Friday 07 January 2011

Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Agriculture and Rural Development
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Assembly Commission

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Community Relations and Good Relations Work

Mr T Lunn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQW 69/11, (i) to provide a breakdown of the departmental costs of the expenditure on Community Relations and Good Relations Work in each financial year since 2005/06; and (ii) to provide a list of the community and voluntary organisations which received this financial assistance in each of those years.

(AQW 982/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): Pursuant to your question AQW 69/11 on the costs of good relations work, we have detailed below the groups and organisations supported by this department over the last five years.

As we stated previously, it is not possible to provide full details of every group supported by the OFMDFM funding administered by the Community Relations Council (CRC); however, such information is included in the CRC’s Annual Reports which are already in the public domain.

Quangos

Mr S Anderson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether any of the quangos identified for abolition in Great Britain have functions that are replicated by quangos in Northern Ireland; and if so, to identify the functions and relevant quangos.

(AQW 1823/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Public Bodies Bill 2010, introduced to the House of Lords on 28 October 2010, listed at Schedule 1 those bodies that the UK Government intends to seek powers to abolish with functions either being discontinued or delivered in a different way.

We have consulted with all departments in respect of the exercise of functions in Northern Ireland similar to those of the bodies listed in Schedule 1. Where similar functions are exercised in Northern Ireland, this may not however necessarily be through a non-departmental public body as some similar functions are delivered through departments, agencies or advisory committees. The table below indicates these bodies in Schedule 1 for which there is a direct equivalent in Northern Ireland but these would not all be defined as non-departmental public bodies or quangos.

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Working Class Communities

Mr S Gardiner asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what progress has been made in assisting vulnerable and disadvantaged working class communities in (i) Lurgan; (ii) Portadown; (iii) Craigavon; and (iv) Banbridge in the last twelve months; and how much investment has been made in each of these areas in this time.

(AQW 2456/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: In the current financial year (2010/11), the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister will have provided Craigavon Borough Council with a grant of £113,319 for the provision of community relations services and activities, including the support of the Good Relations Officer’s post. Craigavon Council area includes Portadown and Lurgan, it is not possible to provide a breakdown for each area separately.

Banbridge District Council will receive £117,894 for its community relations programme. The funding awards were allocated on the basis of the Good Relations Plans which each council submitted based on good relations audits for their areas. The good relations audits identified specific good relations issues in the council areas including those in working class communities.

OFMDFM provides development funding for the Craigavon Intercultural Programme and Craigavon Travellers Support Group and project funding for Craigavon Intercultural Programme. It is not possible to determine if this funding impacts wholly or partially on working class communities although it is likely to benefit the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

The Craigavon Intercultural Programme (CIP) was established in Portadown in 2006 to promote integration between host and migrant communities by providing a variety of services and activities. CIP works with a number of agencies in the area for the benefit of all. In the 2010/11 financial year the department was provided funding of £45,000. The award supports a bilingual Polish support worker; a bilingual Lithuanian support worker; an ethnic women’s support worker and an administration assistant.

The Craigavon Travellers Support Committee is a well-established body, providing a range of services to the Traveller Community in the Craigavon area. Their work is undertaken in 5 key areas; early years, education, community development, advice and health. In the 2010/11 financial year the department was provided funding of £45,000. The funding supports a project manager and a project administrator.

The Craigavon Intercultural Programme manages a Community Resource Centre which is used by both minority ethnic community members and indigenous community groups. The capacity of individual groups will be enhanced through information sessions/community meetings, personal development sessions, focus groups, recreation, arts and social activities. In the 2010/11 financial year the department provided funding of £14,836.

OFMDFM provides core funding to the Community Relations Council for the delivery of good relations work and work with the victims and survivors’ sector and is continuing to develop the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI). The public consultation on the draft programme concluded at the end of October and the information gathered is currently being analysed. Public consultation events took place in a range of 11 venues including an event in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown on Wednesday 22nd September. That event was attended by 48 People.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr R Beggs asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they last contacted the Presbyterian Church in Ireland regarding the Presbyterian Mutual Society.[R]

(AQW 2630/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We have been in continuous contact with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland since 2008, and have been working extremely diligently with the Coalition Government to secure the best deal possible for PMS savers.

