Catchment Stakeholder Group meetings.  Three Mile Water stakeholders can discuss local issues with the Belfast Lough & Lagan Catchment Management Officer.  Pollution incidents however should be reported immediately to the Pollution Hotline – 0800 80 70 60.  

Domestic Waste Recycled

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister of the Environment what percentage of domestic waste has been recycled in the South Belfast constituency in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7589/10)

  1. Minister of the Environment: The percentage household waste recycled (including composting) for Belfast City Council in the financial years 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 was 19.0, 23.2 and 26.3% respectively. These values were taken from the municipal waste reports for these years which may be found at http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/waste-home/municipal_data_reporting.htm.
  2. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency does not hold waste records relating to individual council constituencies.

Apartment Block on McAuley Street, Belfast

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the actions of Helm Housing Association in building an apartment block on McAuley Street, Belfast, without planning permission, which may need to be demolished due to land contamination.

(AQW 7669/10)

Minister of the Environment: Helm Housing Association, formerly BIH housing association, submitted a planning application to Planning Service in September 2007. During consideration of the planning application both NIEA and Belfast City Council Environmental Health Department raised concerns about contamination on the site and potential impacts on the health of future residents as a result.

Both organisations have been attempting to establish whether the development of the site will result in such problems. Unfortunately, HELM commenced development and despite warning letters from my Department, completed the development. This has made it difficult to establish whether the measures taken by HELM are sufficient to ensure that human health is not impacted on as a result of the contamination of this site.

It is regrettable that HELM have acted outside the planning regulations, and whilst it is not illegal to commence development prior to the granting of planning permission, it is a breach of planning regulations, which can, depending on the outcome of the planning application, lead to enforcement action, including the demolition of the buildings which have been erected.

Planning Service is in consultation with NIEA and EHO and is seeking to reach a conclusion in respect of the current planning application before deciding whether enforcement action is necessary.

Planning Service Staff

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of the Environment if he will delay the redeployment of Planning Service staff, given the fact that the publication of PPS 21 has generated a considerable amount of casework.

(AQO 1398/10)

Minister of the Environment: In terms of the current PPS 21 deferred cases, Planning Service has agreed with me an action plan aimed at reassessing these applications within 6 months. Progress will be closely monitored to ensure there is no significant slippage particularly in those Divisions which have the greatest numbers of deferred cases.

The process of redeploying staff will take some months to complete and I am satisfied it will have no material impact on the reconsideration of these deferred cases and therefore delaying the required redeployments is not necessary.

Road Accidents

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the statistics on road traffic accidents since January 2010.

(AQO 1404/10)

Minister of the Environment: So far this year there have 21 fatalities compared with 50 at this stage last year. This February was the first month since records began when there were no road fatalities in Northern Ireland.

It is impossible to be precise about the reasons for the decrease, because of the range of factors that can impact positively or negatively upon road safety. Bad weather in January and February may, in part, have contributed to a reduction in fatalities. However, the treacherous road conditions could equally have resulted in increased casualties had road users not adapted their driving behaviour to deal with the increased risk.

I have personally given road safety my top priority and have striven to keep road safety in the public mind by judicious publicity - using high-profile events and personalities; around developments in operational activity, policy and strategy; and through a redoubling of our public information campaigns.

Through a range of education, high-profile advertising and enforcement initiatives, my Department and our partner agencies, PSNI, Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service and many others are working and will continue to work together to further reduce deaths and serious injuries.

While the significant reductions this year are both welcome and encouraging, particularly given the disappointing rise in road deaths last year over the total road deaths in 2008, we must not forget those families who have been bereaved on our roads. We must all recognise too, that there is a long way to go and we should never allow ourselves to become complacent.

Wind Turbines

Mr M Brady asked the Minister of the Environment why Supplementary Planning Guidance, which has not been applied in Britain or in the rest of Ireland, is being proposed to deal with wind turbine applications.

(AQO 1406/10)

Minister of the Environment: Planning policy in Britain and Ireland requires consideration of the landscape and visual impact of wind energy developments and there is much published best practice guidance. Northern Ireland has very diverse landscapes of importance to our tourism economy and those who live in them. The existing guidance was not considered to be fully relevant to our landscapes.

The Supplementary Planning Guidance provides a consistent evaluation across Northern Ireland to inform assessment of landscape and visual impacts of wind energy developments. It also includes best practice guidance on siting and design of wind energy developments to assist developers.

Landfill Sites

Dr A McDonnell asked the Minister of the Environment what measures he intends to take to ensure that the enforcement role of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is sufficient to detect and bring to court the operators of landfill sites who are repeatedly in breach of the regulations attached to their operating licences.

(AQO 1407/10)

Minister of the Environment: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has a robust enforcement policy and intends to continue to take all measures necessary to deal with landfill operators who breach the terms and conditions of their licences. Such breaches are and will be subject to a range of control sanctions from enforcement notices to suspension of operating permits and prosecution.

Throughout, the primary aim of the agency is and will remain to protect the environment by ensuring compliance.

Local Government Reform: NILGA

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the co-operation between his Department and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association concerning Local Government Reform.

(AQO 1408/10)

Minister of the Environment: There continues to be close co-operation between my Department and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) in taking forward the implementation of the local government reform decisions taken by the Executive on 13th March 2008. I chair the Strategic Leadership Board, which was established to help manage and integrate the reform programme, with the President of NILGA as Vice Chair. Membership of the Board, and the three Policy Development Panels which support it, comprise councillors nominated by the five main political parties and NILGA.

Officials of my Department and NILGA provide a wide range of secretariat services to the Board and Panels including research, the preparation of draft policy and implementation proposals for members’ consideration, managing arrangements for meetings and programme management co-ordination. Senior Departmental and NILGA officers also meet on a very regular basis to ensure that the joint secretariat services provided are fully integrated and complementary.

My Department also provides grant funding support for NILGA. Departmental accounts have not yet been finalised for the last year but it is estimated that funding for the three year period, to 31st March 2010, will be £1.1 million.

Knock Golf Club, Belfast

Mrs M Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment if he intends to commission a review of the planning application for development at Knock Golf Club.

(AQO 1409/10)

Minister of the Environment: You will already be aware that my officials from Planning Service have already provided extensive briefing on the processing of the application to the Environment Committee which is also now calling for an independent review. It might be helpful if I explain, firstly, that while the application has been recommended for approval it remains at a critical stage in the overall approval process. Any final approval decision will be the subject of a legal agreement under Article 40 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and discussions are ongoing between the applicants, other interested parties, including the Hospital Trust, plus the Belfast Divisional Planning Office.

Secondly, this proposal is linked to a current application for a replacement facility near Newtownards. This application is still under consideration.

Clearly if the legal agreement cannot be successfully implemented my Department will itself have to review the application.

I therefore consider that it would neither be appropriate nor an efficient use of public funds to ask for an independent review of this planning application at this stage in the overall planning process.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PERSONNEL

Civil Servants Attending Anger Management Training Courses

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many Civil Servants in each Department have attended (i) compulsory; and (ii) voluntary anger management training courses in each of the last five years; and to outline the total cost of providing this training.

(AQW 7259/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): No NICS staff have attended compulsory or voluntary anger management training in the last five years.

Staff Salaries

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many staff in his Department, and associated Quangos, are paid in excess of £100,000 pa in salary and/or remuneration packages.

(AQW 7341/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There are 4 staff and one independent office holder in DFP who are paid in excess of £100,000 pa in salary and/or remuneration packages.

European Union Funding

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail any European Union funding that is available but has not yet been drawn down.

(AQW 7414/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The total funding for the four main EU funding Programmes are as shown below.

Programme EU Contribution* NI Match* Total* Managing Authority
NI Competitiveness Programme
£279m
£279m
£558m
DETI
NI European Social Fund Programme
£151m
£225
£376m
DEL
PEACE III
£204m
£99m
£303m
SEUPB
Interreg IVA
£174m
£58m
£233m
SEUPB

*All figures assume a planning rate of £1=€1.1 (this is subject to change)

All Programmes have met and exceeded their annual EU spending targets to date. The Managing Authorities forecast that the 2010 targets will likewise be met, although these remain challenging.

In addition, there are EU programmes and initiatives which award funding competitively to applicants from across the EU on the basis of the quality of the applications submitted.  These include the INTERREG IVB Transnational and IVC Interregional programmes where DFP-led activity has already significantly increased Northern Ireland participation. 

Regulation of Residential Management Companies

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) if the Ministerial sub-group established to look at the regulation of residential management companies has met; (ii) when they plan to meet again; and (iii) to detail their work to date.

(AQW 7533/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Inter-Departmental Group on Multi-Unit Developments held its inaugural meeting on 14 May and is due to meet again on 23 June. The issues which have been raised in relation to such developments can not be neatly placed in one category. The Group is, therefore, currently seeking to track relevant processes within the various business areas, identify relevant ministerial correspondence and AQs and identify examples of good practice. A representative of the Group has also met with the Northern Ireland Law Commission, which has been tasked with reviewing the law in relation to residential multi-unit developments. It is envisaged that, in the coming months, the Group will feed in to the Commission’s law reform work and provide appropriate assistance.

Newly Created Government Bodies and Agencies

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel where he plans to locate the newly created Government bodies and agencies mentioned in the Bain report.

(AQW 7660/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Decisions on where to locate any new public bodies and agencies are for the Ministers responsible for creating those organisations, taking account of business need, value for money and affordability as appropriate.

Women and Children’s Hospital

Mr G Adams asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the outcome of his discussions with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on capital funding for the planned regional hospital for women and children.

(AQO 1415/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I have not had any detailed discussions with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the capital funding for the planned regional hospital for women and children.

Budget Post 2010-11

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel when he expects to begin the budget process for the period post-April 2011.

(AQO 1417/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The objective of the 2010 Northern Ireland Executive Budget process will be to set the spending plans for local departments for the years 2011-12 to 2013-14.

The uncertainty in respect of the UK public expenditure environment as a result of the General Election in May, and the delay in completing the NI Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans has led to a delay in the initiation of Budget 2010.

However, the Executive considered a set of working assumptions for the way forward for the process when it met last Thursday and departments will shortly be asked to submit spending proposals for consideration by the Executive.

In addition, I wrote to my Executive Colleagues in April advising them of the need for all departments to deliver additional savings over the 2010 Budget period, in light of the projected constraints in public spending in the coming years.

This work should already be progressing with full engagement by departments with their respective Assembly committees.

Royal Exchange

Mr D Hilditch asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he can confirm that future funding for the Royal Exchange Project will be available.

(AQO 1418/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Any decision about future funding for projects such as Royal Exchange will be made by the Executive, taking into account factors such as the economic context, the development of the Investment Strategy, value for money.

Civil Service: Promotion and Recruitment

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail how the temporary embargo on NI Civil Service promotion and recruitment is being applied across Departments; and whether he plans to extend the embargo past 1 September 2010.

(AQO 1419/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The temporary embargo on NI Civil Service promotion and recruitment within the General Service Grades Administrative Assistant (AA) to Grade 6 (inclusive) applies to all Government Departments and their Agencies and is being rigorously applied. In order to ensure a consistent application across Departments, officials in DFP Corporate HR approve the filling of all vacancies.

The need for the recruitment embargo will be formally reviewed in September 2010 and a decision taken on whether it will be extended.

Meeting Halls

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an estimate of the savings made by organisations such as the Orange Order, the Apprentice Boys and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, following his Department's decision to stop charging rates on their meeting halls.

(AQO 1420/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: It is estimated that the relevant bodies have saved a total of £2.1m in rates since the policy was changed in 2006/07.

It is worth noting that my Department has no power to stop rates being charged. This change in policy was brought about in 2006 through legislation approved by Parliament. This extended the former partial exemption from rates for halls that were actually used for wider community purposes to full exemption for halls that are available for such use. The possession of a liquor license would prevent exemption applying.

Senior Civil Service: Pay and Bonuses

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, given his stated intention to link to the Westminster review, whether he will be requesting Northern Ireland specific advice from the Senior Salaries Review Body on both pay and bonuses for Senior Civil Servants.

(AQO 1421/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I have already asked the Senior Salaries Review Body to undertake an independent review of arrangements for the pay of Senior Civil Servants in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. That review is under way and I will consider the options for Senior Civil Service pay once that review is complete.

Public Expenditure Cuts

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the likely funds to be released during this year's monitoring rounds that can be used to offset the £128m cuts announced by the Chancellor.

(AQO 1422/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The primary source of funds becoming available during the in year monitoring rounds is from departmental reduced requirements.

Although departments are asked to surrender any reduced requirements as soon as they are identified the overall level is difficult to predict at this stage in the financial year.

However, the level of funds surrendered in this way has declined significantly in recent years and given the level of savings required of departments in the recent Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans it is likely that this trend will continue this year.

The Executive had an initial discussion on the £128 million budget reduction when it met on 27 May 2010. The way forward is to be agreed formally as part of the June Monitoring round, once clarification has been received from HM Treasury on a number of technical issues.

Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what consideration he is giving to the future of his Department's Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit, given the apparent reluctance of Executive Ministers to make use of its services.

(AQO 1423/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Despite the poor take up by departments of the support available from PEDU, I remain committed to the opportunity it affords. This is based on the fact that in the two departments where PEDU has undertaken substantive work, DOE and DFP, there have been material improvements in the organisations involved – the Planning Service and Land and Property Services.

I would again emphasise that the Unit represents an opportunity, rather than a threat, and would encourage all Ministerial colleagues to consider utilisation of this valuable resource – particularly as we move forward in a constrained public expenditure environment.

I must record that I find it more than a little ironic for Ministerial colleagues to publicly protest about the difficulties in implementing efficiencies while maintaining service levels when they have not utilised this free source of expertise.

Budgetary Processes

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether he has any plans to reform and simplify the Executive's budgetary processes.

(AQO 1424/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The current financial process commencing with the Budget, through the legislative stage of Estimates and Budget Bills to outturn in the Departmental Resource Accounts, has existed for many decades in Northern Ireland and is based on the Westminster model.

The process is convoluted and repetitive, especially during the legislative stage. In addition, there is a lack of transparency and obvious alignment between Budgets and Estimates and Members have commented that the publications do not lend themselves to easy scrutiny and challenge of spending proposals by the Assembly. This also diminishes the ability of the Assembly to later hold Departments to account for spend against those proposals.

I consider that, at this stage of devolution, it is time to discuss, consult and agree a process and publications that better suit the needs of this Assembly.

To that end, I have concluded that a Review of the Financial Process should now be taken forward. The aim of the Review would be to examine and make recommendations on the options to create a single coherent financial framework that is effective, efficient and transparent and enhances scrutiny by and accountability to the Assembly, taking into account the needs of the Assembly.

I am keen to engage over the coming months with the Assembly via the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Public Accounts Committee on a radical reform and simplification of our Financial Process

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Press Officers

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many press officers work in each Health and Social Care Trust.

(AQW 3897/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey): The information requested is provided in the table below.

Staff with Press Officer duties in HSC Trusts at January 2010
HSC Trust Headcount
Belfast
5
Northern
3
South Eastern 2
2
Southern 3
n/a
Western 4
4
Ambulance 2
1
Source: Health & Social Care Trusts
Notes:
  1. WTE= whole-time equivalent
  2. The figures given for South Eastern and Ambulance Trusts are for communications staff that also carry out press office duties. Therefore the WTE does not reflect the time spent solely on press office duties.
  3. There are no members of staff in the Southern HSC Trust solely responsible for a press office function. The above WTE has been estimated as the proportion of time spent on press office duties.
  4. The Western Trust estimates that their communications officers spent about a fifth of their time on press office duties.

Maxillo-facial Surgery

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) for his assessment of the long delays for patients awaiting maxillo-facial surgery; (ii) to list the current waiting times for (a) single jaw surgery; and (b) double jaw surgery; (iii) how these waiting times compare to the targets set; and (iv) what steps are in place to reduce waiting times.

(AQW 6264/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Patient waits for specialist maxillo facial jaw surgery, where it constitutes the first or only part of the treatment, are subject to my 2009/10 Priority for Action waiting time target for inpatient admission which is that no patient should wait longer than 13 weeks from the date a decision to admit a patient for surgery is taken by a consultant, to the date on which the patient is admitted for surgery.

Waiting times at 31st December 2009, the most recent quarter for which official data are available, are set out in the table below. Separate figures for single and double jaw surgery are not recorded.

  Patients awaiting admission for jaw surgery by weeks waiting Total number of patients awaiting admission
0-6 >6-13 >13-21
Number waiting
6
5
2
13
Source: DHSSPS Inpatient Waiting Times Dataset

Most patients requiring specialist maxillo facial jaw surgery are classified as non-urgent by their consultant and receive a series of planned treatments, including surgery, over a period of time. In some cases, particularly with children and young people, planned treatment may take place over a number of years. "Planned" treatment differs from elective referral for diagnosis and first treatment and is, therefore, not subject to the waiting time target.

I regret that some waiting times for planned maxillo facial surgery are lengthy however Health and Social Care Trusts will continue to seek to maximise theatre capacity within the available resource to ensure all patients are treated appropriately.

Organ Transplant Waiting List

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people are currently on the organ transplant waiting list; brokendown by organ.

(AQW 6273/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The following table shows the number of patients resident in Northern Ireland who are currently listed for an organ transplant, broken down by organ. It is important to note that these figures refer solely to patients registered with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Some patients who are resident in Northern Ireland may be listed for transplants in the Republic of Ireland.

Organ Active1 Suspended2 Total
Kidney
202
64
266
Pancreas
2
0
2
Kidney/pancreas
5
2
7
Heart
1
0
1
Lung(s)
12
0
12
Heart/lungs
1
0
1
Heart/kidney
0
0
0
Liver
13
1
14
Liver/kidney
0
0
0
Liver/pancreas
0
0
0
Liver/heart
0
0
0
Total
236
67
303*

Figures correct as of 18th April 2010

1 Active means that when an organ becomes available, the patient is included among those who are matched against the donor to determine whether the organ is suitable.

2 Suspended means the patient has been temporarily removed from the waiting list, for reasons ranging from being away on holiday to being too ill to undergo the operation.

The following table shows the number of patients resident in the United Kingdom who are currently listed with NHSBT for an organ transplant, broken down by organ.

Organ Active1 Suspended2 Total
Kidney
6873
2367
9240
Pancreas
49
47
96
Kidney/pancreas
277
115
392
Heart
120
7
127
Lung(s)
252
5
257
Heart/lungs
13
0
13
Heart/kidney
6
0
6
Liver
352
9
361
Liver/kidney
16
0
16
Liver/pancreas
3
0
3
Liver/heart
1
0
1
Total
 7962 2550 10512*

Figures correct as of 18th April 2010

1 Active means that when an organ becomes available, the patient is included among those who are matched against the donor to determine whether the organ is suitable.

2 Suspended means the patient has been temporarily removed from the waiting list, for reasons ranging from being away on holiday to being too ill to undergo the operation.

*In addition to the figures listed above, 8 individuals in the UK are also on the waiting list for a small bowel transplant. As this organ has not until recently been listed as a separate waiting list category, the UK Transplant Registry does not yet hold details on their residence. It is therefore not currently possible to provide a breakdown of how many of these 8 people are listed as residents in Northern Ireland.