Contact has also been maintained at official level on our behalf and our Ministerial colleagues have also had recent contact.

EU Directives

Mr A Ross asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the total expenditure incurred as a result of (i) a failure to implement EU directives; and (ii) implementing EU directives, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2689/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: OFMDFM has never been fined for failing to implement an EU directive. Implementation of EU directives is a core business activity for policy teams and costs for this work cannot be disaggregated from overall operating costs.

Discussions with Banking Institutions

Ms M Ritchie asked First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any discussions they have had with banking institutions, within the last six months, in relation to (i) assisting small to medium sized industries; and (ii) the development of new businesses and job creation, including the construction industry.

(AQW 2800/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We initiated a series of meetings with local financial institutions at the outset of the current economic crisis. This work has been maintained through the Cross Sector Advisory Forum. In addition DETI and DFP Ministerial colleagues have had a series of meetings with local banks to discuss their contribution to helping local companies weather the recession. They, along with their officials, have maintained regular contact with the banks and ensured that specific problems raised by businesses have been brought to the banks’ attention

North/South Implementation Bodies and Areas of Co-operation

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the recommendations from the review of the North/South Implementation Bodies and Areas of Co-operation, as provided for in the St Andrew's Agreement, will be presented to the Assembly.

(AQW 2806/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We refer the member to the response to AQO 663/11 made in the Assembly on 6 December and also to the statement made in the Assembly on 14 September following a plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council. The text of the response of 6 December is set out below.

Consultation on all aspects of the St Andrews Agreement review is under way in both jurisdictions. That includes considering the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) where mutual benefit would be derived. It is expected that the review group will move rapidly to conclude its work when the process is completed. A report by the review group will be considered at a future NSMC meeting, and, in accordance with statutory requirements, we will provide a report to the Assembly on the outcome of the meeting and on any decisions taken on the St Andrews Agreement review.

Commissioner's Office

Mr T Lunn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the total running costs of each Commissioner's Office within the remit of their Department, including the salary and expenses of each Commissioner, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2817/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The total running costs of each Commissioner’s Office within the remit of our Department, including the salary and expenses of each Commissioner, are set out below.

* There were 4 Commissioners until 17.02.10; there have been 3 Commissioners since 18.02.10

It should be noted that the total running costs given above also include the Commissioner’s salary and expenses which are then detailed afterwards.

Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on Disability

Ms A Lo asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Executive plans to publish its response to the report of the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on Disability.

(AQW 2833/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Our Department will be hosting a meeting of the Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) Working Group in January 2011 to inform the Executive’s response to the Group’s Report and ensure it is reflective of the views of representative disabled organisations and interested parties.

We intend to have the Executive’s draft response issued for consultation by the end of February 2011 and the final document in the public domain by June 2011.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ms A Lo asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the first monitoring report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be issued to the Office for Disability Issues.

(AQW 2836/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Our officials are currently working with the Office for Disability Issues (ODI), to co-ordinate the Executive’s contribution to the UN report on implementation and progress on the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD). The first interim report is due to be completed early in 2011.

BMF Business Services

Mr S Hamilton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how much their Department, and its arms-length bodies, have spent on BMF Business Services since May 2007.

(AQW 2862/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister:

The Department and its arms length bodies have spent £134,106 on BMF Business Services from May 2007 to date.

Equality Act 2010

Mr J Craig asked the First Minister and deputy First Ministerwhether he intends to introduce legislation along the lines of the Equality Act 2010, in relation to its provision on further protecting people with disabilities from discrimination.

(AQW 3035/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We are currently considering the options for legislative reform here and continue to legislate in order to provide legal protection against discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity. Since the restoration of devolution, we have introduced legislation to strengthen and improve the rights of individuals in a number of different areas.

It is vital that all legislation and not just that relating directly to disabled people, takes account of the needs of people with a disability. Government Departments must continue to lead by example through the comprehensive use of proofing and monitoring systems to ensure that both legislation and policy reflect the interests of people with a disability.

Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability

Mr C Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will publish their response, which was scheduled for October 2010, to the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability.