Reported Incidences of Missing Children or Young People

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of reported incidences of children or young people who have gone missing since the implementation of the 'Regional Guidance for Police Involvement in Residential Units: Safeguarding of Children Missing from Home and Foster Care' broken down by District Command area.

(AQW 6729/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not collected in this format.

Budget

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if any part of his budget has been ring-fenced, and if so, for what purpose.

(AQW 6788/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Regarding funding to HSC Organisations, my Department has ring fenced funds set aside for Pay Costs, Non Pay Costs, Children and Young People and Service Improvements /Developments. As I highlighted to the Health Committee on the 25th May, included in these Service Developments are funds set aside for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Physical Disability. Service Development funds have also been set aside to meet the increasing demand for elderly care packages and the growing pressures of treating an ageing population

There are a number of elements of the Department’s budget that have been ring fenced by DFP. These include Invest to Save, EU funds and Package for Innovation. In 2010/11 depreciation and impairments will also be ring-fenced.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Services for HIV Patients

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the standards and guidelines followed for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis services for HIV patients in out of hours services and Accident and Emergency departments.

(AQW 7195/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Trust policies and protocols for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are based on (1) - "HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: Guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS", September 2008. This focuses on PEP following occupational exposure; and

(2) BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV) guidelines for PEP following sexual exposure (published in 2006).

Trusts have informed me that under normal circumstances (i.e. when a "source" patient is assessed to be low risk), blood will usually be transferred to the regional Virology Service in Belfast and tested next day. In these circumstances, if the "source" proves positive, Trusts would be phoned with the result by the virology laboratory. If the "source" is negative on triple testing (HIV, Hep B, Hep C), the results are posted and therefore take longer to arrive. If the "source" is high risk, the testing can be done urgently – including out of hours (with consultant communication between the Trust and the regional Virology Service). In these circumstances, the specimen would be transported by Taxi and the result would be available within a few hours.

Trusts Guidelines would normally be reviewed every two years (or earlier if e.g. the recommended PEP drug regime changes). In addition, an assessment of PEP services undertaken by the Northern Trust has shown a need to ensure the service is more user friendly. The Trust is liaising with the Belfast and Southern Trusts in taking this work forward.

I am also aware of an audit, carried out by GUM physicians from the Belfast Trust, of patients who received post exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure between January 2003 and August 2009. The audit demonstrated increased awareness and uptake of this provision but highlighted the need for a more effective follow up of patients.

HIV Blood Test Results

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the timescale for HIV blood test results from Accident and Emergency departments.

(AQW 7196/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Trust policies and protocols for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are based on (1) - "HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: Guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS", September 2008. This focuses on PEP following occupational exposure; and

(2) BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV) guidelines for PEP following sexual exposure (published in 2006).

Trusts have informed me that under normal circumstances (i.e. when a "source" patient is assessed to be low risk), blood will usually be transferred to the regional Virology Service in Belfast and tested next day. In these circumstances, if the "source" proves positive, Trusts would be phoned with the result by the virology laboratory. If the "source" is negative on triple testing (HIV, Hep B, Hep C), the results are posted and therefore take longer to arrive. If the "source" is high risk, the testing can be done urgently – including out of hours (with consultant communication between the Trust and the regional Virology Service). In these circumstances, the specimen would be transported by Taxi and the result would be available within a few hours.

Trusts Guidelines would normally be reviewed every two years (or earlier if e.g. the recommended PEP drug regime changes). In addition, an assessment of PEP services undertaken by the Northern Trust has shown a need to ensure the service is more user friendly. The Trust is liaising with the Belfast and Southern Trusts in taking this work forward.

I am also aware of an audit, carried out by GUM physicians from the Belfast Trust, of patients who received post exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure between January 2003 and August 2009. The audit demonstrated increased awareness and uptake of this provision but highlighted the need for a more effective follow up of patients.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Services for HIV Patients

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there has been an assessment of Post- Exposure Prophylaxis services for HIV patients in the Health Service; and to outline the findings of this assessment.

(AQW 7197/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Trust policies and protocols for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are based on (1) - "HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: Guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS", September 2008. This focuses on PEP following occupational exposure; and

(2) BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV) guidelines for PEP following sexual exposure (published in 2006).

Trusts have informed me that under normal circumstances (i.e. when a "source" patient is assessed to be low risk), blood will usually be transferred to the regional Virology Service in Belfast and tested next day. In these circumstances, if the "source" proves positive, Trusts would be phoned with the result by the virology laboratory. If the "source" is negative on triple testing (HIV, Hep B, Hep C), the results are posted and therefore take longer to arrive. If the "source" is high risk, the testing can be done urgently – including out of hours (with consultant communication between the Trust and the regional Virology Service). In these circumstances, the specimen would be transported by Taxi and the result would be available within a few hours.

Trusts Guidelines would normally be reviewed every two years (or earlier if e.g. the recommended PEP drug regime changes). In addition, an assessment of PEP services undertaken by the Northern Trust has shown a need to ensure the service is more user friendly. The Trust is liaising with the Belfast and Southern Trusts in taking this work forward.

I am also aware of an audit, carried out by GUM physicians from the Belfast Trust, of patients who received post exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure between January 2003 and August 2009. The audit demonstrated increased awareness and uptake of this provision but highlighted the need for a more effective follow up of patients.

Unused Stock of Tami Flu

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the unused stock of Tami Flu and for how long can this stock be used.

(AQW 7199/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There are currently 1.17 million courses of Tamiflu stockpiled in Northern Ireland. Tamiflu has a shelf life of 5 years.

Proposed Cuts to Front-line Services

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he can confirm that his budget will deliver health and social care provision on an objective need basis; and (ii) what discussions his Department has had with staff representatives in relation to the proposed cuts to front-line services.

(AQW 7201/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: All the actions I have taken this year to balance the books have been taken with need in mind. These actions should ensure that Trusts can offer equal access to core services across Northern Ireland and that demand pressures will be met.

I meet regularly with Regional Trade Union Representatives in my Department’s Partnership Forum at which these issues are frequently discussed. HSC employers have also been keeping local Trade Union representatives informed of their proposals for savings and the impact that this will have on Health and Social Care.

Regional Autism Spectrum Disorder Network

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he can confirm that £2.2 million from the £17 million budget for learning disability has been directed into administration and infrastructure to support the Regional Autism Spectrum Disorder Network and his Department's Action Plan for Autism services.

(AQW 7203/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Money earmarked for Autism services has been, and will continue to be, spent on local ASD services in accordance with actions outlined in the ASD Strategic Action Plan (2009). None of the budget earmarked for additional learning disability services within the Comprehensive Spending Review has been spent on any of the minimal administration and support costs associated with the Regional ASD Network.

Between April 2008 and March 2011 an additional £1.5m (reduced from £2.02m as a result of budget cuts) has been secured for ASD service development; it will continue to be invested in creating and improving services for those affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Genitourinary Medicine Clinics

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of Genitourinary Medicine clinics and the opening hours of each clinic; (ii) the number of people who sought advice from these clinics in 2009; and (iii) for an update on implementation on the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan.

(AQW 7209/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

HSC Trust
Location
Opening Hours
 Number of attendances in 2009
Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital 14 Consultant led clinics per week
13322
13 Nurse led clinics per week

Clinic opens at 7.30am for patient registration & clinics start at 1.30pm
3606
Northern Causeway Hospital Walk in clinics held (1) on :

Tuesday at 5pm

Friday at 1.30pm
1870
Nurse led clinics

held 9.30am – 12pm 3 mornings a week
563
Southern Daisy Hill Hospital Provides 3 clinics per week:

Monday 6pm – 8pm

Wednesday 9am – 12.30pm

Friday 2pm – 4pm
2406
South Eastern Downe Hospital (2) Monday 4pm – 8pm

Wednesday 9am – 1pm

Friday 1pm – 5pm
-
Western Altnagelvin Area Hospital Provides 6 clinics per week. Clinics are am/pm and one evening clinic:

9.30am – 1.00pm 4 mornings a week

2.00pm – 4.30pm once a week

5.00pm – 8.00pm once a week
4840
Source: Health and Social Care Trusts

(1) There is no set finish time for the walk in clinics & length of clinic will depend on the number of patients who attend – if there are too many patients to be seen they will be given another appointment

(2) A GUM clinic at the Downe Hospital will commence in July 2010 – there will be an additional 5 nurse led clinics in various primary care locations across the SE Trust

(iii) Implementation of the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy is progressing with sexual health promotion initiatives continuing to be undertaken in line with the Strategy by those working in the Health and Social care and voluntary and community sectors. I am pleased also to report that the multi-agency Sexual Health Improvement Network, chaired by the Public Health Agency to take forward the regional implementation of the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy’s Action Plan had its first meeting on 29 April 2010. The Network has considered priority areas of work relating to prevention, training, services and research and is currently establishing subgroups to take forward the key issues identified. A series of workshops is also being organised to explore the evidence base for effective interventions on STIs/ HIV and teenage pregnancy.

Herbal Highs

Mr A Ross asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what discussions he has had with the Home Office in relation to the classification of ‘herbal highs’, and in particular, changing the way in which classification occurs.

(AQW 7219/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Following the emergence of so called "legal highs", and mephedrone in particular, and evidence of their use and related harm in Northern Ireland, I wrote to the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and the then Home Secretary asking them to look again at this issue as a matter of urgency. I also spoke directly to the former Home Secretary on this issue.

In addition to asking them to look at specific drugs, I also asked them to give consideration to amending the legislation to introduce a new classification system that would allow for emerging drugs to be banned while consideration is given to their safety.

A number of "legal highs" have been classified in the past six months, including:

I understand that the ACMD are now looking at the napthyl analogues of pyrovalerone (known as NRG1) and other such analogues in the next few weeks.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when the performance level targets for cardiac rehabilitation will be published, as set out within standard 25 of the cardiovascular service framework.

(AQW 7228/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The HSC Board is currently undertaking an audit of HSC access to cardiac rehabilitation services, and performance levels will be set once this audit has been completed. The performance levels will be set in light of the funding available.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether it remains his intention to ensure that every heart patient who needs cardiac rehabilitation will have access to a programme; and (ii) what impact the Department's 'Priorities for Action' will have on the provision of cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

(AQW 7229/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The HSC Board is currently undertaking an audit of HSC access to cardiac rehabilitation services, and performance levels will be set once this audit has been completed. The performance levels will be set in light of the funding available.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if his Department and each Health & Social Care Trust has sufficient resources to ensure that every heart patient in need of cardiac rehabilitation has access to a programme.

(AQW 7230/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The HSC Board is currently undertaking an audit of HSC access to cardiac rehabilitation services, and performance levels will be set once this audit has been completed. The performance levels will be set in light of the funding available.

Health Service Facilities for Consultations and Treatment of Private Patients

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether Health Service employed medical staff use Health Service facilities for consultations and treatment of private patients, in or outside of their Health Service contracted time

(AQW 7233/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Private practice in health service hospitals in Northern Ireland is conducted in accordance with Article 31 of the H & PSS (NI) 1972.

Community Midwifery Unit at Lagan Valley Hospital

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the estimated costs of providing the new community midwifery unit at Lagan Valley Hospital.

(AQW 7242/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Discussions are ongoing between the South Eastern Trust and the Health and Social Care Board to agree the final costs of providing the community midwifery led unit at Lagan Valley.

Restructuring of Emergency Paramedic Crews

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) to detail the reasons for the restructuring of emergency paramedic crews, including the introduction of a new tier of management made up of staff with surplus skills who were previously engaged in front-line duties; and (ii) whether he intends to monitor this new practice of skills profiling.

(AQW 7257/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The management of human resources including paramedics and their skills profile is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).

However, I can confirm that NIAS has not introduced a new tier of management. In recent years there has been significant investment in ambulance services in terms of both manpower and equipment which has resulted in a sustained improvement in NIAS's overall performance.

Improving Dementia Services

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the measures taken, since November 2009, to implement the regional strategy ' Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland'; and to make a statement on the matter.

(AQW 7265/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I published a draft dementia strategy, Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland - A Regional Strategy, for public consultation on 17 May 2010. Responses are due back with my department by 31 August 2010. The consultation documents can be accessed via the following link: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/showconsultations?txtid=42566

The consultation document proposes a range of action to improve dementia services in Northern Ireland and seeks views on these proposals. Arrangements have been made to carry out some targeted consultation with people with dementia and their carers during the consultation period.

Hospital Meals

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to list the acute hospitals where patients have a choice of meal, provided by a menu.

(AQW 7273/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information is summarised in the table below.

Trust Hospitals
Belfast Royal Group, Belfast City, Mater
South Eastern Ulster, Lagan Valley.
Northern Antrim, Causeway
Southern Craigavon, Daisy Hill
Western Altnagelvin, Erne

Ravara House Residential Home in Bangor

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the future of Ravara House Residential Home in Bangor.

(AQW 7274/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Following public consultation the South Eastern Trust Board removed Ravara House from the Reform and Modernisation plans for 2008 - 2011 and the strategic direction in respect of Ravara House has not changed since then.

'A Healthier Future' Document

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) whether 'A Healthier Future' document forms the basis of current departmental policy; and (ii) what relationship there is between this document and his Department's priorities for action, particularly in relation to the treatment and management of long term conditions.

(AQW 7276/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The treatment and care of people with long term conditions through responsive and integrated primary and community care services remains a priority for my Department.  The fundamental principles set out in "A Healthier Future" are reflected in my Priorities for Action in 2010/11.  Insofar as it is safe and effective to do so, I want to see people diagnosed, treated and supported in community settings and their own homes.  This will improve the efficiency and the quality of services.

Priorities for Action 2010/11

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) to outline how the policy of partnership working, as proposed in the Priorities for Action 2010/11 document, will be developed in the months ahead; (ii) what role he envisages for the third sector in this development; and (iii) what benefits this policy will bring to people with long term conditions.

(AQW 7279/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In response to Priorities for Action, the Health and Social Care Board, working with the Public Health Agency, has brought forward proposals for the development of primary care partnerships in its commissioning plan for 2010/11, which I am now considering. The proposed partnerships would actively involve GP practices, pharmacists and other local providers of health and care, including the voluntary and community sector.

By focusing resources on people with long term conditions and those at most risk of acute complications, primary care partnerships would aim to improve their quality of life through early interventions and a reduced dependence on specialist care.

Front-line Health Service Staff

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) to detail the number of front-line Health Service staff who have attended (a) compulsory; and (b) voluntary ‘anger management’ training courses in each of the last five years, broken down by job category; and (ii) the cost of providing this training.

(AQW 7284/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the number of frontline Health Service staff who have attended compulsory; and voluntary ‘anger management’ training courses across Northern Ireland is not collected centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Extra Ambulance Provided in Omagh

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why the extra ambulance provided in Omagh, due to the removal of acute services from the Tyrone County Hospital, has now been withdrawn.

(AQW 7297/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In March 2009, my Department supported the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) to increase cover in its Western Division by 20,440 hours. This included an additional 8,760 hours of A&E ambulance cover in the Omagh area, the equivalent of a 24/7 crewed ambulance.

As part of its plans for Comprehensive Spending Review efficiency savings and investment, NIAS, following a public consultation, has now replaced some 6,396 hours of A&E ambulance cover in the Omagh area with 9,280 hours of paramedic rapid response cover. This represents a net gain of 2,884 hours in emergency response capacity.

NIAS continues to monitor the impact of this change against achievement of its performance target for responding to life-threatening calls to ensure it represents the most effective means of service delivery.

Rapid Response Vehicles

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many of the three rapid response vehicles in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area are currently fully staffed and in operation.

(AQW 7298/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There are currently up to five rapid response vehicles (RRVs) operational in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area depending on the time of day. RRVs provide emergency response cover every day between 7.00am and 2.00am on mixed 10 to 16 hour shift pattern and are staffed by permanently assigned paramedics and some relief staff on overtime hours. Emergency cover in Northern Ireland is provided on a dynamic deployment basis therefore the response to an urgent call for help is not restricted to those emergency resources based within a particular area.

Altnagelvin Hospital

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average length of time that patients have to wait in ambulances when brought to Altnagelvin Hospital until a trolley becomes available to off-load them

(AQW 7299/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the average length of time that patients have to wait in ambulances when brought to Altnagelvin Hospital until a trolley becomes available to off-load them is not available.

Dentists in the Mid-Ulster Area

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of (i) private dentists; and (ii) Health Service dentists in the Mid-Ulster area, broken down by location.

(AQW 7300/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: At the 02 June 2010 there were 35 dentists registered to provide Health Service dental services in the Mid-Ulster Parliamentary Constituency area. Of these 19 are located in dental surgeries in Magherafelt, 12 in dental surgeries in Cookstown, 2 in a dental surgery in Maghera, and 2 in a dental surgery in Coalisland1. The Health and Social Care Board have also commissioned one whole-time-equivalent salaried dental post based in the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt.

Data is not held centrally on dental practices which are exclusively private practices.

Note:

1 These figures refer to GDS Principal dentists only; assistants, Vocational Dental Practitioners and community dentists are not included. Figures provided by Family Practitioner Services, Information and Registration Unit - HSC Business Services Organisation. 

Funding for Fibromyalgia Groups

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much funding his Department is providing for fibromyalgia groups in 2010/11.

(AQW 7331/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department does not provide funding for specific fibromyalgia organisations.

Northern Ireland ME Association

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much funding his Department has provided to the Northern Ireland ME Association in each of the last five years; and how much funding will be made available in the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQW 7332/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Funding provided to the ME Association in each of the last five years is as set out in the table below.

Year Amount of Funding
2009/10
£18,434
2008/09
£17,984
2007/08
£17,546
2006/07
£17,118
2005/06
£16,620

Increased pressures have been placed on the Department and across Health and Social Care services because of the reduced budget settlement. This has led to an assessment of all funding streams, in an attempt to minimise the impact on front line services and patients across Northern Ireland.

Full year funding for the 2010/11 year is currently being assessed for all grant receiving organisations including the ME Association.

Carrickfergus Health Centre

Mr D Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the cost of providing new computer equipment to the Carrickfergus Health Centre on Taylor's Avenue.

(AQW 7358/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In 2009/10, 32 new computer equipment at a total cost of £22k was purchased for Carrickfergus Health Centre. ICT equipment in all HSC organisations is subject to an ongoing upgrade or replacement programme.

Psychiatric Assessment Unit at the Downshire Hospital

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the position of the Psychiatric Assessment Unit at the Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick; and to make a statement on this matter.

(AQW 7365/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The South Eastern Trust’s "Strategic Direction for Mental Health Services" was published on 4 June for consultation. No decisions on future service provision will be taken until responses to the consultation exercise have been considered.

Prescription Charges

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why his Department's re-payment of prescription charges to people who incur charges in the Republic of Ireland are at an inflated cost compared to what the prescription may cost in the UK; and what action he intends to take to rectify this, in light of the required efficiency savings.