(AQW 3062/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Our Department will be hosting a meeting of the Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) Working Group in January 2011 to inform the Executive’s response to the Group’s Report and ensure it is reflective of the views of representative disabled organisations and interested parties.

We intend to have the Executive’s draft response issued for consultation by the end of February 2011 and the final document in the public domain by June 2011.

North-South Postal Arrangements

Ms M Ritchie asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQW 2653/11, what the timescale is for the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat to examine the issue of cross border postal services and arrangements; and if and when a Statement will be made to the Assembly on this issue.

(AQW 3136/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Since the NSMC Plenary in July 2010, the NSMC Joint Secretariat has met with representatives from Consumer Focus Post and InterTradeIreland to discuss cross-border postal services. InterTradeIreland has agreed to explore the extent to which this matter is impacting on business and cross-border trade by including relevant questions in their quarterly Business Monitor in January 2011. The results should be available at the end of February 2011.

A progress report on new and emerging cross-border mobility issues will be made to a future NSMC Institutional meeting. Following this, we will make a Statement to the Assembly.

Sustainable Development Commission

Mr B Wilson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they can give an assurance that they will continue to fund the Sustainable Development Commission.

(AQW 3174/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: On 22 July 2010, DEFRA unilaterally announced its decision to withdraw funding for the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). Having given due consideration to the implications of this decision, we have reluctantly accepted that it would not be feasible for the local SDC office to continue to provide the full range of services and we will cease funding of the organisation after 31^st March 2011.

We remain in discussions with counterparts in DEFRA and the devolved administrations to ensure sustainable development remains at the core of our work, and we are actively progressing our plans for future delivery of our sustainable development strategy.

Cutting Arms-length Bodies

Mr J Craig asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an estimate of the savings that can be made by cutting arms-length bodies; and for his assessment of the bodies likely to be targeted.

(AQW 3200/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: As set out in the Finance Minister’s draft Budget Statement on 15 December 2010, the Budget Review Group will review all arm’s length bodies against agreed criteria and bring a final set of recommendations to the Executive, in anticipation of a final decision before May, to facilitate a Bill to rationalise arm’s length bodies early in the next Assembly term.

This detailed work by the Budget Review Group over the coming months will enable an assessment of the financial implications to be made. All arm’s length bodies will be reviewed as part of this work.

Social Investment Fund

Dr S Farry asked e First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) when the strategy paper for the social investment fund will be published; (ii) the geographical areas that will benefit from the social investment fund; (iii) the criteria used to identify the recipient areas; (iv) the activities that will be supported; (v) the expected outcomes of the money invested; and (vi) whether funding will be underpinned by a commitment to ensure that the resources are used to complement existing support services and support providers who have a proven track record in addressing the issues facing the selected communities.

(AQW 3208/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: A key issue for the Executive will be the need to protect the most vulnerable in our society. We are currently leading the ongoing development of the Social Investment Fund and the Social Protection Fund programmes and will shortly bring proposals to the Executive to consider.

The specific spending areas to be addressed from the Social Investment Fund, and the detailed mechanisms to agree the associated logistics, will be for the Executive to agree following further advice based on the strategy paper currently being developed. The SIF will be targeted at tackling disadvantage.

Funding of £20 million per annum will be allocated across the Budget Period. The draft Budget proposals are subject to a public consultation period with views being sought from interested parties. The Executive expects to publish a final Budget document in February 2011.

Social Investment Fund

Dr S Farry asked First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) when the strategy paper for the social protection fund will be published; (ii) the geographical areas that will benefit from the social protection fund; (iii) the criteria used to identify the recipient areas; (iv) the activities that will be supported; (v) the expected outcomes of the money invested; and (vi) whether funding will be underpinned by a commitment to ensure that the resources are used to complement existing support services and support providers who have a proven track record in addressing the issues facing the selected communities.

(AQW 3209/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Executive remains committed to tackling the problem of disadvantage here.

Following on from the Executive’s commitment at Greenmount, a key issue will be the need to protect the most vulnerable in our society. The SPF will be to assist those in severe hardship as a result of the economic downturn.