(AQW 7380/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department does not refund people for prescription charges if the prescription is dispensed in the Republic of Ireland. The dispensing of a prescription in ROI to a resident from Northern Ireland would normally be treated as a private commercial transaction between the pharmacist and the patient. The pharmacist would be entitled to charge the patient for the cost of the medicine plus an additional dispensing fee.

However, European reciprocal health arrangements do exist between the UK and other EU countries which would include the Republic of Ireland, whereby Northern Ireland residents can receive free or reduced costs for health care treatment when visiting other EU states. If visitors from Northern Ireland are charged for their prescriptions in the Republic of Ireland under these arrangements they may be entitled to a refund from the UK government or from the Health and Social Care Board, subject to satisfying certain criteria.

My Department does not have direct control or influence over any decisions to refund patients under these arrangements and must comply with European law. Such costs are therefore not an appropriate target for efficiency savings.

Cervical Smear Awareness Week

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what assistance his Department will be giving to the Cervical Smear Awareness Week; and how the project will be promoted.

(AQW 7384/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I welcome any promotional activity by voluntary sector organisations to promote the uptake of screening programmes, such as the Cervical Screening Awareness Week run by Jo’s Trust from 7th June 2010,

Whilst my Department did not undertake any promotional activity specifically in connection with Jo’s Trust’s Cervical Screening Awareness Week, my Department supports the National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week and the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, both of which are held in January each year. Through the media my Department and the Public Health Agency highlight the importance of women attending their cervical screening appointment.

In addition the Public Health Agency proactively promotes cervical screening in Northern Ireland throughout the year with a range of regional and local initiatives aimed at promoting uptake of the cervical cancer screening programme.

Expenditure of the Health and Social Care Board in 2009/10

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the expenditure of the Health and Social Care Board in 2009/10, including the amount spent on the out-of-hours GP service.

(AQW 7506/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The expenditure of the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) is contained within the HSCB annual accounts. These accounts are currently still in draft form.

Waiting List for Child Protection

Dr A McDonnell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many children are on the waiting list for child protection in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 7588/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: HSC Trusts do not maintain waiting lists for Child Protection. Front line Gateway Teams have been established in each HSC Trust to deal with initial referrals for social services. Any referral where there may be concerns of a Child Protection nature is dealt with immediately.

Children Who Have Died While in Care

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many children have died while in care in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7600/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Under Article 34 of the Children (NI) Order 1995, the Department is notified when a child who is in care dies. The Department records and monitors those cases where there is a possibility that a Case Management Review will be held in accordance with Departmental child protection guidance "Co-operating to Safeguard Children".

The death of any child or young person in care is a tragedy for their family, friends and carers. However, the numbers of such cases are very small. Due to this small number of children who die in care each year and to avoid personal disclosure, the information cannot be provided in the format requested.

Career Advancement for Health Service Employees

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps are in place to encourage career advancement for Health Service employees; and whether lack of Band 3 experience would preclude a Band 2 employee from securing a Band 4 or 5 position.

(AQW 7618/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Knowledge and Skills Framework is a key part of the Agenda for Change pay system and provides for a clear process for the development of staff, not only in their current role, but to encourage career advancement to the next level. There are also recruitment processes in place to ensure that appointments in the Health and Social Care are based on merit. If an individual can demonstrate that they have the necessary skills for the job at any level then they are free to make an application. However, where there are excessively high numbers of applicants experience of working at a particular level may be a factor taken into account when deciding on the number of applicants that will move to the interview stage of the process.

Consultation on the Development of Psychological Therapy Studies

Mr T Gallagher asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when the outcome of the consultation on the Development of Psychological Therapy Studies will be published; and if he has any plans to announce a new strategy.

(AQW 7636/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I officially launched ‘A Strategy for the Development of Psychological Therapy Services’ on 7 June 2010. Both the Strategy and consultation responses are on the Department’s website at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/publications

Investing for Health

Mr A Maskey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline progress on the review of the Investing for Health Strategy.

(AQO 1425/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: A high level strategic review of Investing for Health commenced last year to assess progress and make recommendations for future direction. A draft report has recently been considered by the Review Steering Group, and I am expecting to be briefed on the review outcomes by the end of this month.

The Review Steering Group will report to the Ministerial Group on Public Health (MGPH) on the outcomes of the Review, following which I will bring together a meeting of the MGPH to consider the review report. Once the report is finalized, I will then write to Executive colleagues to inform them of the review recommendations and on proposals for taking forward work to develop a successor strategy.

Stroke Patients

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he plans to allocate additional funding to provide support for stroke victims.

(AQO 1427/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have repeatedly advised this Assembly that the £113 million cut to my Department’s budget this year means that I am not able to introduce all my plans for new services and treatments. A planned investment of a further £6 million in stroke services in the current financial year has not been possible and this means we will not be able to take forward implementation of the stroke strategy as I had hoped. I will however be investing an additional £1.75 million in stroke services to ensure that 24/7 thrombolysis is available across Northern Ireland and that high risk TIAs are assessed and treated within 24 hours. This will bring recurrent investment in stroke services to £4.75 million over the CSR period.

Royal Victoria Hospital: Maternity Unit

Mr G Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how the proposal for a new maternity unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital will impact on the planned regional hospital for women and children.

(AQO 1429/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have recently announced a review of the usage of the top three floors of the new Clinical Care building on the Royal hospitals site. The review will take account of all options, including a new maternity unit. If this proves to be viable, the new unit together with a refurbishment of the existing maternity hospital would be the new Women’s hospital. The Children’s hospital would be delivered as a separate project.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust: Speech and Language Therapy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on speech therapy programmes provided within day centres in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQO 1430/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Such programmes may involve individual or group sessions delivered directly by a speech and language therapist, a speech and language therapy assistant, or indirectly through day care staff or other carers. The Speech and Language Therapy service provides assessment and treatment to people who have communication and swallowing difficulties associated with a variety of disabilities or acquired conditions. Treatment programmes are based on the person’s assessed needs and therapy programmes are often focused on educating and supporting carers and staff to help manage their communication or swallowing difficulties.

Voluntary Redundancies

Mrs M Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety the number of voluntary redundancies for which his Department has planned in the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQO 1433/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have to find savings of £113m as part of the cuts imposed by the Executive earlier this year and while this represents a 2% payroll savings it is not helpful to talk about a % reduction in the workforce or job losses. I need to hold on to the workforce that I have if I am to continue to deliver on the ever increasing demand for health and social care services. I need to balance this with the savings to be achieved. If I am to deliver on the £113m savings Health and Social Care Trusts will need to reduce spending on Agency, overtime, bank and locum staff. Posts will be reduced but this will be handled through a reduction in spending, redeployment of staff, turnover and where absolutly necessary voluntary redundancy or voluntary early retirement.

South Tyrone Hospital: Maternity Services

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether any feasibility study has been undertaken into the potential establishment of a midwifery-led unit in the South Tyrone Hospital.

(AQO 1436/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: No feasibility study regarding the potential establishment of a midwife-led unit in South Tyrone Hospital has been undertaken.

Questions for Written Answer: AQW 5140/10

Mr T Lunn asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when he will answer AQW 5140/10 about the money spent on his staff attending conferences and courses, which was due for answer on 11 March 2010.

(AQO 1437/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I will respond in due course.

Mid-Ulster: Acute Hospital Services

Mr F Molloy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why the Mid-Ulster area is being deprived of an acute hospital and what plans he has to rectify this.

(AQO 1438/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In 2002, Developing Better Services established the need for hospital services in Northern Ireland to be configured as a network of local hospitals and acute hospitals working together to meet the needs of the community. The Mid Ulster Hospital’s development as a local hospital has been signalled since the publication of Developing Better Services and confirmed in a number of subsequent announcements. The people of the Mid Ulster area will continue to use the Mid Ulster Hospital for around 70% of all their hospital based services. They will also have access to high quality acute services provided at Antrim Area Hospital.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice what work his Department is undertaking in relation to the proposed extension of abuse of trust offences to include sports coaches and the remit of the Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008.

(AQW 7205/10)

Minister of Justice (Mr D Ford): During consideration of the draft sexual offences legislation, the Assembly committee advocated extending this offence to sports coaches by adding a new definition to the list of positions of trust. As a result, Rt. Hon Paul Goggins MP gave a commitment to ask the DCAL Minister to undertake a consultation with sports bodies to obtain views of the impact or need for such a change to the law. The results of this consultation were passed to my Department in March and policy advice is being prepared for me on the way forward.

I will decide how to respond to the proposal for extension of this offence when I have fully considered the policy advice, including the evidence from the recent consultation with sports bodies undertaken by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. I will write to the Member and other key stakeholders when I have reached a conclusion.

Speeding Fines

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Justice how many speeding fines were recorded, but not processed, by the PSNI in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7213/10)

Minister of Justice: The detection and processing of speeding offences is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Speeding Fines

Mr S Hamilton asked e Minister of Justice whether speeding fines must be processed within a certain period of time; and what happens to the fine if that deadline is missed.

(AQW 7214/10)

Minister of Justice: The detection and processing of speeding offences is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Injury on Duty Award Appeals

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Justice to detail the number of Injury on Duty Award appeals processed in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7243/10)

Minister of Justice: The table below details the number of medical appeals under the Police Injury on Duty Award Scheme received and finalised in each of the years 2007 to 2009.

Appeals which are lodged in a particular calendar year may not be finalised within that year.

The figures for medical appeals finalised include appeals which where received in earlier years and were finalised in 2007 to 2009.

  2007 2008 2009
Medical Appeals received
78
106
170
Medical Appeals finalised
57
70
123

Firearms Licence

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Justice why it takes up to a year for the PSNI Firearms and Explosives branch to issue a firearms licence; and to outline the process involved in the issue of a firearms licence.

(AQW 7245/10)

Minister of Justice: Firearms licensing is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Prisoners from other EU Countries

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Justice to detail the total number of people from other EU countries who, since January 2008, have served, or are still serving, sentences of more than one year in Northern Ireland prisons; and for a breakdown of these prisoners by their country of origin.

(AQW 7247/10)

Minister of Justice: Since January 2008 there have been 26 prisoners from other EU countries who have served or are still serving sentences of more than one year in Northern Ireland prisons. The table below shows the breakdown of these prisoners by their country of origin:

EU Country Total number of prisoners
Belgium
1
Netherlands
2
Estonia
1
Latvia
1
Lithuania
9
Poland
8
Portugal
3
Spain
1
TOTAL
26

Offensive Weapons

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Justice (i) how many illegal knives have been confiscated by the PSNI in each of the last three years; (ii) to detail the number of convictions secured for (a) being armed with an offensive weapon with intent to commit an offence; (b) possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place; and (c) possessing an article with a blade or point on school premises, in each of the last three years; and (iii) if he has any plans to legislate further on 'knife crime' or the sale of knives.

(AQW 7254/10)

Minister of Justice: Information on the number of illegal knives confiscated is not currently collated. However, in 2006 almost 1500 knives were voluntarily surrendered in two ‘amnesties’.

The table gives the number of convictions for each of the offences requested. Convictions for other offensive weapon offences are also included for information.

Data cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number convicted for offensive weapon offences by offence 2004-2006

Offence 2004 2005 2006
Armed with offensive weapon with intent to commit offence
2
1
3
Possessing article with blade or point in public place
10
20
24
Possessing article with blade or point on school premises
1
0
3
Possessing offensive weapon in public place
166
188
211
Possessing offensive weapon on school premises
2
0
1
Total
 181 209 242

My Department is fully committed to tackling knife crime, as well as other crimes of violence. The penalties for knife crime were reviewed in 2008, and the Justice Bill now being prepared for Assembly consideration will increase from 6 months to 12 the maximum penalty of imprisonment a magistrates’ court can give for possessing an offensive weapon on school premises. (The maximum of 4 years’ imprisonment for cases tried on indictment remains.) I will continue to keep our laws on knife crime under review.

Alongside this, the criminal justice system engages with schools and young people to help get the message across that "knives ruin lives".

Assaults on Members of the Emergency Services

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice how many convictions have been secured for assaults on members of (i) the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service; (ii) the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and (iii) the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7282/10)

Minister of Justice: The number of convictions for assault on fire and rescue service officers and assault on police are given in the table below.

Assaults on members of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service do not constitute a separate offence and convictions for such assaults are taken forward under the normal range of offences against the person. Court conviction data do not contain background or victim information in relation to offences committed, and it is therefore not possible to separate out the number of convictions for assault on ambulance personnel.

Data in the table cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number of convictions for assault on fire and rescue service officers1 and assault on police 2004-2006
Offence 2004 2005 2006
Assault on fire and rescue service officer
-
-
0
Assault on police
576
590
684

1. Assault on fire and rescue service officer became an offence on 1 July 2006 under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

Assaults on Police Officers

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice, pursuant to AQW 6617/10, how each instance of assault offences resulting in serious injury was dealt with by the courts.

(AQW 7285/10)

Minister of Justice: Pursuant to the response to AQW 6617/10 and based on the data provided by PSNI, the Table below details the status or outcome of those instances of assault relating to serious injury.

Table 1:
No Suspect Identified
8
Decision not to Prosecute
2
Custodial Sentence
10
Suspended Sentence
1
Community Service Order
2
Probation Order
1
Fine
1
Withdrawn
6
Active
9
TOTAL
 40

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Justice how many applications for anti-social behaviour orders in the Moneymore area were refused by the courts in each of the last five years; and to give the reasons for the refusals.

(AQW 7287/10)

Minister of Justice: The information being sought is a matter for the relevant authorities and is not held centrally at this level of disaggregation. To provide such information would incur a disproportionate cost as well as risk inappropriately identifying individuals.

Anti-social Behavior Orders

Mr I McCrea asked e Minister of Justice to detail the number of anti-social behavior order applications in the Mid-Ulster area in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) location; and (ii) age of the protagonist.

(AQW 7290/10)

Minister of Justice: The information being sought is a matter for the relevant authorities and is not held centrally at this level of disaggregation. To provide such information would incur a disproportionate cost as well as risk inappropriately identifying individuals.

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Justice how many recommendations made by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, relating to the PSNI, are currently still to be implemented; and what action he is planning to address these.

(AQW 7308/10)

Minister of Justice: The implementation of the recommendations made by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Staff at Hydebank Wood

Mr C McDevitt asked Minister of Justice if he can confirm whether all staff at Hydebank Wood are checked under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007.

(AQW 7317/10)

Minister of Justice: Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) staff in Hydebank Wood who work with juveniles and females are subject to enhanced disclosure checks. The requirements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 do not apply at this stage.

Hydebank Wood

Mr C McDevitt asked e Minister of Justice what plans he has, or what progress has been made, on the removal of children from custody in Hydebank Wood.

(AQW 7318/10)

Minister of Justice: The Department is undertaking a major review of custodial arrangements for young offenders under the age of 18, in conjunction with key partners, and has commissioned work to look specifically at where they are located. The outcome of this review will be new arrangements that are expected to reduce the number of children in custody at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre. Senior staff in the Prison Service and the Youth Justice Agency have also been working in partnership to build upon the significant improvements which have been made to the regime in Hydebank Wood for the young offenders who continue to be housed there.

I hope to be able to announce the outcome of that review in the coming weeks.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how much revenue has been raised by fixed penalty notices in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) offence; (ii) amount of penalty; and (iii) policing district.

(AQW 7334/10)

Minister of Justice: The table below sets out the total revenue received through Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) for the last three years by type of FPN issued and amount.

Table: Revenue Received through issue of Fixed Penalty Notices

  Non- Endorsable
£30 penalty 		No Vehicle Test Certificates
£60 penalty 		Conditional Offers
£60 penalty 		Endorsable
£60 penalty 		No Insurance
£200 penalty 		TOTAL REVENUE
2007
£864,232.74
£1,800.00
£716,220.00
£1,201,320.00
£2,000.00
£2,785,572.74
2008
£29,640.00
£371,081.27
£735,420.00
£1,607,100.00
£19,600.00
£2,762,841.27
2009
£343,434.70
£53,100.00
£1,033,680.00
£1,660,200.00
£56,000.00
£3,146,414.70
Total £1,237,307.44 £425,981.27 £2,485,320.00 £4,468,620.00 £77,600.00 £8,694,828.71

This information is not held by policing district, or with reference to specific offences.

However, the police have provided information on the number of FPNs issued in each police district for the last three years by offence. This information is attached in an Annex.