OFMDFM is recommending that the Executive allocate £20 million in year one, with equivalent or increased funding in future years.

The details of the scheme are still under consideration.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Nitrates Derogation

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether the recent extension to the Nitrates Derogation until 2014 applies to the spreading of poultry litter on land; and if not, why not.

(AQW 2712/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): The European Commission Decision extending the derogation under the Nitrates Directive for the north of Ireland until 31 December 2014 applies only to the spreading of manure from grazing livestock, namely cattle, sheep and goats, on grassland farms.

The derogation does not apply to manure from pigs or poultry or poultry litter because spreading this material on land at rates above the general 170kg/Nitrogen/hectare limit set by the Directive will over supply nutrients, particularly phosphorus.

An over supply of nutrients would compromise the aim of the Directive which is to prevent water pollution and therefore does not meet the conditions for derogation.

Grassland farms wishing to operate under an individual derogation must make an annual application and meet specific criteria including submission of fertilisation accounts and additional nutrient management measures.

Rose Energy Incinerator at Glenavy

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how much her Department estimates it would cost annually to dispose of poultry litter produced in Northern Ireland lawfully, in compliance with the EU Nitrates Directive, if the proposed Rose Energy incinerator at Glenavy were not to go ahead.

(AQW 2713/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Over 200,000 tonnes of poultry litter is generated in the north of Ireland each year and the vast majority is spread on land. However, land spreading of poultry litter at current levels is not sustainable in the long term due to its high phosphorus content, the enriched phosphorus status of local soils and the resulting detrimental impact of excess phosphorus on water quality.

A working group of government officials and poultry industry representatives has recently investigated interim options for the storage and use of poultry litter pending the establishment of a sustainable long term technical alternative to land spreading. A range of options including alternative treatment systems available in Britain, the south of Ireland and further afield have been actively investigated. Conclusions of this work to date indicate that most potential options are either not available due to lack of capacity or are cost prohibitive.

Where capacity has been identified, the cost of disposal is estimated to be approximately £90 per tonne of poultry litter. However, the capacity available is limited and insufficient to deal with the amount of poultry litter currently spread on land in the north. There are also logistical and technical constraints.

As a viable option with sufficient capacity has not been identified an annual cost cannot be estimated.

Rose Energy Incinerator at Glenavy

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, given the legal challenges to the Rose Energy incinerator at Glenavy, whether her Department will continue to look at alternative technologies and methods for the lawful disposal of poultry litter to ensure that the poultry industry has a fallback position should the incinerator project fail to go ahead.

(AQW 2714/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department, in conjunction with the Agri Food and Bio-Sciences Institute, monitors the development of emerging technology and methods for the disposal of poultry litter on an ongoing basis. For example, my Departmental Scientific Adviser recently took part in a European conference on technologies for processing livestock manures held in the Netherlands.

In 2010, my Department, the Department of Environment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment established a working group with representatives of the poultry industry to investigate any viable interim options for the storage and use of poultry litter pending the establishment of a sustainable long-term technical alternative to land spreading.

The working group has actively investigated a range of options including alternative treatment systems available in Britain, the south of Ireland and further afield. Conclusions of this work to date indicate that most potential options are either not available due to lack of capacity or are cost prohibitive.

The Departments and the industry are currently conducting on-farm trials of low cost temporary storage measures for poultry litter prior to land spreading. However, land spreading of poultry litter at current levels is unsustainable in the long term due to its high phosphorus content, the enriched phosphorus status of local soils and the resulting detrimental impact of excess phosphorus on water quality.

Alternative technologies brought forward by industry are welcomed and will be considered by my Department.

Welfare of Animals Bill

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the timetable for the full implementation of the Welfare of Animals Bill.

(AQW 2767/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: It is my intention that the Welfare of Animals Bill will be enacted during the lifetime of this Assembly.

I propose that the Bill will be implemented in two stages. The first stage will be the application of the Bill provisions by my Department in respect of farmed animals, which is likely to commence in April 2011 when the necessary provisions are enacted by a commencement order.

The second stage will be the application of the Bill provisions by councils in respect of non-farmed animals i.e. domestic pets and horses. In acknowledgement that preparation is required by Councils for implementation, I have given a guarantee to the ARD Committee that the respective clause in the Bill, which gives councils the power to appoint inspectors to undertake enforcement, will not be commenced until 12 months after Royal Assent. On this basis enforcement by councils will not commence until April 2012, which will allow councils time to get the necessary systems and procedures in place and be ready to implement the new powers before they come into force. I have also guaranteed annual funding of £760k for the next budget period to allow Councils to implement these powers.

As part of the first stage, provisions will be enacted in the Bill, similar to the powers in respect of cruelty offences in the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 1972, to allow the PSNI to continue to deal with animals in distress. This will ensure that there is no discontinuity in the protection afforded to non-farmed animals in the 12 month period prior to Councils assuming the enhanced powers provided by the new Bill.

Stray Domestic Animals

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans she proposes to introduce for the care of stray domestic animals.

(AQW 2768/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department has no plans to introduce new proposals for the care of stray domestic animals.

My Department has legislative responsibility for stray dogs. Under the Dogs Order 1983 district councils may seize stray dogs. Councils must maintain dog pounds or make arrangements for the use of approved kennels to detain stray dogs. Councils are required to ensure that dogs are properly fed and maintained when in their care and that veterinary treatment is arranged where necessary.

Whilst the Dogs (Amendment) Bill, which has just completed Committee stage in the Assembly, does not change these requirements, it will strengthen and improve the existing arrangements to help tackle the issue of stray dogs and promote responsible ownership. The Bill will introduce compulsory microchipping of all dogs. In future, this will make it easier to identify stray dogs and trace them back to their owner. It will also mean that careless or irresponsible owners are more likely to be identified and penalised.

USPCA

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans her Department has in place with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the care of stray animals.

(AQW 2769/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department has no plans in place with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) for the care of stray animals.

The Dogs Order 1983 provides powers for district councils to seize stray dogs and requires councils to care for them by ensuring that they are properly fed and maintained, and that veterinary treatment is provided if necessary. I am aware that the USPCA assists some district councils with the impounding and re-homing of stray dogs.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the number of officials within her Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of her Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2792/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: While DARD has no officials directly involved in engagement with the European Parliament, Council, related committees or European commissioners the Department does employ a permanent member of staff based in the NI Executive Office in Brussels. The Department’s representative in Brussels follows all relevant policy developments and provides local intelligence, facilitating contacts with the European commission, the European Parliament and the permanent representative offices in Brussels.

In each of the last three financial years the Department submitted bids for EU grants and subsidy. Details of the funding granted are outlined below:-

Botulism in Cattle

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action will be taken by her Department to tackle botulism in cattle over the next twelve months.

(AQW 2831/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: While Botulism is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Order (1981), I recognise that it can cause significant problems for farmers. My Department attaches great importance to farmers adopting effective biosecurity measures for the prevention and control of this disease. My Department has issued advisory leaflets on botulism to all farmers and posters are on display at local DARD Veterinary offices, agricultural offices, auction marts, UFU and NIAPA offices to alert farmers to the dangers of botulism to their animals and advise them of appropriate control measures. This information is also available on the DARD website. In addition, supported by funding from DARD, AFBI offer a testing programme and samples from post-mortem cases are tested when the pathologist and history indicate that botulism is a likely diagnosis. If AFBI receive a sample that is positive for botulism Veterinary Service will arrange for public health advice to be given to the farmer. AFBI also issued a letter to all Private Veterinary Practices in 2009 reinforcing the latest advice and they will provide advice to herd owners.Over the next twelve months, my Department will continue to take appropriate action to ensure that herd owners are aware of the risks and receive advice in the event of a positive test for Botulism.

DARD Direct Facility in Newtownards

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the DARD Direct office proposed for Newtownards.

(AQW 2864/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In January 2009, I announced my intention to establish a network of DARD Direct offices across the north of Ireland, including one in Newtownards.Since then, my officials have been working with the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) to identify, secure, and develop office accommodation, which optimises alignment to the DARD Direct specification in each location. Four such offices are now fully operational and we are progressing plans to complete a further three this year. With respect to a DARD Direct office in Newtownards, it has not been possible to secure a property which meets our needs that could be delivered within this financial year. At this time, it is planned to progress a DARD Direct office for Newtownards in 2011/12, subject to the availability of funding.