Annex to AQW7334/10
Fixed Penalties and Conditional Officers issued for the Period 2007 - 2009 broken down by district and offence.
2007 ENDORSABLE £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed
184
707
926
2,055
2,239
2,534
1,908
1,787
Breach of Traffic Sign
97
281
161
218
211
300
223
213
Defective Tyre-General
4
27
32
26
41
39
39
35
No L plates displayed
6
23
14
28
25
21
6
17
No 'R' Plates Displayed
8
6
11
20
43
68
31
24
R Driver Exceeding 45mph Limit
6
2
34
51
49
80
31
43
Using a Hand-held Mobile Phone
245
490
611
1,197
1,049
732
552
539
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit
310
93
13
270
3
6
2
4
Failing to Wear Seatbelt - Driver
122
203
241
691
656
547
647
627
Driving on hard shoulder of Motorway
5
2
0
13
2
0
0
2
Parking on hard shoulder of Motorway
0
6
1
5
2
2
0
1
L Driver carrying passenger on motorcycle
1
4
5
13
1
1
1
5
Driver does not have Proper Control of Vehicle
2
7
3
15
14
8
5
5
Driver Carrying Unbelted Child Under 14 Years
2
1
10
14
19
22
13
15
Driver Carrying Child Under 12 Years and Under 135cms without proper restraint
6
2
2
14
14
14
5
6
Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
Carrying unauthorised passenger on motorbicycle
1
2
1
6
2
0
2
1
Parking within the limits of a Pelican Crossing
3
11
4
4
4
1
1
2
Stopping on motorway
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
Driver does not have Full View of Road and Traffic Ahead
3
0
1
2
3
25
13
10
Failing to Set Handbrake
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parking within the limits of a Zebra Crossing
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
L Driver Towing A Trailer
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Unaccompanied L Driver
0
0
1
0
0
3
1
1
Reversing on Motorway
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
Stopping on approach to a Pelican Crossing
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Remain on hard shoulder of motorway longer than necessary
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Breach of signal given by Constable
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
Unlawful use of central reservation of Motorway
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Defective Braking System
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Stopping within the limits of Zebra Controlled area
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Driving classified vehicle on special road
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Total
1,008
1,870
2,073
4,650
4,381
4,408
3,481
3,344

 

2008 ENDORSABLE £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed
160
287
823
1,959
1,862
1,396
1,335
1,320
Reversing on Motorway
0
0
4
1
1
0
1
1
Breach of Traffic Sign
91
258
139
282
259
337
193
138
Defective Tyre-General
10
7
23
28
35
44
31
29
No L plates displayed
10
22
19
69
21
12
10
20
Unaccompanied L Driver
2
1
0
2
3
7
3
0
No 'R' Plates Displayed
8
8
19
45
54
59
29
29
R Driver Exceeding 45mph Limit
8
2
28
58
33
49
21
36
Using a Hand-held Mobile Phone
536
979
1,156
3,335
2,292
1,556
1,295
1,322
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit
230
75
6
291
824
9
0
4
Failing to Wear Seatbelt - Driver
182
222
386
1,446
1,204
656
772
759
Driving on hard shoulder of Motorway
4
0
0
36
0
0
1
1
Driving classified vehicle on special road
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
3
Stopping on approach to a Pelican Crossing
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Driver does not have Proper Control of Vehicle
4
9
15
49
35
19
16
25
Carrying unauthorised passenger on motorbicycle
2
3
2
2
1
0
0
3
Driver Carrying Unbelted Child Under 14 Years
5
6
10
19
28
38
25
15
Parking within the limits of a Pelican Crossing
2
10
5
6
2
1
0
0
Driver does not have Full View of Road and Traffic Ahead
0
1
4
11
15
31
35
9
Driver Carrying Child Under 12 Years and Under 135cms without proper restraint
17
11
12
36
26
17
27
22
L Driver carrying passenger on motorcycle
7
8
4
7
1
2
3
3
Parking on hard shoulder of Motorway
1
0
0
4
3
1
1
0
Parking within the limits of a Zebra Crossing
1
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
Stopping on motorway
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
Breach of signal given by Constable
0
1
1
2
0
3
1
1
Remain on hard shoulder of motorway longer than necessary
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Failing to Set Handbrake
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
Defective Steering
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
Defective Braking System
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
No Prescribed Braking System
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
Unlawful use of central reservation of Motorway
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Total
 1,281 1,913 2,663 7,692 6,701 4,243 3,800 3,744

 

2009 ENDORSABLE £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed
201
359
794
2,438
1,249
1,605
1,389
1,671
Reversing on Motorway
0
1
0
3
2
0
0
2
Breach of Traffic Sign
85
329
176
379
229
270
174
143
Defective Tyre-General
15
24
28
43
64
59
38
45
No L plates displayed
6
24
34
36
22
18
13
24
Unaccompanied L Driver
3
1
2
2
3
2
2
2
No 'R' Plates Displayed
3
17
15
45
67
85
47
42
R Driver Exceeding 45mph Limit
13
5
33
66
42
52
33
45
Using a Hand-held Mobile Phone
428
1,010
1,564
3,997
1,960
1,685
1,601
1,486
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit
17
2
5
254
388
163
3
22
Failing to Wear Seatbelt - Driver
133
216
448
887
848
673
906
869
Driving on hard shoulder of Motorway
3
0
0
14
0
0
0
0
Parking on hard shoulder of Motorway
0
0
0
9
1
1
1
1
L Driver carrying passenger on motorcycle
3
1
0
9
2
1
0
1
USING GOODS VEHICLE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
0
2
0
1
5
2
0
1
Parking within the limits of a Zebra Crossing
3
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
Driver does not have Proper Control of Vehicle
12
10
15
48
32
37
9
30
Driver Carrying Unbelted Child Under 14 Years
8
7
11
19
21
40
18
26
Driver does not have Full View of Road and Traffic Ahead
2
4
2
9
8
10
11
1
Driver Carrying Child Under 12 Years and Under 135cms without proper restraint
15
6
14
30
31
47
16
8
Stopping on approach to a Pelican Crossing
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parking within the limits of a Pelican Crossing
1
13
7
1
2
0
0
0
Carrying unauthorised passenger on motorbicycle
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
Stopping on motorway
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Defective Braking System
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
1
Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position
0
1
0
0
1
2
1
2
Breach of signal given by Constable
1
0
1
4
0
1
0
3
USING MOTOR VEHICLE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
0
0
3
1
2
10
1
0
Failing to Set Handbrake
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
2
L Driver Towing A Trailer
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
No Prescribed Braking System
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
Driving classified vehicle on special road
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
5
Tyres Insufficient to Support Axle Weight
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Unlawful use of central reservation of Motorway
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Total
 953 2,045 3,161 8,297 4,982 4,767 4,266 4,439

 

2007 CONDITIONAL OFFER £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed (30 MPH Limit)
1,104
863
435
12
1,791
261
568
48
Excess Speed (40 MPH Limit)
0
25
3,994
2
232
1
0
8
Breach of Traffic Sign (Red Light)
119
44
0
0
0
0
0
0
Excess Speed (50 MPH Limit)
0
6
10
2
0
28
0
5
Excess Speed (60 MPH Limit)
0
0
24
0
1,393
1,580
1,072
1,005
Excess Speed (70 MPH Limit)
0
0
0
48
58
0
0
124
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 60mph)
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
35
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 45 mph)
0
0
2
4
23
65
6
24
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 40 mph)
0
0
0
0
40
258
74
26
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 50 mph)
0
0
0
0
4
238
64
82
Excess Speed ( Vehicle restricted to 50 mph)
0
0
0
0
7
305
42
48
Breach of Traffic Sign
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Total
 1,223 938 4,465 69 3,550 2,737 1,826 1,405

 

2008 CONDITIONAL OFFER £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed (30 MPH Limit)
814
636
281
19
1,298
190
560
22
Excess Speed (40 MPH Limit)
0
7
2,206
0
326
0
1
2
Breach of Traffic Sign (Red Light)
496
198
0
0
0
0
63
0
Excess Speed (50 MPH Limit)
0
4
6
0
0
10
0
0
Excess Speed (60 MPH Limit)
0
0
23
0
763
785
927
548
Excess Speed (70 MPH Limit)
0
0
0
2
98
0
0
88
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit (40mph)
0
0
0
1,572
2,227
23
0
198
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 45 mph)
0
0
0
1
27
37
23
40
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 40 mph)
0
0
0
0
63
126
74
38
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 50 mph)
0
0
0
0
35
185
203
104
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit (30mph)
0
0
0
0
542
0
0
0
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 60mph)
0
0
0
0
58
0
0
15
Total
 1,310 845 2,516 1,594 5,437 1,356 1,851 1,055

 

2009 CONDITIONAL OFFER £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess Speed (30 MPH Limit)
336
824
868
158
1,160
671
1,331
1,162
Excess Speed (40 MPH Limit)
1
36
2,201
12
17
71
102
131
Excess Speed (60 MPH Limit)
0
0
4
5
504
938
1,210
1,293
Breach of Traffic Sign (Red Light)
399
279
0
9
0
0
164
0
Excess Speed (50 MPH Limit)
0
2
3
0
0
27
0
3
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 45 mph)
0
0
3
0
35
77
94
132
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit (40mph)
0
0
0
1,558
3,919
422
42
0
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit (50mph)
0
0
0
201
0
0
0
67
Excess Speed (70 MPH Limit)
0
0
1
0
154
0
0
206
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 40 mph)
0
0
0
0
33
203
357
239
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 50 mph)
0
0
0
0
26
258
433
315
Breach of Temporary Speed Limit (30mph)
0
0
0
0
1,016
46
0
0
Excess Speed (Vehicle restricted to 60mph)
0
0
0
0
58
0
0
78
Total
 736 1,141 3,080 1,943 6,922 2,713 3,733 3,626

 

 

 VEHICLE CERTIFICATES £60
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
2007
No Vehicle Test Certificate
3
13
6
9
16
6
5
3
No Goods Vehicle Test Certificate
0
2
4
2
1
2
3
2
Total
 3 15 10 11 17 8 8 5
2008
No Vehicle Test Certificate
61
66
58
105
165
70
52
35
No Goods Vehicle Test Certificate
12
9
18
32
43
19
13
6
Total
 73 75 76 137 208 89 65 41
2009
No Vehicle Test Certificate
73
93
102
228
253
216
66
76
No Goods Vehicle Test Certificate
9
8
6
33
61
46
15
9
Total
 82 101 108 261 314 262 81 85

 

  NO INSURANCE £200
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
2007
Driving causing or permitting a person to drive a motor vehicle while uninsured
4
4
3
12
7
5
-
4
Total
 4 4 3 12 7 5 - 4
2008
Driving causing or permitting a person to drive a motor vehicle while uninsured
27
23
20
41
37
40
14
11
Total
 27 23 20 41 37 40 14 11
2009
Driving causing or permitting a person to drive a motor vehicle while uninsured
39
42
54
129
107
107
42
48
Using a Hand-held Mobile Phone
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Total
 39 42 54 129 107 107 43 48

 

2007 NON ENDORSABLE £30
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Excess noise
0
0
1
6
19
20
9
16
Excess Weight
0
0
0
2
2
2
4
2
Insecure Load
3
7
7
15
69
20
15
11
No PSV Licence
1
1
3
1
0
1
3
2
Defective light
28
39
57
224
124
206
99
81
No Number Plate
2
13
17
51
155
55
26
29
Dangerous cycling
0
1
2
3
1
1
0
1
Unlawful use of lamp
34
33
86
211
294
350
291
93
Obscured Number Plate
4
8
10
25
43
28
27
12
Breach of Traffic sign
460
1,384
299
808
281
187
71
55
Pedestrian on Motorway
7
2
0
13
5
1
0
2
No mudguards on trailer
0
0
1
6
2
0
0
1
Misuse of a Mobile Phone
407
1,011
1,108
1,271
1,934
1,557
1,257
853
No lights on pedal cycle
3
4
4
6
2
2
1
2
Failing to wear seat belt
366
636
841
961
2,197
2,013
1,622
1,057
Overtaking on inside lane
79
97
46
95
26
9
31
4
No Vehicle Test Certificate
30
74
60
127
120
108
72
63
No Goods Vehicle Certificate
5
6
5
12
16
9
9
5
Parking as to obstuct access
33
295
60
81
39
53
45
31
Failing to Display Trade Plates
1
8
1
6
9
4
4
0
Failing to drive in near side lane
11
10
31
53
53
8
21
32
Parking within15 metre of junction
85
1,519
107
122
42
55
72
35
Failing to wear taxi drivers' badge
2
1
2
4
16
6
5
2
Incorrect form of registration mark
68
102
136
286
608
409
263
182
Defective exhaust and silencer system
0
1
2
7
4
15
11
11
Opening vehicle's door causing danger
0
1
0
1
1
2
1
0
Manoeuvring vehicle without signalling
4
3
5
16
13
10
4
12
Driver unable to have full view of road
5
6
1
5
33
62
59
66
Exceeding 45mph while displaying R plates
0
1
6
10
10
4
14
3
No mudguards on agricultural motor vehicle
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Unlawful use of hazard warning signal device
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
Parking otherwise than at side of carriageway
4
26
13
6
2
6
1
3
Using vehicle when lamp not lit and unobscured
0
2
3
10
5
13
1
3
Driver unable to have proper control of vehicle
17
16
7
45
37
23
15
8
Failing to operate switch mechanisms to tacograph
0
3
6
12
86
21
7
0
Carrying child under 14 years without seatbelt (rear)
9
11
13
14
36
35
19
12
Carrying child under 14 years without seat belt (front)
3
2
7
5
21
24
19
9
Rider on motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
4
5
2
17
5
1
4
5
Driver of a motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
5
7
6
6
2
0
2
1
Driving passenger car with unrestrained child under 12 years
2
6
0
8
8
9
1
2
Failure to Have Obligatory Lamp or Reflector or Rear Marking
0
0
3
4
0
3
1
3
Failing to Give Precedence to Pedestrian at a Pelican Crossing
0
2
1
2
0
2
0
1
Using a Vehicle With Windows With Insufficient Transmission of Light
0
18
8
19
4
100
12
2
Jay Walking
7
34
10
5
6
4
10
8
Breach of box junction
1
10
2
0
3
4
2
3
Parking on yellow lines
1
4
1
8
2
1
0
3
No driver's seat belt fitted
2
3
10
3
9
5
10
2
No passenger seat belt fitted
1
1
0
4
3
4
1
0
Driving on Land Other Than a Road
0
2
0
0
3
0
1
0
Lifting apparatus not properly secured
0
3
0
1
1
0
2
1
Sounding horn at night on a restricted road
1
2
0
0
3
1
3
1
Parking in a disabled person's parking space
0
3
3
2
10
1
7
3
Parking HGV unlawfully (verge,footway,central reservation)
0
3
0
2
1
4
3
1
Parking at a bus stop
1
7
0
3
1
0
0
0
Defective windscreen wipers
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Causing dangerous article to be on road
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Failing to return record sheet within 21 days
1
0
0
1
6
0
1
0
Excessive smoke
0
2
1
1
8
6
9
7
Excess axle weight
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
1
Defective Seatbelts
0
1
0
0
7
4
2
1
No anchorage points
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Defective speedometer
0
1
0
0
1
1
3
0
Driver smoking in PSV
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
Parking in a clearway-PM
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Using horn when stationary
1
1
0
1
2
6
0
1
Incorrectly parked in layby
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
No mirrors on motor vehicle
0
1
1
2
3
4
0
0
Failing to switch off engine
0
2
0
0
3
1
2
1
Incorrectly parked at parking place
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted overhang
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
5
Unauthorised vehicle in parking place
0
5
0
0
0
1
0
0
Parking on footway adjacent to Clearway
0
4
0
0
0
0
1
0
Parking within the limits of a taxi stand
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
Wrongful use of a disabled person's badge
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
1
Being unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
0
1
0
0
4
2
0
0
carrying unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
0
3
1
2
3
4
0
1
Television receiving apparatus in sight of Driver
0
2
2
1
4
1
2
0
Waiting within the limits of Taxi stand Belfast City
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
Waiting so as to obstruct access to premises Belfast City
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Defective windscreen washers
1
0
1
0
5
1
0
0
Using vehicle fitted with two tone horn
1
0
1
4
1
0
0
1
Exceeding 45mph while displaying L plates
0
0
1
3
6
2
1
0
Unlawfully using moving vehicle for the purposes of being drawn
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted width
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
No taxi roof sign
0
0
1
5
2
1
2
0
Overcrowding on PSV
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
Unframed internal mirror
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
Exceeding driving periods
0
0
0
2
3
0
2
0
Reversing for unreasonable distance
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
Exceeding height limit of semi-trailer
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Failing to notify police of abnormal load
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
Trailer failing to have minimum ground clearance
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Carrying unauthorised passengers on goods vehicle
0
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
Fitting lamp capable of showing red light to front
0
0
1
1
4
0
1
2
Using record sheet for longer than stipulated
0
0
0
0
4
0
1
0
Dirty windscreen
0
0
0
0
4
4
0
1
Passenger smoking in PSV
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
Failing to have warning beacon fited
0
0
0
0
3
1
1
0
Failing to take daily rest period from driving
0
0
0
0
4
3
0
1
No horn
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
No speedometer
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No School Bus Sign
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted length
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
Unmarked tow rope
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
Motorcycle sidecar not properly attached
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
Insecure petrol tank
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No spray suppression device
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Leaking petrol tank
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Failing to keep tachograph record sheets in clean condition
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
No mudguards on motorcycle
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Allow unlighted vehicle to remain at rest on a road
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
No manufacturer's plate fitted
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Defective rear protective guard
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Parking in a clearway-AM
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Total
 1,704 5,479 3,014 4,643 6,460 5,520 4,201 2,764

 

2008 NON ENDORSABLE £30
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Jay Walking
8
26
8
7
7
11
2
1
Excess noise
1
1
1
4
40
15
22
17
Excess Weight
1
0
0
10
6
4
0
3
Insecure Load
7
2
2
20
44
22
6
13
Defective light
39
34
37
240
180
126
107
68
Excessive smoke
2
0
0
2
2
6
21
6
No Number Plate
6
13
14
68
109
47
51
34
Unlawful use of lamp
42
28
74
228
350
223
285
101
Obscured Number Plate
7
1
15
17
53
18
21
4
Breach of Traffic sign
389
1,106
277
1,086
158
66
68
130
Breach of box junction
1
5
0
8
5
8
0
0
Pedestrian on Motorway
5
2
1
3
1
1
0
1
No mudguards on trailer
0
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
No lights on pedal cycle
1
4
1
4
2
1
0
0
No rear protective guard
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
Passenger smoking in PSV
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Failing to wear seat belt
57
52
65
333
341
273
165
96
Overtaking on inside lane
52
62
30
98
32
5
11
9
No Vehicle Test Certificate
0
10
7
8
13
13
7
7
Defective windscreen washers
1
0
0
3
8
1
0
0
No Goods Vehicle Certificate
1
2
0
1
3
2
1
2
Parking as to obstuct access
34
258
45
48
32
30
28
28
No passenger seat belt fitted
2
1
1
6
0
1
1
0
Failing to drive in near side lane
9
6
18
40
34
21
20
20
Parking within15 metre of junction
229
2,018
49
224
40
13
53
24
Vehicle exceeding permitted length
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
1
Failing to wear taxi drivers' badge
4
1
1
6
6
2
3
1
Incorrect form of registration mark
57
123
150
309
690
345
217
196
Defective exhaust and silencer system
0
2
1
6
8
32
18
10
Manoeuvring vehicle without signalling
1
1
3
18
16
4
1
1
Driver unable to have full view of road
4
2
1
4
13
20
8
3
Using vehicle fitted with two tone horn
8
18
2
20
23
13
13
4
Sounding horn at night on a restricted road
3
1
1
2
5
9
3
2
Using vehicle when lamp not lit and unobscured
5
4
3
19
13
9
4
2
Failing to operate switch mechanisms to tacograph
0
1
3
7
29
20
13
25
Allow unlighted vehicle to remain at rest on a road
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
Rider on motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
3
5
6
11
1
1
2
2
Driver of a motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
2
0
1
5
0
0
1
1
Failure to Have Obligatory Lamp or Reflector or Rear Marking
0
0
0
5
6
4
3
0
Failing to Give Precedence to Pedestrian at a Pelican Crossing
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
2
Using a Vehicle With Windows With Insufficient Transmission of Light
1
2
3
5
30
128
7
0
Dangerous cycling
2
2
0
3
0
0
1
0
Misuse of a Mobile Phone
0
1
1
0
1
4
0
0
Using horn when stationary
2
2
1
1
4
1
6
1
carrying unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
2
2
1
0
0
4
2
0
No PSV Licence
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
No taxi roof sign
4
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
Failing to Display Trade Plates
1
4
3
4
3
4
0
1
Vehicle exceeding permitted width
6
1
0
12
0
0
0
0
Exceeding 45mph while displaying L plates
1
0
1
0
2
4
0
0
Failing to take daily rest period from driving
1
0
0
3
11
3
0
2
Television receiving apparatus in sight of Driver
1
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Parking HGV unlawfully (verge,footway,central reservation)
4
1
2
2
4
0
0
0
Driver smoking in PSV
0
3
0
0
0
0
2
1
Failing to stop for Police
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Reversing for unreasonable distance
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
Wrongful use of a disabled person's badge
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
Use vehicle not fitted with suitable and sufficient springs
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Driving passenger car with unrestrained child under 12 years
0
1
1
0
2
0
1
0
No mirrors on motor vehicle
1
0
0
0
4
4
0
1
Exceeding 45mph while displaying R plates
1
0
1
6
4
1
2
0
Defective Seatbelts
0
0
0
1
4
3
1
0
Failing to switch off engine
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
Defective windscreen wipers
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
1
Failing to maintain excess fuel device
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
No side marker lamps on projecting load
0
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
Excess axle weight
0
0
2
3
1
1
0
0
Exceeding driving periods
0
0
1
1
3
6
2
0
Driving on Land Other Than a Road
0
0
2
1
3
0
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted overhang
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
Lifting apparatus not properly secured
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
Failing to notify police of abnormal load
0
0
0
5
1
2
0
0
Failing to keep tachograph record sheets in clean condition
0
0
1
2
3
2
3
0
No windscreen wipers
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
Using strident horn on motor vehicle
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Towing with rope in excess of prescribed limit
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Failing to have warning beacon fited
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
Dirty windscreen
0
0
0
0
9
15
0
0
Defective speedometer
0
0
1
0
3
1
1
1
Being unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
Failing to return record sheet within 21 days
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
Using record sheet for longer than stipulated
0
0
0
0
4
2
3
0
No horn
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Defective side protective guard
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
No side protective guard
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Carrying unauthorised passengers on goods vehicle
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
Leaking petrol tank
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
No lights on projecting load
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
Motorcycle sidecar not properly attached
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Fitting lamp capable of showing red light to front
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
Miscellaneous Offence for Inputting Voided Notices
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Pedestrian remaining on Zebra crossing longer than necessary
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
No windscreen washers
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Dangerous mascot on motor
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
No mudguards on motorcycle
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Causing dangerous article to be on road
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Overcrowding on PSV
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Opening vehicle's door causing danger
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Unlawful use of hazard warning signal device
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
Interfering with traffic sign
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
No mudguards on motor car
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No spray suppression device
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Total
 1,010 3,814 844 2,942 2,395 1,579 1,197 826

 

2009 NON ENDORSABLE £30
A District B District C District D District E District F District G District H District
Jay Walking
6
56
2
15
6
7
3
5
Excess noise
1
1
3
3
21
13
22
25
Excess Weight
1
0
0
6
3
0
5
1
Insecure Load
7
6
1
33
41
23
11
13
Defective light
31
54
47
333
212
241
115
114
No Number Plate
5
11
12
91
114
81
33
24
Dirty windscreen
0
0
0
4
6
15
0
0
Dangerous cycling
0
1
0
3
1
0
0
0
Unlawful use of lamp
19
31
45
196
206
293
251
88
Obscured Number Plate
2
8
7
23
55
44
4
8
Breach of Traffic sign
127
882
208
1,600
153
109
31
110
Breach of box junction
2
4
4
12
2
13
0
4
Pedestrian on Motorway
2
5
0
8
5
1
0
1
Failing to wear seat belt
34
65
50
207
318
318
90
69
Overtaking on inside lane
28
53
48
85
25
6
17
14
Using horn when stationary
0
4
0
3
1
5
0
3
Defective windscreen wipers
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
1
No Vehicle Test Certificate
0
2
1
3
1
2
2
1
Defective windscreen washers
0
1
1
4
18
3
0
0
No Goods Vehicle Certificate
0
1
0
2
0
1
1
0
Parking as to obstuct access
27
193
24
159
43
49
15
22
Failing to Display Trade Plates
0
4
0
7
4
4
0
1
Failing to drive in near side lane
13
8
16
59
84
19
10
7
Parking within15 metre of junction
184
1,763
47
423
37
18
47
18
Failing to wear taxi drivers' badge
0
4
0
3
10
7
2
1
Incorrect form of registration mark
37
74
77
255
348
434
204
121
Defective exhaust and silencer system
1
1
4
3
10
52
16
23
Manoeuvring vehicle without signalling
1
0
5
13
6
12
5
4
Driver unable to have full view of road
1
3
0
7
10
12
9
4
Using vehicle fitted with two tone horn
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Sounding horn at night on a restricted road
2
0
0
1
4
9
1
3
Using vehicle when lamp not lit and unobscured
0
7
2
13
6
11
0
1
carrying unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
0
0
0
2
1
3
1
1
Failing to operate switch mechanisms to tacograph
1
2
0
10
46
23
10
6
Allow unlighted vehicle to remain at rest on a road
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Rider on motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
3
1
3
11
3
2
3
1
Driver of a motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear
0
1
2
7
1
2
0
0
Failing to Give Precedence to Pedestrian at a Pelican Crossing
1
1
2
3
2
1
0
3
Using a Vehicle With Windows With Insufficient Transmission of Light
3
2
2
14
47
41
4
3
No PSV Licence
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
No speedometer
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
No lights on pedal cycle
1
3
1
2
4
2
1
0
No side marker lamps on projecting load
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
Parking HGV unlawfully (verge,footway,central reservation)
0
3
0
2
0
3
0
1
Excessive smoke
0
1
0
0
5
1
6
6
No taxi roof sign
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
No windscreen wipers
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
Driver smoking in PSV
0
2
0
0
0
2
1
0
No mirrors on motor vehicle
0
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
Reversing for unreasonable distance
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Causing dangerous article to be on road
0
2
0
1
2
1
1
0
Wrongful use of a disabled person's badge
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Drawing more than permitted number of trailers
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Failing to take daily rest period from driving
0
1
0
0
12
1
2
1
Television receiving apparatus in sight of Driver
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Failure to Have Obligatory Lamp or Reflector or Rear Marking
0
1
2
7
7
5
0
0
No passenger seat belt fitted
1
0
0
3
4
0
2
0
No rear protective guard
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
Carrying unauthorised passengers on goods vehicle
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
1
Excess axle weight
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
Exceeding driving periods
0
0
0
3
2
4
1
0
Failing to switch off engine
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
No driver's seat belt fitted
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Driving on Land Other Than a Road
0
0
0
3
1
0
1
1
Failing to have warning beacon fited
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
Using strident horn on motor vehicle
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Lifting apparatus not properly secured
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
Exceeding 45mph while displaying R plates
0
0
1
2
6
3
1
1
Failing to notify police of abnormal load
0
0
0
4
5
0
0
1
Being unauthorised passenger on goods vehicle
0
0
0
1
1
0
4
0
Leaking petrol tank
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted width
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
Defective Seatbelts
0
0
0
0
6
2
1
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted overhang
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Opening vehicle's door causing danger
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Fitting lamp capable of showing red light to front
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Failing to keep tachograph record sheets in clean condition
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
Use vehicle not fitted with suitable and sufficient springs
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
1
No lights on projecting load
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Towing with rope in excess of prescribed limit
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No School Bus Sign
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Exceeding 45mph while displaying L plates
0
0
0
0
1
4
1
0
Using record sheet for longer than stipulated
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
0
Defective side protective guard
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Defective speedometer
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
No mudguards on trailer
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
Dangerous mascot on motor
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Carrying passengers in a living van
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Failing to maintain spray suppression device
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No windscreen washers
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
No spray suppression device
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
Vehicle exceeding permitted length
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Trailer failing to have minimum ground clearance
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
No mudguards on motor car
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Total
 542 3,275 622 3,667 1,928 1,939 944 716

House Burglaries

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of house burglaries in each District Policing Partnership area in each of the last 5 years.

(AQW 7339/10)

Minister of Justice: I regret the information is not available in the format requested. Some burglary offences specify a dwelling or non-dwelling in their offence definition; however, other burglary offences do not. While convictions for these offences may relate to domestic burglary it is not possible to determine the number of such convictions as court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed.

The tables below give the number convicted for burglary in a dwelling offences and those other burglary offences which do not refer to a dwelling specifically. Figures for burglary in a non-dwelling and going equipped offences have also been included for information. Data cover the calendar years 2002 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are broken down by police District Command Unit (which mirror District Policing Partnership areas). Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Table 1: Burglary in a dwelling – number convicted by police District Command Unit (DCU)1,2,3 2002-2006
  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Antrim
1
7
1
8
3
Ards
4
4
5
1
8
Armagh
4
6
4
6
5
Banbridge
2
1
2
1
2
Belfast East
13
16
10
10
11
Belfast North
14
29
37
32
31
Belfast South
25
25
12
18
4
Belfast West
29
18
32
24
31
Ballymena
11
12
10
4
6
Ballymoney
2
3
3
3
1
Carrickfergus
3
2
2
1
1
Coleraine
7
4
8
7
6
Cookstown
0
1
3
5
2
Craigavon
3
9
7
6
11
Castlereagh
6
5
15
5
5
Dungannon & South Tyrone
3
5
2
3
4
Down
5
6
13
16
9
Fermanagh
8
4
1
3
2
Foyle
34
17
34
24
33
Larne
2
3
3
8
3
Limavady
5
4
0
4
5
Lisburn
12
23
14
20
24
Magherafelt
1
2
1
2
2
Moyle
1
1
1
1
0
Newtownabbey
6
2
9
15
7
North Down
7
4
1
4
7
Newry & Mourne
6
4
9
7
5
Omagh
4
4
6
2
3
Strabane
2
2
0
1
5
Missing4
1
6
5
3
6
Total
 221 229 250 244 242

1. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

2. Belfast DPP comprises the four DCUs given above.

3. Includes the offences ‘burglary with intent to steal – dwelling’, ‘burglary and theft - dwelling’ and ‘burglary and attempted theft – dwelling’.

4. Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Table 2: Burglary in a non-dwelling – number convicted by police District Command Unit (DCU)1,2,3 2002-2006
  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Antrim
4
3
11
2
3
Ards
8
5
3
4
6
Armagh
11
14
6
4
10
Banbridge
9
4
4
1
3
Belfast East
14
20
16
13
8
Belfast North
34
36
28
26
20
Belfast South
13
22
11
12
16
Belfast West
18
27
29
22
16
Ballymena
12
11
9
9
8
Ballymoney
7
3
1
2
0
Carrickfergus
6
1
1
3
6
Coleraine
7
7
11
11
9
Cookstown
2
4
11
6
9
Craigavon
15
8
26
10
17
Castlereagh
12
4
5
1
3
Dungannon & South Tyrone
3
7
4
4
1
Down
9
11
9
6
9
Fermanagh
6
4
5
8
12
Foyle
30
27
30
20
19
Larne
3
5
2
0
3
Limavady
3
2
6
2
5
Lisburn
17
15
18
22
8
Magherafelt
2
4
4
1
0
Moyle
3
2
1
1
2
Newtownabbey
3
7
6
7
4
North Down
14
7
7
6
6
Newry & Mourne
7
12
9
6
13
Omagh
9
7
6
5
5
Strabane
5
4
0
1
3
Missing4
9
7
6
2
1
Total
 295 290 285 217 225

1. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

2. Belfast DPP comprises the four DCUs given above.

3. Includes the offences ‘burglary with intent to steal - non-dwelling’, ‘burglary and theft – non-dwelling’ and ‘burglary and attempted theft – non-dwelling’.

4. Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Table 3: Other burglary offences – number convicted by police District Command Unit (DCU)1,2,3 2002-2006
  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Antrim
0
1
0
2
0
Ards
0
1
5
1
2
Armagh
1
0
0
1
0
Banbridge
1
1
0
1
1
Belfast East
2
2
3
0
0
Belfast North
0
4
1
2
3
Belfast South
1
2
1
3
0
Belfast West
1
2
2
3
3
Ballymena
1
1
0
0
0
Ballymoney
0
0
1
0
0
Carrickfergus
0
1
0
5
0
Coleraine
0
1
0
1
2
Cookstown
0
4
1
2
1
Craigavon
0
0
0
6
6
Castlereagh
1
1
3
0
2
Dungannon & South Tyrone
0
3
2
2
0
Down
2
2
0
3
0
Fermanagh
0
0
0
0
0
Foyle
5
1
6
4
1
Larne
1
0
0
2
2
Limavady
0
1
0
0
1
Lisburn
3
1
2
1
4
Magherafelt
0
2
0
0
0
Moyle
0
0
2
0
0
Newtownabbey
0
0
0
2
1
North Down
1
1
3
2
1
Newry & Mourne
1
0
1
2
3
Omagh
0
1
1
1
2
Strabane
3
1
1
0
0
Missing4
0
0
0
0
1
Total
 24 34 35 46 36

1. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

2. Belfast DPP comprises the four DCUs given above.

3. Includes offences such as burglary/aggravated burglary and: stealing/inflicting grievous bodily harm or with intent to steal/commit grievous bodily harm/commit rape/cause unlawful damage.

4. Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Table 4: Going equipped offences – number convicted by police District Command Unit (DCU)1,2,3 2002-2006
  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Antrim
1
1
0
2
0
Ards
4
1
1
1
1
Armagh
1
0
1
4
1
Banbridge
0
0
0
0
0
Belfast East
2
2
3
0
1
Belfast North
7
14
6
6
3
Belfast South
3
2
1
2
0
Belfast West
12
9
9
10
5
Ballymena
3
1
3
2
0
Ballymoney
0
0
0
0
0
Carrickfergus
0
0
0
0
0
Coleraine
1
2
1
0
0
Cookstown
1
0
0
2
2
Craigavon
3
1
2
1
1
Castlereagh
1
1
0
1
2
Dungannon & South Tyrone
2
0
1
2
0
Down
2
1
1
3
0
Fermanagh
0
0
1
1
0
Foyle
2
4
1
3
2
Larne
1
1
2
0
0
Limavady
0
0
0
1
0
Lisburn
5
7
8
2
5
Magherafelt
0
0
0
1
0
Moyle
0
0
0
0
0
Newtownabbey
4
0
0
0
0
North Down
0
2
0
0
0
Newry & Mourne
0
1
1
4
1
Omagh
0
0
3
1
0
Strabane
0
0
0
0
0
Missing4
0
0
5
1
5
Total
 55 50 50 50 29

1. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

2. Belfast DPP comprises the four DCUs given above.

3. Includes the offences ‘going equipped for burglary’, ‘going equipped for theft’ and ‘going equipped to cheat’.

4. Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Knife Crime

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Justice to outline the current law in relation to knife crime.

(AQW 7376/10)

Minister of Justice: There is a range of offences designed to control the sale and possession of knives and other potentially offensive weapons. The main offences are: having a blade or pointed article or offensive weapon in public or on school premises without good reason; selling a knife to someone under 18 years old; manufacturing or selling, etc, an offensive weapon; and marketing a knife in a way that is likely to encourage violence. The maximum custodial penalty available for these offences on conviction on indictment is 4 years.

Drugs-related Offences

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of drugs-related offences, including drug-dealing, in the East Antrim constituency in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7378/10)

Minister of Justice: The table below gives the number convicted for drug-related offences in the East Antrim constituency and the number of these convictions that were for offences related to drug dealing.

Data cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number convicted for drug-related offences and number of which related to drug dealing1 – East Antrim constituency2 2004-2006

Year All drug offences Number related to drug dealing
2004
30
11
2005
23
7
2006
30
10

1. Includes offences relating to the production, supply, possession with intent to supply drugs and the offence of cultivating cannabis.

2. Based on the parliamentary constituency in which the offender’s address falls.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been served in the East Antrim constituency in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 7398/10)

Minister of Justice: Information in respect of the number of Anti- Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued is available by District Council area. The information is currently not held by constituency, but work is ongoing to progress this.

The Department of Justice has been notified by the relevant authorities that there were 2 ASBOs issued in the District Council areas covered by the East Antrim constituency in 2007, 5 ASBOs issued in the District Council areas covered by the East Antrim constituency in 2008 and 2 ASBOs issued in the District Council areas covered by the East Antrim constituency in 2009. The table below details the breakdown of these figures by District Council area.

District Council 2007 2008 2009
Carrickfergus
0
0
1
Larne
0
2
0
Moyle
0
0
0
Newtownabbey
2
3
1
Total
 2 5 2
Notes:

The Anti-social Behaviour (NI) Order 2004 defines relevant authority as district councils, PSNI or Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Prisoners who do not have English as a First Language

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice what procedures are in place to ensure that the Prison Service can deal with prisoners who do not have English as a first language.

(AQW 7401/10)

Minister of Justice: The Northern Ireland Prison Service has put in place a series of measures to deal with prisoners who do not have English as a first language. These are designed to ensure that such inmates have the same access to facilities as all other prisoners. They include:-

In addition the Prison Service provides further measures to support such prisoners, including:

Witnesses and Defendants who do not have English as a First Language

Mr A Ross asked e Minister of Justice what procedures are in place to ensure that the Courts and Tribunals Service can deal with witnesses and defendants who do not have English as a first language.

(AQW 7403/10)

Minister of Justice: The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) engages interpreters under a joint criminal justice agency contract with an accredited firm, Connect-NICEM, who can supply interpreters in a wide variety of languages for hearings at courts and tribunals.

On 9 February 2010 the NICTS published a consultation paper on the future provision of in-court interpreter services. A response to the consultation will be published by the end of August 2010.

Legal Aid

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Justice to outline the criteria for the provision of legal aid in situations where a person is trying to obtain transcripts of court proceedings.

(AQW 7413/10)

Minister of Justice: Access to a transcript of court proceedings is most commonly required for purposes of an appeal to the Court of Appeal in a criminal case.

The matters covered by a criminal legal aid certificate include "work reasonably undertaken and properly done by the solicitor assigned to that person in giving notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal". If required, the cost of obtaining a transcript would normally be paid as a disbursement under the criminal legal aid certificate.

New Police Station in Downpatrick

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Justice when work will commence on the new police station in Downpatrick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(AQW 7444/10)

Minister of Justice: Management of the Police Estate is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Legal-aid

Mr G Campbell asked e Minister of Justice how many complaints have been made by people, subject to legal-aid sponsored proceedings against them in their professional capacity, about the granting of the legal-aid for these proceedings, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7446/10)

Minister of Justice: The Legal Services Commission has no record of a formal complaint being made in these circumstances in the last three years.

Convictions for Speeding

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many individuals have been convicted of speeding in (i) 30 mph zones; (ii) 40mph zones; (iii) 50mph zones; (iv) 60 mph zones; and (v) on motorways in each of the last 12 months.

(AQW 7465/10)

Minister of Justice: I regret the information requested is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed or the speed limit which was breached and, it is therefore not possible to give the number of convictions for speeding in each of the zones requested. It is possible only to give the total number convicted at court for a speeding offence; figures are given in the table below and are broken down by month.

Data cover the calendar year 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Speeding offences – number convicted by month1,2,3 2006

Month Number convicted
January
237
February
217
March
245
April
204
May
268
June
215
July
159
August
198
September
221
October
252
November
225
December
203
Total
 2644

1. Includes the offences ‘excess speed’, ‘breach of temporary traffic regulation – speeding’, ‘excess speed for vehicle classification’, ‘L driver exceeding 45mph’, ‘R driver exceeding 45mph’ and ‘exceeding 45mph while displaying R plates’.

2. Month based on date of sentence.

3. Data cover only those offenders who are prosecuted and subsequently convicted through the courts and exclude those who were given a fixed penalty.

Drugs-related Offences

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of drugs-related offences in the (i) Magherafelt; and Cookstown District Council areas in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7469/10)

Minister of Justice: The number convicted of drug-related offences in Magherafelt and Cookstown police District Command Units (which mirror District Council areas) are given in the table below.

Data cover the calendar years 2002 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number convicted for drug-related offences – Magherafelt and Cookstown police District Command Units (DCU)1 2002-2006
Year Magherafelt DCU Cookstown DCU
2002
6
10
2003
14
10
2004
15
15
2005
7
22
2006
15
21

1. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

Possession and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice how many people were (i) apprehended; (ii) processed; and (iii) charged with having possession of, or consuming, alcohol in a public place on, or during, (a) the week covering Christmas Day; (b) New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; (c) St Patrick's Day; (d) the Twelfth of July parades; (e) Gay Pride; (f) May Day; and (g) the Lord Mayor's show, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7472/10)

Minister of Justice: As drinking in a public place is a breach of a bye-law, the information on breaches and prosecutions are held by local Government and not central Government.

Some sections of the Policing & Crime Act 2009 were introduced in NI on 29th January 2010. Section 29 of the Act gives the police powers to confiscate sealed containers of alcohol. The recording of the number of confiscations is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Possession and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice how many police officers and Belfast City Council officials were engaged in removing alcohol from people who were (i) in possession of alcohol; and (ii) consuming alcohol in public places in Belfast on, or during (a) the week covering Christmas Day; (b) New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; (c) St Patrick's Day; (d) the Twelfth of July parades; (e) Gay Pride; (f) May Day; and (g) the Lord Mayor's show, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7473/10)

Minister of Justice: As I indicated for AQW/7472/10 the information sought is held by the PSNI and District Councils. The recording of the number of police officers involved in such operations is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Legal-aid

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Justice to detail the amount spent on legal aid for (i) criminal cases; and (ii) civil cases, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7476/10)

Minister of Justice:

Financial Year Criminal Legal Aid Expenditure
£(m)		 Civil Legal Aid Expenditure
£(m)		 Total Legal Aid Expenditure
£(m)
2005/06
30.6
27.4
58.0
2006/07
41.7
27.7
69.4
2007/08
44.5
27.5
72.0
2008/09
50.6
32.5
83.1
2009/10
60.0
36.9
96.9

The expenditure figures provided above exclude the administrative costs of running the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission. These revised figures reflect updating due to a number of technical accounting changes.

Youth Conferencing with the Youth Justice Agency

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Justice how many children and young people in the (i) North Down Borough Council; and (ii) Ards Borough Council areas are currently engaged in Youth Conferencing with the Youth Justice Agency.

(AQW 7483/10)

Minister of Justice: At the end of May 2010 (i) 25 young people in the North Down Borough Council area and (ii) 29 young people in the Ards Borough Council area were engaged in youth conferencing with the Youth Justice Agency. These young people have met their victims at a youth conference, and having agreed a reparative action plan are subject to youth conference orders/plans.

Prisoners Exercise Entitlement

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Justice how many times prisoners in Magheraberry have been denied their exercise entitlement in the last three months; and to outline the reasons.

(AQW 7490/10)

Minister of Justice: In the last three months, exercise entitlement at Maghaberry was affected on a total of five days. This was due to prisoner unrest on 22 and 23 March in respect of prisoners in integrated remand accommodation in Foyle House which included breaking sanitary ware in their cells. On 4 April separated republican prisoners in Roe House barricaded themselves into the recreation room and on 6 May Roe House prisoners broke the sanitary ware in their cells. Arising from these incidents it was necessary for Prison Rule 7 paragraph (1) to be invoked which permits part of the regime to be curtailed for safety and security. Details are as shown in the table below:

Date No of prisoners who did not get their exercise entitlement
22 March
157
23 March
156
4 April
721
5 April
29
7 May
30

Prison Visits to Magheraberry

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Justice how many prison visits to Magheraberry have been suspended in each of the last three months; and to outline the reasons.

(AQW 7491/10)

Minister of Justice: The number of Maghaberry prison visits to individual prisoners, suspended in each of the last 3 months is as shown in the table below:

  No of Suspended Visits
March
6
April
53
May
5
Total
64

Visits were suspended for the following reasons:

  March April May
Visitor passed unauthorised item to prisoner (drugs)
2
1
0
Visitor passed unspecified unauthorised item to prisoner
1
1
0
Prisoner tried to retrieve unspecified article from visitor
1
0
0
Prisoner or visitor were verbally abusive/aggressive to prison staff
2
0
2
*Incident involving republican separated prisoners in Roe House landings 3&4
0
51
0
Visitor passed a mobile phone to prisoner
0
0
1
Visitor found in possession of drugs following search procedure
0
0
1
Visitor’s behaviour in contravention of Prison Rules
0
0
1
Total
 6 53 5

*Due to the prison being locked down, visits to all prisoners in Maghaberry (including one prisoner in Roe House) were suspended.

Mental Health Legislation

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice to outline the role of his Department in relation to an individual sectioned under the Mental Health legislation.

(AQW 7493/10)

Minister of Justice: Two overarching powers under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 determine the role of the Department of Justice in terms of mentally ill offenders.

When an offender is convicted and found to be suffering from a mental disorder (within the meaning of the 1986 Order) the court may impose a hospital order directing their admission to and detention in hospital for treatment. Alternatively, when a prisoner is suffering from a mental disorder that requires hospital treatment he/she may be transferred to a specified hospital. In both circumstances, a "restriction order" may be imposed which then determines the role of the Department of Justice in ensuring the protection of the public by overseeing the management of these patients.

In broad terms, the Department of Justice’s consent is then required for any leave of absence from hospital or transfer to another hospital. The Department is also responsible for reviewing restriction orders, referring relevant cases to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, exercising powers of discharge or variation under the MHRT’s direction, and where appropriate recalling patients from conditional discharge for MHRT review.

The Department also operates a statutory scheme for victims of mentally disordered offenders whereby victims can apply to receive information on a relevant offender’s leave of absence or consideration for discharge.

Budget for 2010/11

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Justice to outline his Department's budget for 2010/11.

(AQW 7514/10)

Minister of Justice: I refer the member to AQW 6392/10 which was answered on 7 May 2010 and is available in Hansard.

Judges and Barristers Wearing Wigs and Gowns in Court

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Justice if he has any plans to end the practice of judges and barristers wearing wigs and gowns in court, in order to make courts more user friendly and appropriate to modern society.

(AQW 7526/10)

Minister of Justice: The practice of judges wearing wigs and gowns in court is a matter for the judiciary and the legal profession. The Lord Chief Justice’s Office has agreed to write to the Member in respect of this matter.

Legal Possession of Firearms

Mr J Craig asked e Minister of Justice how many civilians are currently in legal possession of a firearm.

(AQW 7527/10)

Minister of Justice: Firearms licensing is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Website of the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Justice if he has any plans to publish on the website of the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland, the basic details of completed inquests, such as the name of the deceased, date of death and inquest, the verdict of the inquest and any related recommendations by the jury or coroner.

(AQW 7528/10)

Minister of Justice: As I explained in my answer to AQW 6591/10 and published in the Official Report on 14 May 2010, there are no plans to publish the findings of Inquests because of the personal and sensitive nature of the information involved and the possibility of causing more distress to the next of kin.

Convictions for Speeding

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of speeding in specific speed limit zones in each of the last 24 months, broken down by policing district.

(AQW 7531/10)

Minister of Justice: The tables below give the number convicted at court for a speeding offence broken down by police District Command Unit and month. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed or the speed limit which was breached and, it is therefore not possible to give the number of convictions for speeding in specific speed limit zones.

Data cover the calendar years 2005 and 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Table 1: Speeding offences – number convicted at court by police District Command Unit and month 20051,2,3,4
DCU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Antrim
9
11
6
11
6
5
8
Ards
9
11
10
11
6
13
3
Armagh
5
5
6
8
7
6
4
Banbridge
6
0
8
4
2
7
1
Belfast East
7
13
9
11
7
16
7
Belfast North
7
8
7
11
13
11
7
Belfast South
10
9
8
12
13
11
14
Belfast West
4
6
1
3
5
8
3
Ballymena
8
5
6
11
9
8
9
Ballymoney
1
5
1
3
4
6
5
Carrickfergus
4
4
4
3
3
4
5
Coleraine
6
8
10
13
8
19
6
Cookstown
2
5
6
8
2
2
3
Craigavon
3
5
2
4
6
6
2
Castlereagh
3
11
6
12
13
10
8
Dungannon & South Tyrone
4
0
1
7
6
11
8
Down
3
5
2
7
10
8
8
Fermanagh
4
6
3
2
2
4
2
Foyle
12
25
13
23
18
7
15
Larne
3
0
2
5
3
6
3
Limavady
3
8
9
5
6
5
6
Lisburn
26
18
8
24
21
18
16
Magherafelt
7
5
5
12
7
6
5
Moyle
2
5
3
1
0
0
3
Newtownabbey
10
11
8
12
10
12
12
North Down
4
13
6
15
11
7
11
Newry & Mourne
7
24
13
19
17
20
8
Omagh
5
3
7
8
5
10
7
Strabane
7
1
6
7
6
6
2
Missing5
30
44
27
54
31
18
18
Total
 211 274 203 326 257 270 209
Table 1 (continued): Speeding offences – number convicted at court by police District Command Unit and month 20051,2,3,4
DCU Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Antrim
7
5
5
4
3
80
Ards
6
3
7
3
9
91
Armagh
5
4
2
6
2
60
Banbridge
5
5
4
4
0
46
Belfast East
11
12
11
4
10
118
Belfast North
9
6
11
7
4
101
Belfast South
7
5
11
5
2
107
Belfast West
8
2
0
0
2
42
Ballymena
3
4
10
7
7
87
Ballymoney
4
0
2
4
6
41
Carrickfergus
4
1
4
3
1
40
Coleraine
7
11
9
10
7
114
Cookstown
1
2
4
7
2
44
Craigavon
6
8
6
5
0
53
Castlereagh
12
8
6
7
3
99
Dungannon & South Tyrone
2
2
6
6
8
61
Down
12
8
5
8
8
84
Fermanagh
1
2
6
8
1
41
Foyle
16
11
13
13
10
176
Larne
4
2
5
4
6
43
Limavady
8
5
4
3
7
69
Lisburn
16
10
13
13
11
194
Magherafelt
6
8
5
6
5
77
Moyle
0
3
1
1
0
19
Newtownabbey
6
10
6
5
10
112
North Down
9
9
6
6
7
104
Newry & Mourne
12
13
7
12
8
160
Omagh
4
1
9
6
2
67
Strabane
4
7
4
2
3
55
Missing5
15
13
12
23
11
296
Total
 210 180 194 192 155 2681
Table 2: Speeding offences – number convicted at court by police District Command Unit and month 20061,2,3,4
DCU Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Antrim
4
7
10
4
6
7
3
Ards
8
2
11
5
9
6
3
Armagh
4
6
6
3
8
8
8
Banbridge
1
5
8
2
7
2
3
Belfast East
8
6
6
9
5
3
3
Belfast North
7
3
11
4
12
9
4
Belfast South
6
10
12
5
15
12
6
Belfast West
2
1
3
7
8
8
0
Ballymena
8
5
7
3
8
5
7
Ballymoney
5
1
3
4
4
3
1
Carrickfergus
6
6
6
4
2
1
2
Coleraine
12
6
8
5
5
7
6
Cookstown
9
4
3
4
9
7
11
Craigavon
6
5
2
2
8
8
5
Castlereagh
10
10
10
8
6
6
2
Dungannon & South Tyrone
10
6
10
10
18
8
7
Down
10
7
8
3
5
5
4
Fermanagh
10
5
7
12
7
7
6
Foyle
14
16
13
13
12
6
5
Larne
4
7
3
1
4
4
3
Limavady
9
9
9
4
7
3
7
Lisburn
11
13
10
16
11
13
10
Magherafelt
6
7
7
7
8
7
7
Moyle
2
3
1
3
1
3
1
Newtownabbey
9
7
10
8
10
12
3
North Down
10
13
12
6
16
6
2
Newry & Mourne
11
12
13
18
16
22
14
Omagh
12
6
5
4
12
7
7
Strabane
11
3
6
3
11
9
3
Missing5
12
26
25
27
18
11
16
Total
 237 217 245 204 268 215 159
Table 2 (continued): Speeding offences – number convicted at court by police District Command Unit and month 20061,2,3,4
DCU Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Antrim
2
5
7
5
4
64
Ards
5
13
8
10
4
84
Armagh
7
6
14
9
8
87
Banbridge
5
6
6
4
4
53
Belfast East
5
7
7
6
8
73
Belfast North
4
0
6
7
1
68
Belfast South
12
7
7
6
6
104
Belfast West
2
2
7
3
10
53
Ballymena
3
7
9
4
7
73
Ballymoney
5
2
3
7
6
44
Carrickfergus
1
1
3
2
3
37
Coleraine
5
10
8
7
11
90
Cookstown
5
5
4
12
7
80
Craigavon
6
7
9
4
2
64
Castlereagh
6
4
2
8
6
78
Dungannon & South Tyrone
13
11
16
10
18
137
Down
7
3
6
6
1
65
Fermanagh
8
6
11
9
6
94
Foyle
7
7
10
7
10
120
Larne
7
3
2
5
3
46
Limavady
3
12
7
3
10
83
Lisburn
9
11
10
7
11
132
Magherafelt
7
6
10
8
7
87
Moyle
2
2
4
1
3
26
Newtownabbey
9
5
4
10
11
98
North Down
4
12
9
13
3
106
Newry & Mourne
10
13
13
14
9
165
Omagh
6
13
18
9
6
105
Strabane
4
6
10
8
5
79
Missing5
29
29
22
21
13
249
Total
 198 221 252 225 203 2644
Notes:

1. Includes the offences ‘excess speed’, ‘breach of temporary traffic regulation – speeding’, ‘excess speed for vehicle classification’, ‘L driver exceeding 45mph’, ‘R driver exceeding 45mph’ and ‘exceeding 45mph while displaying R plates’.

2. Month based on date of sentence.

3. Data cover only those offenders who are prosecuted and subsequently convicted through the courts and exclude those who were given a fixed penalty.

4. Based on the DCU in which the offender’s address falls.

5. Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Registered Sex Offenders

Lord Morrow asked e Minister of Justice, pursuant to AQW7346/10, how many registered sex offenders are currently living at unknown addresses or are regarded as being of no fixed abode; and how these cases can be monitored and managed for the protection of the public.

(AQW 7549/10)

Minister of Justice: The recording of information provided by offenders subject to the notification requirements set out in Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (the sex offender register) is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Cases of Arson

Mr A Easton asked Minister of Justice how many cases of arson there were in (i) Belfast; and (ii) the rest of Northern Ireland, in the last two years; and if he has any plans to review the sentencing guidelines for arson.

(AQW 7551/10)

Minister of Justice: The following table details the number of arson offences recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in each of the last two years.

Arson offences recorded by PSNI
  2008/09 2009/10
Belfast (Districts A & B)
456
462
Rest of NI (Districts C to H)
1,546
1,518
Northern Ireland
2,002
1,980
Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI

The offence of arson (contrary to Article 3(1)(3) of the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977) carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment on summary conviction and life imprisonment on conviction on indictment.  The offence of arson with intent to endanger life (contrary to Article 3(2(3)) has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on indictment. No guideline judgments on the offence of arson have been issued by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.

I have recently announced that I will be launching a consultation on sentencing guidelines mechanisms. While sentencing in individual cases is, of course, a matter for the judiciary, I want to examine all options on how best to best to establish a more transparent, consistent approach to sentencing that will promote confidence.

PSNI Engagement with Schools

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Justice to outline what engagements the PSNI has had with schools or students in North Antrim in each of the last 5 years.

(AQW 7565/10)

Minister of Justice: Engagement activity between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and schools or students in North Antrim is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Marching Season

Mr G McHugh asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of whether sufficient plans are in place to ensure a peaceful marching season.

(AQW 7611/10)

Minister of Justice: I have received briefings from the PSNI and the Parades Commission on the plans which are in place and believe them to be appropriate. Whilst no organisation can ensure that the marching season is peaceful, it is important that everyone continues to do all they can to reduce tensions over the summer months.

Sports and Recreational Equipment for Prisoners

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice how much has been spent in total on sports and recreational equipment for prisoners in each of the last 5 years; and to detail the items purchased and their cost.

(AQW 7626/10)

Minister of Justice: Expenditure on sports and recreational equipment for prisoners is classified as capital expenditure if the purchase cost of an individual item is over £1,000. A detailed list of capital purchases for the last 5 years is detailed below.

2005/6
Concept II Rower
£1,092.75
Johnson B7000 Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.12
Johnson E7000 Elliptical
£2,696.63
Pool Table
£1,051.63
Concept Rower
£1,092.75
Johnson B7000 Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.13
Johnson B7000 Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.13
Johnson E7000 Elliptical Cross Trainer
£2,696.62
Cross Trainer EFX i 576
£6,691.63
Cross Trainer EFX i 576
£6,691.62
Recumbent Cycle C864
£3,854.00
Recumbent Cycle C864
£3,854.00
Vision Exercise Bike
£1,404.13
Vision Exercise Bike
£1,404.12
Johnson Cross Trainer
£2,696.63
Johnson Stepper
£2,056.25
Jet 8000 Treadmill
£5,405.00
Jet 8000 Treadmill
£5,405.00
Total Capital Expenditure 2005/6
 £53,715.14
2006/7
7' X 3.5' snooker table
£1,110.38
576i RX Elliptical Cross Trainer
£6,926.62
C846i Recumbent Cycle
£3,854.00
C956i Treadmill with Cantilever
£7,619.88
Cable Cross Over With Chinning Bar
£2,579.11
Concept II Rower
£1,586.25
MX-30 Matrix Lat Pull
£2,931.62
MX--S10 Matrix Chest Press
£3,166.63
MX-S12 Matrix Pec Fly
£3,166.63
MX-S20 Matrix Shoulder Press
£3,166.63
MX-S50 Matrix Abdominal
£3,166.63
MX-S70 Matrix Leg Press
£3,871.62
MX-S71 Matrix Leg Extension
£3,166.63
Pool Table Slate 7 FT
£1,051.63
MB483P Crosstrainer Johnson T7000
£2,696.62
MB483P Johnson T7000 Treadmill
£4,036.13
Weights Rack
£1,263.15
Concept II Rower
£1,092.75
Johnson E7000 Cross Trainer
£2,696.62
Johnson E7000 Cross Trainer
£2,696.62
Johnson E7000 Cross Trainer
£2,696.62
Johnson T4000 Treadmill
£3,754.12
MB482 Concept II Rower
£1,092.75
MB482 Johnson E7000 Crosstrainer
£2,643.75
MB482 Johnson T7000 Treadmill
£4,036.13
Weights Machine
£1,874.12
Corinthian Snooker Table
£1,110.38
Total Capital Expenditure 2006/7
 £79,054.02
2007/8
Plasma Digital HD TV
£1,704.93
2 Tier Dumbell Rack with Dumbells
£1,404.13
Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.12
Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.13
Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.13
Panasonic Plasma TV
£1,413.91
Panasonic Plasma TV
£1,413.91
Matrix Elliptical
£3,049.13
Matrix Elliptical
£3,049.12
Matrix Elliptical
£3,049.12
Matrix Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.12
Matrix Treadmill
£4,694.13
Matrix Treadmill
£4,694.13
Matrix Treadmill
£4,694.13
Weights Rack
£1,991.63
Matrix E5X Elliptical
£3,049.12
Matrix R5X Recumbent Cycle
£1,874.12
Matrix S31 Seated Row
£2,344.13
Matrix S60 Dip and Chin
£2,526.25
Matrix S73 Prone Leg Curl
£2,344.12
Matrix TX4 Treadmill
£4,694.13
Johnson E8000 Elliptical
£2,814.12
Johnson E8000 Elliptical
£2,814.13
Johnson T8000 Treadmill
£4,224.13
RO63 R2 Combination Lower Back
£2,579.13
U078 R2 45 degree Cable Cross Trainer
£2,814.13
Vision T9 700 Treadmill
£2,395.00
Total Capital Expenditure for 2007/8
 £73,127.28
2008/9
7' x 3.5' Snooker Table
£1,143.27
7' x 3.5' Snooker Table
£1,143.27
7' x 3.5' Snooker Table
£1,143.28
7' x 3.5' Snooker Table
£1,143.28
7' x 3.5' Snooker Table
£1,143.28
Life Fitness G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.62
Life Fitness G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.62
Life Fitness G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.63
Life Fitness G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.63
Vision E3700 Exercise Cycle
£1,115.07
Vision E3700 Exercise Cycle
£1,115.07
Vision E3700 Exercise Cycle
£1,115.08
Vision E3700 Exercise Cycle
£1,115.08
7' Snooker Table
£1,292.50
Johnson C8000 Upright Cycle
£1,404.12
Johnson E8000 Crosstrainer
£2,814.13
Johnson E8000 Crosstrainer
£2,814.13
Life G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.63
Life G5 Multi Gym
£1,991.62
Total Capital Expenditure for 2008/9
 £30,451.31
2009/10
12 Spin Bikes
£6,664.25
Concept II Rower
£1,145.63
Concept II Rower
£1,121.25
Concept II Rower
£1,121.25
Johnson 3 Stack Multi gym
£4,594.25
Johnson 3 Stack Multi gym
£4,594.25
Matrix Elliptical Cross Trainer
£3,284.13
Matrix Elliptical Cross Trainer
£3,214.25
Matrix T3X Treadmill
£4,459.12
Matrix T4 Treadmill
£5,514.25
Matrix Elliptical Trainer
£3,049.13
Matrix Treadmill
£4,694.13
4 Spin Bikes
£2,269.63
Commercial Treadmill
£4,280.24
Commercial Treadmill
£4,280.24
Concept 2 Rower
£1,104.00
Concept 2 Rower
£1,104.00
Elliptical Cross Trainer
£3,675.18
Recumbent Cycle
£2,421.90
Recumbent Cycle
£2,421.90
Total Capital Expenditure for 2009/10
 £65,012.98

Purchases of smaller items of sports and recreational equipment, below the £1000 threshold, are paid from NIPS resource budget. The total annual expenditure, including the capital items individually identified above, is detailed below.

Financial year Resource Expenditure
2005/06
£91,542
2006/07
£104,878
2007/08
£88,938
2008/09
£95,257
2009/10
£111,173
Total £491,788

Attacks on PSNI Officers

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice to detail the number of times that police officers have come under attack when attending the scene of a crime, or a suspected crime, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7640/10)

Minister of Justice: The PSNI has advised that the information is not held in the format requested. However, the PSNI website sets out the number of offences where the victim has been identified as a police Officer as detailed below:

 Assault on police:

Year Total offences recorded
2009/10
3,179
2008/09
2,856
2007/08
2,827
2006/07
2,727
2005/06
2,423

PSNI Staff

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Justice to outline the projections for the percentage of PSNI staff that will be (i) Protestant; and (ii) Catholic in (a) March 2011; (b) March 2015; and (c) March 2020.

(AQW 7681/10)

Minister of Justice: Projections of composition for PSNI staff are a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Prison Population

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Justice to detail the prison population in each of the last five years, broken down by gender.

(AQW 7690/10)

Minister of Justice:

Financial Year Average Male Population Average Female Population
2005/06
1295
33
2006/07
1414
41
2007/08
1430
45
2008/09
1441
51
2009/10
1404
45

Speed Over Distance Cameras

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Justice how many convictions have been secured for speeding offences, as a result of the Speed over Distance cameras system (SPECs), on the A2 Bangor to Belfast road, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7693/10)

Minister of Justice: I regret the information requested is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed and, it is therefore not possible to give the number of convictions that were secured as a result of the Speed over Distance cameras system on the road requested.

Brothels

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice to detail the total number of brothels which have been investigated and/or raided by the PSNI in each of the last five years, broken down by District Policing Partnership area.

(AQW 7703/10)

Minister of Justice: Criminal investigations are a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Domestic Abuse

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Justice to detail the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded in (i) H District; and (ii) Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years, broken down by the (a) age; and (b) sex of the victim; and how many of these were repeat incidents.

(AQW 7734/10)

Minister of Justice: The recording of incidents of domestic abuse is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Arson and Vandalism of School Property

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of (i) arson; and (ii) vandalism of school property, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 7761/10)

Minister of Justice: I regret the information requested is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed and, it is therefore not possible to separate out the number of convictions for arson and criminal damage that involved a school.

Domestic Abuse

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Justice, in each of the last five years, how many domestic abuse incidents recorded in (i) H District; and (ii) Northern Ireland involved a sexual assault on (a) a current partner; (b) a former partner; and (c) a child, broken down by the (i) age; and (ii) sex of the victim.

(AQW 7774/10)

Minister of Justice: The recording of domestic abuse incidents is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

Violence by a Former Partner

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Justice how many people were killed by a current or former partner in (i) H District; and (ii) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, broken down by the (a) age; and (b) sex of the victim.

(AQW 7775/10)

Minister of Justice: The recording of how many people were killed by a current or former partner is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board, and I have forwarded this Question to the Chief Constable, who will respond directly.

DEPARTMENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Concessionary or Free Transport for Sixth-form Pupils

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration he has given to providing concessionary or free transport to sixth-form pupils travelling between schools or campuses.

(AQW 7264/10)

Minister for Regional Development (Mr C Murphy): As part of the last Comprehensive Spending Review I proposed several options for extending the Concessionary Fares Scheme. One of these was the provision of half fare travel for children up to the age of 18. Ultimately, however, the Assembly decided to provide free travel for people aged 60 to 64.

NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 5525/10 and AQW 6667/10, given the net cost of NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants to his Department and the limitation on their ability to issue penalty charge notices to illegally parked public hire taxis in Belfast, whether his Department will introduce quicker on-the-spot methods of issuing tickets to drivers of these vehicles before they can drive away.

(AQW 7288/10)

Minister for Regional Development: Traffic Attendants (TAs) provide an important public service and my Department’s Roads Service has advised that, in the last year, they issued almost 130,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to illegally parked vehicles. Since the commencement of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement in 2006, surveys indicate that the overall level of illegal parking has decreased by approx 65% in towns and city centres.

Unfortunately, as is the case in many towns and cities throughout Britain and Ireland, there are particular difficulties in providing effective enforcement against taxis. These difficulties apply, not only in Belfast, but right across the North, and include difficulties with private hire taxis, as well as public hire vehicles. Parking enforcement against taxis can be difficult, as the drivers are often in their vehicle or nearby, and when approached by a Traffic Attendant, they drive away before a Penalty Charge Notice can be issued. In order for a TA to issue a valid PCN, he/she must be close to the vehicle for several minutes to record all relevant data.

Another option for enforcement is to make use of CCTV, which allows PCNs to be issued remotely, and I understand this has been introduced in some locations in England. Whilst this option might be of assistance in the North, there are significant implementation costs, and issues relating to Data Protection would also need to be given full consideration.

As the Member will be aware, responsibility for parking enforcement is due to transfer to local Councils as part of the implementation of the Review of Public Administration (RPA), which is currently scheduled for May 2011. In view of the timescales involved, I am not therefore proposing to give consideration to the introduction of CCTV prior to the transfer of functions. However, in the event that RPA is not fully implemented in May 2011, and parking enforcement remains the responsibility of my Department’s Roads Service, my officials will give full consideration as to whether it is appropriate to introduce CCTV enforcement, when the current contract with NSL expires in October 2012.

In the interim, Roads Service will continue to ensure that TAs continue to be deployed to known trouble spots, and will continue to work closely with their counterparts in the Department of the Environment and the PSNI, who also have significant roles to play.

NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 667/10 and AQW 6669/10, to detail all research that Roads Service has undertaken to ascertain (i) whether public hire taxis illegally parked in Belfast City Centre, in fact, are driven away before a penalty charge notice can be issued by NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants, to the extent that has been reported to him; and (ii) for his assessment as to whether NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants are being as robust in their approach to enforcement against illegally parked public hire taxis as his Department expects.

(AQW 7292/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that, when NSL Services Group (NSL) Traffic Attendants (TAs) detect any vehicle parked in contravention of waiting restrictions they input details into a hand held computer and this information is uploaded daily onto the management system. Roads Service staff routinely interrogate the management system to monitor enforcement, or investigate complaints. It also provides Roads Service with information on numbers of illegally parked vehicles, which are driven away before a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) can be issued.

Roads Service has also advised that NSL continues to provide regular patrols and additional resources which are targeted at locations where there is ongoing illegal parking by public hire taxis, and this is routinely monitored by both NSL management and Roads Service staff. However, the Member will be aware from my previous answers, that parking enforcement against taxis can be difficult, as the drivers are often in their vehicle or nearby, and when approached by a Traffic Attendant, they drive away before a Penalty Charge Notice can be issued. TAs have no legal powers to require a taxi, or any other vehicle, to wait whilst the information for a PCN is being recorded.

Car Parking in Coalisland

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to regulate car parking in Coalisland to help enhance the traffic flow through the town centre.

(AQW 7301/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that it plans to carry out traffic observation surveys in Coalisland in September 2010. These surveys will determine the need, if any, for alterations to parking in the town centre.

I would advise the Member that any proposed changes to car parking in the area would be subject to the normal consultation process, involving the local Borough Council, the PSNI, the local community, traders and business representatives.

Journeys Undertaken by Passengers in the Belfast Metropolitan Area

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the estimated number of journeys undertaken by passengers in (i) private car; (ii) bus; (iii) train; (iv) taxi; (v) motorbike; and (iv) bicycle, in the Belfast metropolitan area, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7306/10)

Minister for Regional Development: It is not currently possible to provide the requested information for all journeys undertaken in the Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA). However, information can be provided for journeys undertaken by all BMA residents and is provided in the table below for the latest 3 calendar years for which data are available.

Table 1 Estimate of total passenger journeys (millions) taken by main mode1 of travel by persons living in the Belfast Metropolitan Area2: 2006 to 2008
  2006 3 2007 3 2008 3
(i) Car driver
267.9
273.0
281.9
(i) Car passenger
136.9
123.6
130.8
(ii) Bus4
34.2
36.2
35.8
(iii)NIR
4.5
4.5
5.2
(iv) Taxi5
16.1
16.8
16.3
(v) Motorcycle
3.2
1.9
1.3
(vi) Bicycle
3.2
3.9
4.6
Source: Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI), NISRA mid year estimates of population
Notes:

1 Main mode is the form of transport used for the greatest length of the journey.

2 The Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA) consists of the following 6 Local Government Districts: Belfast, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Lisburn, North Down, Castlereagh. As TSNI is a household survey, based on where the respondent lives, some of the above journeys will have taken place outside BMA. Conversely, other journeys occurring within the area, but taken by non-BMA residents, will have been excluded.

3 2006 estimates use 2004-2006 TSNI data and 2006 population estimates, 2007 estimates use 2005-2007 TSNI data and 2007 population estimates, 2008 estimates use 2006-2008 TSNI data and 2008 population estimates. The estimates, as they are based on survey data, will be subject to sampling error and care must therefore be taken in interpreting any apparent change in trend.

4 The bus category includes Citybus/Metro, Ulsterbus and 'Other' buses such as private hire buses and excursion tour buses.

5 The taxi category includes black taxis.

NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 6667/10 and AQW 6669/10, to detail the guidance that Roads Service issued to NSL Services Group Traffic Attendants, in relation to how much discretion they can exercise when dealing with illegally parked vehicles in Belfast City Centre.

(AQW 7326/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that Traffic Attendants (TAs) are expected to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to all vehicles found to be in contravention of parking restrictions, subject to any exemptions, or dispensations and the times of observation. However, where the driver of an illegally parked vehicle is present, it is Roads Service policy that the opportunity is provided for the vehicle to be moved, before a PCN is issued. TAs have no legal powers to require a vehicle to wait whilst the information for a PCN is being recorded.

Staff Salaries

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of staff in his Department or associated quangos who are paid in excess of £100,000 per annum in salary or remuneration packages.

(AQW 7328/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The remuneration of the most senior officials in each Department is published in annual Resource Accounts, which are available on all Departmental websites. In DRD’s case, these show that two members of its staff are paid in excess of £100,000 per annum.

Within the Department’s two Arm’s Length Bodies (Northern Ireland Water and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company), a total of nine staff are paid in excess of £100,000 per annum.

Compensation to Members of the Public

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Regional Development how much compensation has been paid out to members of the public for incidents (i) on (a) buses; and (b) trains; and (ii) in (a) bus stations; and (b) train stations, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7337/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The amounts of compensation paid out are detailed in the table below:

Year Buses Trains Bus Stations Train Stations
  £000 £000 £000 £000
2007/08
486
77
13
20
2008/09
336
49
52
-
2009/10
154
13
3
2
TOTAL 976 139 68 22

Alternative Road in the Lagmore Estate, Dunmurry

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the need for an alternative road in the Lagmore Estate, Dunmurry, in the Lagmore Glen and Mount Eagles area, to ease traffic congestion.

(AQW 7420/10)

Minister for Regional Development: As part of the planning process for the Lagmore residential development, my Department’s Roads Service has considered applications for a link road between the housing areas of Lagmore Dale and Mount Eagles, in line with a Planning Service Article 40 agreement. This link road has now been determined, and is deemed adequate to serve the area in question. It is, therefore, not necessary to consider the provision of an alternative route in the Lagmore estate.

Roads in the Mount Eagles Area of the Lagmore Estate,Dunmurry

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Regional Development how many roads in the Mount Eagles area of the Lagmore Estate,Dunmurry are not yet adopted by Roads Service; and what plans his Department has to make sure these are completed.

(AQW 7421/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that currently all roads up to house numbers 49 to 63 of Mount Eagles Avenue are adopted. The roads north of this location are progressing towards adoption, subject to completion of works by the developer. Roads Service has advised that it will use statutory procedures and powers, under the Private Streets (NI) Order 1980, to progress the adoption of all these roads, if required.

Road Safety at the Newtownards Road, Cotton Road and Bailies Terrace Junction

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on plans to improve road safety at the Newtownards Road, Cotton Road and Bailies Terrace Junction, in North Down.

(AQW 7454/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that a full technical assessment of this junction has been carried out, and that a scheme to improve sightline visibility at this location has been proposed.

However, due to the prevailing financial situation and limitations on funding for schemes of this nature, it is not possible to give an estimate of when these works could be considered for inclusion in the Minor Works programme.

Craigantlet Hills area of North Down

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the proposed roundabout scheme for the Craigantlet hills area of North Down.

(AQW 7456/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that following the assessment of various options, it is progressing with the detailed design of a preferred layout for a potential scheme to provide two roundabouts, and associated road improvements, in the Craigantlet Hills area.

It is estimated that construction is likely to cost in the region of £2 million. However, based on current funding levels, this scheme is not included in Roads Service’s construction programme for the next three years. Its inclusion on a future works programme, would be subject to the successful completion of the various statutory processes, as well as the availability of the necessary land and finance.

Road and Footpath Infrastructure in the Beechfield Estate, Donaghadee

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans his Department has to improve the road and footpath infrastructure in the Beechfield Estate, Donaghadee.

(AQW 7457/10)

Minister for Regional Development: In my reply to the Member’s Assembly Question, AQW 6267/10, I advised that my Department’s Roads Service has no plans to carry out major works in the Beechfield Estate. This remains the current position.

However, Roads Service will continue to inspect the area, and any defects identified will be repaired in accordance with the road maintenance guidelines.

Overflowing Sewer Opposite the Antrim Forum

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister for Regional Development what action was taken to repair the overflowing sewer opposite the Antrim Forum; and whether this action has achieved a long-term solution to the problem.

(AQW 7485/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that sewer improvement work and the construction of a new Sewage Pumping Station are currently underway in the vicinity of Antrim Forum, and are expected to be completed by September 2010.

NIW is satisfied that this work will improve the drainage in the area and substantially reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding.

Footpath Schemes for North Down

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the footpath schemes approved for the North Down area for the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQW 7524/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I would remind the Member that information on the completed and proposed roads schemes for the current financial year can be found in Roads Service’s Spring and Autumn Reports to Councils. These reports can be accessed from the Roads Service internet site at the following web address:

www.roadsni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-council_reports.htm

Traffic on the Lisburn Road

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Regional Development for an estimate of the daily volume of traffic along the Lisburn Road.

(AQW 7544/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that it collects data from approximately 300 automatic traffic census sites that are located throughout the North’s road network.

The most recent Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) flows recorded at a traffic census site located on the Lisburn Road, at Dunluce Avenue, were recorded at 19,954 AADT, over a 7 day period in 2009.

Traffic-calming Measures for South Belfast

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the locations of any traffic-calming measures planned for the South Belfast constituency.

(AQW 7545/10)

Minister for Regional Development: Information on the completed and proposed roads schemes for the current financial year can be found in Roads Service’s Spring and Autumn Reports to Councils. These reports can be accessed from the Roads Service internet site at the following web address:

www.roadsni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-council_reports.htm

Damage to Roofs in East Belfast

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps he is taking to investigate the recent damage to roofs in East Belfast which may have been caused by low flying aircraft; and if he will publish any available information on this incident.

(AQW 7556/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department has powers in relation to noise and vibration caused by use of an airport but has no statutory locus to investigate or mitigate vortex damage caused to property by low flying aircraft. This is a civil matter.

Section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 makes it clear that damages to property are recoverable by the property owner from the owners or users of the aircraft or their insurers.

Weight Restrictions on Roads

Dr S Farry asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will consider widening the basis for imposing weight restrictions on roads to include, in addition to the potential damage to the quality of the road surface, an alternative means of traffic control to speed bumps, particularly in residential areas.

(AQW 7562/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service provides Traffic Calming schemes as a form of local transport safety measure. These schemes are designed to slow traffic through residential areas, and to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

When these schemes are at the design stage, they are subject to consultative and legislative processes and it is at this stage, in consultation with the residents, that the Traffic Engineer must decide what type of traffic calming measure is appropriate.

If a particular problem exists with heavy goods vehicles travelling at speed in a residential area, then the Engineer must consider what measures are most effective and appropriate. Measures, such as narrow traffic lanes, chicanes, roundabouts and kerb build outs may be more appropriate than speed humps in these situations, to slow traffic and deter extraneous heavy goods vehicles.

Consequently, Roads Service considers that it is already possible to design an appropriate and effective traffic calming scheme, with the existing traffic calming measures available. The existing measures can address all traffic types, without the need to amend the criteria to allow a ‘weight limit’ to be included as a extra measure.

Railway Bridge at Lissue Road, Lisburn

Mr T Burns asked the Minister for Regional Development, in relation to the work being carried out on the railway bridge at Lissue Road, Lisburn, (i) whether the bridge is being demolished; (ii) when the bridge will be reinstated; and (iii) to outline the impact this work will have on the functionality and potential re-opening of the Antrim-Lisburn railway line.

(AQW 7628/10)

Minister for Regional Development: In relation to the work being carried out on the railway bridge at Lissue Road, Lisburn, Translink have advised –

  1. The bridge is not being demolished. As part of the planning permission for the new Coca Cola plant in the Lissue Road area, a footway across NIR’s crossing on the Lisburn to Moira railway line is required.  Coca Cola asked if they could temporarily remove the bridge over the Lissue Road on the Knockmore to Antrim line because there was insufficient head room for their lorries below the bridge on the diversionary route required for the work on the footway to be completed. 
  2. The bridge will be reinstated in September 2010 once the road works to the crossing on the Lissue Road are finished.
  3. There will be no impact on the potential re-opening of the Antrim to Lisburn railway line.

City of Derry Airport

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline his Department's assessment and current position in relation to the business case for the City of Derry Airport and the subsequent application for funding.

(AQW 7650/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have proposed that the Executive should support Derry City Council’s application for additional funding for the airport, as and when resources can be made available. There is insufficient provision in my Department’s budget to support an offer of grant.

Although the business case has not met the necessary tests of financial appraisal, it has shown that the investment would bring significant economic benefits to the north-west and it is on the basis of these wider economic benefits that I have recommended funding support.

I await conclusion of the Executive’s consideration of my proposal.

Newtownards to Dundonald Carriageway

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development, given the high kerbs that are being placed on the Newtownards to Dundonald carriageway, whether the Minister can confirm that a heavy layer of tarmac will be laid on the carriageway to enable broken-down cars to be moved to the side of the road.

(AQW 7672/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has confirmed that the kerbs on the A20 Newtownards to Dundonald road have been laid at a height to allow for an overlay of a new carriageway surface.

George Best Belfast City Airport

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 7208/10, if he will consider requesting the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct an inquiry into safety issues at the George Best Belfast City Airport.

(AQW 7754/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department has been in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority which carries out regular aerodrome safety audits. The Civil Aviation Authority has been made aware of recent incidents of roof damage to properties close to George Best Belfast City Airport and I understand finds no reason to carry out an inquiry into aerodrome safety at the airport.

DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Staff Salaries

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister for Social Development how many staff in his Department, and associated Quangos, are paid in excess of £100,000 pa in salary and/or remuneration packages.

(AQW 7324/10)

Minister for Social Development (Mr A Attwood): One civil servant in the Department for Social Development, two senior managers in Non-Departmental Public Bodies sponsored by the Department for Social Development and one senior manager in a Non-Departmental Public Body co-sponsored by the Department for Social Development and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister are paid in excess of £100,000 pa in salary and/or remuneration packages.

Fibre in Cavity Wall Insulation for Social Housing

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister for Social Development whether his Department has withdrawn the use of fibre in cavity wall insulation for social housing; and if so, to explain the reason.

(AQW 7329/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department has not withdrawn the use of fibre in cavity wall insulation for social housing.  All social housing providers must comply with Building Regulations with regards to cavity wall insulating material when delivering schemes within the Social Housing Development Programme.

Maintenance Projects in the Monkstown Estate

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Social Development how much has been spent on maintenance projects in the Monkstown Estate in each of the past 24 months.

(AQW 7335/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information is not available in the format requested. The Housing Executive provides two forms of maintenance – planned and response. In relation to planned maintenance in the Monkstown Estate, £1,295,000 has been spent in 2008/09 and £599,000 in 2009/10. These figures cannot be broken down on a monthly basis. In relation to response maintenance in the Monkstown Estate, the table below details expenditure from May 2008 to May 2010.

MONTH
EXPENDITURE
May-08
£15,655
Jun-08
£15,024
Jul-08
£25,560
Aug-08
£14,533
Sep-08
£11,525
Oct-08
£21,202
Nov-08
£12,514
Dec-08
£23,781
Jan-09
£18,364
Feb-09
£19,481
Mar-09
£18,388
Apr-09
£19,709
May-09
£11,596
Jun-09
£19,103
Jul-09
£29,627
Aug-09
£16,635
Sep-09
£12,036
Oct-09
£16,102
Nov-09
£24,033
Dec-09
£13,341
Jan-10
£13,783
Feb-10
£13,74
Mar-10
£29,661
Apr-10
£19,175
May-10
£8,937

St.Patrick's Barracks Site in Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister for Social Development what work his Department has carried out to date in relation to the redevelopment of the St.Patrick's barracks site in Ballymena.

(AQW 7344/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department has been working with a number of public sector Agencies to progress an application for outline planning permission for the St.Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena. A firm of architects have been commissioned to analyse the site and produce a Masterplan, to show how the proposed uses might best be developed on it. The analysis of the site has identified the need for a traffic assessment, a flood risk assessment and an environmental assessment to be carried out. These projects are ongoing. My Department has also appointed Fold Housing Association to bring forward plans to acquire the 47 former MOD homes on the site.

Fuel Poverty

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Social Development for the most up to date figures on the number of people living in fuel poverty in (i) Larne; (ii) Carrick; and (iii) Newtownabbey.

(AQW 7397/10)

Minister for Social Development: According to the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2006 the levels of fuel poverty in the council areas are as shown in the table below.

District Council Area In Fuel Poverty 2006
Larne
43.1%
Carrickfergus
30.7%
Newtownabbey
26.3%

The fuel poverty figures will be updated in the new House Condition Survey which will report later in the year.

New Build Social Housing Units

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development how many new build social housing units are planned for North Down in the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQW 7407/10)

Minister for Social Development: A total of 202 new social housing dwellings are planned for the North Down Borough Council area in the 2010/11 financial year, as detailed in the table below.

Agency Scheme Name Dwellings
Clanmil Bloomfield Road/South Circular Road, Bangor
48
Fold Dufferin Avenue, Bangor
6
Fold Kerr Park, Holywood
21
NIHE Competition @ Rathgill, Bangor
50
Oaklee Granshan Road, Bangor
6
TBC 34-36 Bangor Road, Holywood
12
TBC Dufferin Avenue, Bangor
27
Trinity Holborn Avenue, Bangor
14
Trinity West Church, Bangor
18

Queen's Parade Project, Bangor

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development for an update on the Queen's Parade project in Bangor.

(AQW 7455/10)

Minister for Social Development: In December 2009, my predecessor appointed Karl Greenfarm Properties Limited as the preferred developer for the site. The developer is currently in Pre Application Discussions with the Planning Service on the proposals for the site. It is expected to take until Spring 2011 to complete this process. The Department has established a Project Board to manage the regeneration scheme and a Community Engagement Partnership to liaise with the local community throughout the process.

Grass Cutting

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Social Development how much has been spent by the Housing Executive on grass cutting in the (i) Larne; (ii) Carrick; and (iii) Newtownabbey areas in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7462/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information is not available in the format requested as costs are not held at individual district levels but at a contract level which spans a number of districts. However, the Housing Executive has provided an indication of costs based on the amount of grassed area in each district expressed as a percentage of the contract total, as shown in the table below for 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09. The figures for 2009/10 will not be available until November.

District 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Larne
£26,850
£28,180
£30,885
Carrickfergus
£43,661
£45,815
£50,224
Newtownabbey
£138,089
£136,485
£140,893

Social Housing Development Programme

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Social Development to list all social development schemes, including the number of units planned, in this year's Social Housing Development Programme for the (i) Larne; (ii) Carrick; and (iii) Newtownabbey council areas.

(AQW 7463/10)

Minister for Social Development: There are no schemes programmed for the Larne Council area in this year's Social Housing Development Programme. The tables below detail the 2010/11 Social Housing Development Programme for Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas.

Table 1: Carrickfergus Borough Council Social Housing Development Programme 2010/11
Agency Scheme name Dwellings
Clanmil Windmill, Carrickfergus
12
Oaklee Minorca Drive, Carrickfergus
17
To be confirmed Ellis Street, Carrickfergus
10
Table 2: Newtownabbey Borough Council Social Housing Development Programme 2010/11
Agency Scheme name Dwellings
Connswater Monkstown Gardens, Newtownabbey
6
Fold 180 Ballycorr Road, Ballyclare
1
Fold 19A Glengormley Park, Newtownabbey
21
Fold Rashee Estate, Ballyclare
14
Habinteg Mount Street / High Street, Bawnmore
4
Helm Housing 1 Doagh Road, Newtownabbey
13
North & West Rathcoole Gardens, Newtownabbey
28
Oaklee 466 Shore Road, Newtownabbey
10
Oaklee Ballyduff Primary School, Newtownabbey
20
Oaklee Longlands Avenue, Newtownabbey
13
To be confirmed Ben Madigan, Newtownabbey
55

Benefit Fraud Unit

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development how much revenue his Department's Benefit Fraud Unit has generated from (i) convictions; and (ii) other activity, as a result of investigations into benefit fraud, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 7466/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Department’s Benefit Fraud Unit does not generate revenue as such from convictions or other activity as a result of investigations into benefit fraud.

The Department does however calculate the amount of money overpaid as a result of benefit fraud. Table 1 below shows the amount of benefit overpaid in respect of cases that were convicted in each of the last three years. Table 2 shows the amount of benefit that was overpaid as a result of all counter fraud activity for the same period.

The Department also imposes Administrative Penalties (a fine) on particular cases where it is not appropriate to proceed with a prosecution. In such cases the customer agrees to repay the benefit overpaid plus an additional amount, calculated as 30% of the money overpaid. Any such money collected by the Department is paid to the Exchequer. The available details of Administrative Penalties are also shown in Table 2.

Table 1
Financial Year Overpayments in respect of convicted cases
2007/2008
£2.87m
2008/2009
£3.72m
2009/2010
£3.29m
Table 2
Financial Year Overpayments from all counter fraud activity Amount of Administrative penalty*
2007/2008
£11.2m
Not available
2008/2009
£11.3m
Not available
2009/2010
£12.1m
£11,763

* Due to a change in IT systems, it is only possible to show the amounts of Administrative Penalties accepted by customers from 2 November 2009 to 31 March 2010.

The amounts of money shown in Table 1 do not necessarily relate to the same cases detailed in Table 2, for example, a case with an overpayment raised in 2007/2008 may not be convicted until 2008/2009 or later.

Benefit Fraud Unit

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development what means his Department's Benefit Fraud Unit uses to collect money claimed as a result of fraud or error.

(AQW 7487/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Department for Social Development’s Benefit Fraud Unit does not collect money claimed as a result of customer fraud or customer error. The Northern Ireland Court Service is responsible for recovering the debt where a customer is successfully prosecuted for benefit fraud and the Court awards a compensation or confiscation order. The Social Security Agency’s Debt Centre is responsible for collecting money in all other cases and the means available are deduction from ongoing benefit, voluntary agreement, the use of private debt collection agencies, civil proceedings and recovery from estate.

Housing Maintenance in the Kilcooley Estate, Bangor

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the total spend on housing maintenance in the Kilcooley Estate in Bangor for each of the last five years.

(AQW 7498/10)

Minister for Social Development: The tables below detail the Housing Executive’s expenditure on response maintenance and planned maintenance in each of the last five years in the Kilcooley Estate in Bangor:-

Table 1: Housing Executive’s expenditure on response maintenance
  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
Totals
£540,317.49
£468,414.09
£359,950.94
£374,219.12
£553,809.89
Table 2: Housing Executive’s expenditure on planned maintenance
  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10
Totals
£115,000
£247,000
£2,896,000
£395,000
£203,000

Housing Maintenance Schemes Planned for the Kilcooley Estate, Bangor

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development what housing maintenance schemes are planned for the Kilcooley Estate in Bangor in (i) 2010/11; and (ii) 2011/12.

(AQW 7499/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive has programmed a heating replacement scheme for 55 dwellings at a cost of approximately £242,000 for the Kilcooley Estate in 2010/11. There is currently no programme for a planned maintenance scheme in 2011/12.

Housing Maintenance Budget

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development what is the total housing maintenance budget for 2010/11.

(AQW 7500/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive’s budgetary allocation for housing maintenance is currently £133,754,000 for 2010/11 broken down as follows:-

Reactive maintenance - £49,427,000

Planned maintenance - £62,590,000

Grounds maintenance - £9,279,000

General maintenance - £12,458,000

New Build Social Housing

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the planned new build social housing provision for Mid-Ulster in 2010/11.

(AQW 7502/10)

Minister for Social Development: The table below details the Social Housing Development Programme for Mid Ulster in 2010/11:-

Agency Scheme Name Dwellings
Marker* Cookstown
20
Marker* Magherafelt
40
North & West Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt
5

* A Marker Scheme denotes an area of social housing need where development sites have not yet been secured.

Social Housing

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister for Social Development how much funding has been allocated for social housing maintenance in Mid-Ulster for 2010/11.

(AQW 7504/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive’s District Offices covering Mid-Ulster are Magherafelt, Cookstown and Dungannon. The details of the funding allocated for social housing maintenance for 2010/11 is as follows:-

  Magherafelt Cookstown Dungannon
Planned Maintenance
£386,000
£198,000
£722,000
Response Maintenance
£657,000
£536,000
£959,000

Under-Representation of Protestants in Housing Executive

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister for Social Development what discussions he plans to have with the Housing Executive to address the under-representation of persons from the Protestant community applying for jobs in that organisation.

(AQW 7510/10)

Minister for Social Development: I am aware that the Housing Executive has had an Affirmative Action Plan in place since 2003 which was developed and implemented in agreement with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The Affirmative Plan contains a series of measures developed to specifically encourage the Protestant community to consider the Housing Executive as a prospective employer and therefore encourage them to apply for posts, permanent or temporary, when they arise. The Housing Executive has assured me it continues to implement the Affirmative Action Plan and this work is paralleled with ongoing activity on the other aspects of equality in relation to gender, disability, race and age etc.

Maintenance Schemes

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the maintenance schemes approved for the North Down area for the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQW 7515/10)

Minister for Social Development: The table below details the schemes which the Housing Executive has approved for the North Down area for the 2010/11 financial year:-

Area Type Dwellings
Bloomfield External Cyclical Maintenance
155
Kilcooley Heating Replacement
55
Fern Grove/Bloomfield Place Kitchen Replacement
61
Clandeboye Structural Repairs
15
Ballyree Retaining Wall Repair
-

The completion of these schemes will be subject to the availability of funding.

Kilcooley Womens Centre in Bangor

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development what funding his Department currently provides to the Kilcooley Womens Centre in Bangor.

(AQW 7566/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Department currently provides funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund to the Kilcooley Women’s Centre for the Supported Training for Employment (STEP) project. The funding amounts to £115,299.80 and covers the period from 8 December 2008 to 31 March 2011.

Funding to Community Organisations

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Social Development if he has any plans to cut funding to community organisations in light of the proposed cuts in public spending; and to outline any planned cuts by constituency.

(AQW 7569/10)

Minister for Social Development: I currently have no plans to cut funding to community organisations in light of proposed cuts to public spending. Until the Spending Review has been completed I will not know what my department’s budget will be in the future. I am acutely aware of the current pressing financial situation and it is inevitable that budgets in all spending areas will face pressures. Any future funding decisions will be taken on a fair and equitable basis with a view to ensuring that the effects on the most disadvantaged in our communities are minimised.

New Social Housing Provision in South Belfast

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Social Development for a projection of new social housing provision in the South Belfast constituency for the next three years.

(AQW 7570/10)

Minister for Social Development: The tables below detail the Social Housing Development Programme for South Belfast over the next three years.

Table 1: Social Housing Development Programme for South Belfast 2010/11
Agency Scheme Name Dwellings
Clanmil Boiler House Site, Stewart Street, Belfast
16
Clanmil North Infill, Hatfield Street, Belfast
4
Clanmil North Rugby Club Grounds Phase 3, Belfast
42
Connswater 2 Sunnyside Drive, Belfast
2
Hearth Rosetta Cottages, Belfast
2
Helm Housing Lily Bar, Sandy Row, Belfast
18
Helm Housing Ormeau Embankment Phase 1, Belfast
47
North & West 314 Ravenhill Road, Belfast
65
Table 2: Social Housing Development Programme for South Belfast 2011/12
Agency Scheme Name Dwellings
Clanmil 2 Windsor Road, Belfast
28
Clanmil 20 Lower Windsor Avenue, Belfast
12
Clanmil 65-71 Dublin Road, Belfast
27
Habinteg Finaghy Road South, Belfast
5
Helm Housing Ormeau Embankment Phase 2, Belfast
8
Wesley Bladon Drive, Stranmillis, Belfast
20
Table 3: Social Housing Development Programme for South Belfast 2012/13
Agency Scheme Name Dwellings
Fold Maldon Street, Belfast
48
Helm Housing Cromac Street, Belfast
13
Helm Housing Northbrook Street, Belfast
9
Helm Housing Russell Court Extension, Belfast
21
Helm Housing Village URA Phase 1, Belfast
40
NIHE Finnis Drive, Taughmonagh, Belfast
15

Housing Executive Design Office in Omagh

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Social Development why the Housing Executive is closing the design office in Omagh; and who will provide this service once the office is closed.

(AQW 7614/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Omagh Design Group was set up on 1 June 2009 with the overall restructuring of Design and Property Services being completed in July 2009. It was agreed that a further review would be carried out in approximately six months to ensure structures were correct in line with budgets and resources etc. Given the downturn in the Housing Executive’s capital budget the workload and fee earning capacity of the Design Group satellite based in Omagh has been greatly reduced.  To make the Design Group sustainable for the future, it is necessary to reduce the number of technical and administration staff within the Group and to offer them alternative appropriate employment in other parts of the Housing Executive.  Because of the revised staff numbers in the Design Group it is no longer sustainable to have the group split across two sites with the associated overheads. The closure of the Design Group sub-office in Omagh and the delivery of the core service in future from the Design Group in Belfast will not affect the delivery of the service in the west of Northern Ireland. The delivery will be in line with the Housing Executive’s guidelines and no-one will be disadvantaged by the changes.

Housing Executive Design Office in Omagh

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Social Development what steps will be taken to minimise the negative impact of the closure of the Housing Executive design office in Omagh.

(AQW 7615/10)

Minister for Social Development: I have been assured by the Housing Executive that the closure of the Design Group sub-office in Omagh and the delivery of the core service from the Design Group in Belfast will not affect the delivery of the service in the west of Northern Ireland. The delivery will be in line with the Housing Executive’s guidelines and no-one will be disadvantaged by the changes. In relation to the impact on staff, where there is a surplus of staff to be redeployed the Housing Executive’s Redeployment of Staff procedures will be applied in consultation with the Trade Union. The Housing Executive's policy is to take all reasonable measures to absorb surplus staff by redeployment in the interests of staff and the Housing Executive.