Microchipping of Dogs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what tests have been carried out to ensure that the microchipping of dogs is efficient and effective.

(AQW 2891/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I am not aware of any recent tests of the efficiency and effectiveness of microchipping. However, the workability of the technology is demonstrated by its widespread use in many statutory and non-statutory animal identification regimes around the world (such as the EU pet passport disease-control system). In these islands the major registration databases hold the details of around 4 million animals, mostly cats and dogs. Owners, vets and animal welfare organisations testify that microchipping is an efficient and effective way of identifying lost, stray and stolen animals.

Microchipping of Dogs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the merits of the microchipping of dogs compared to the use of dog identification tags.

(AQW 2892/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The requirement for dogs to be identified as being licensed via collar tags is set out in the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations 1983. Collar tags provide a method of quick visual identification that allows a neighbour, for example, or a dog warden, to return the dog to its owner. If a collar tag is absent, a dog warden can see easily that a dog appears to be unlicensed. Unlike collar tags, which can become damaged or lost, microchipping provides permanent identification that allows for the rapid identification of lost, stray or stolen dogs. The two systems of identification are therefore complementary.

Microchipping of Dogs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what concerns she has regarding the potential for the duplication of ID codes when microchipping dogs, given that these ID codes are supposed to be unique.

(AQW 2893/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I have no concerns on this issue. The Bill empowers my Department to make regulations prescribing and regulating the microchipping of dogs. The regulations will include technical specifications – including compliance with relevant ISO technical standards. While it is technically possible, though exceptionally rare, for ISO compliant microchips to generate duplicate identification numbers, the widespread distribution of these chips and the huge number of microchips in use around the world means that in practice there is no scope for confusion or duplication.

Microchipping of Dogs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development why the compulsory microchipping of dogs is being considered when the methodology being proposed will not capture all the relevant data.

(AQW 2894/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Dogs (Amendment) Bill will require owners to have a microchip implanted in their dogs and to have their contact details accurately recorded on one of a number of databases operated by a range of providers across these islands.This methodology has been in use for many years now and allows for the rapid identification of lost, stray or stolen dogs. The relevant data is quickly and easily recorded either on-line, by phone or by post.

Microchipping of Dogs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her Department's position on the microchipping of dogs.

(AQW 2895/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Dogs (Amendment) Bill completed its Committee stage in the Assembly on the 29 November and will introduce the compulsory microchipping of dogs.I have given a commitment not to commence the relevant clause of the Bill until 12 months after royal assent. This will allow owners, database operators and local authority dog wardens time to prepare for the introduction of this mandatory system of identification.

Drainage Council

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (i) to outline the functions of the Drainage Council; and (ii) to detail its running costs in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2915/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: (i) The primary functions of the Council are:

• Designation of watercourses for maintenance by the Department under the Drainage (NI) Order 1973. De-designation of watercourses in cases where circumstances have changed or its maintenance at public expense is no longer justified. Consideration of Drainage/Flood Defence Schemes to ensure imparity and value of public money.
• Consultee role with regards to environmental aspects of Drainage/Flood Defence works or schemes.

A more detailed outline of the functions is readily available in the public domain and can be viewed at http://www.riversagencyni.gov.uk/index/ni-drainage-council.htm (ii) The members of the Drainage Council receive no salary but are entitled to reimbursement of travelling expenses. Therefore, the running costs for the Drainage Council consists only of venue costs and travel expenses.

The running costs for the last three years are:

Meat Imports

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from which countries (i) red meat; and (ii) white meat is currently imported; and how the meat is labelled when it is being sold.

(AQW 2944/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: From January this year my Department’s records show that the origin of red meat imported directly came from New Zealand, Australia and Argentina while the white meat came from Thailand, Brazil and China. You will however appreciate that the vast majority of imports into the north come here indirectly, mainly through other EU Member States. My Department does not hold details of meat imports of EU origin as such products can move freely between Member States. Imports from countries outside the EU can enter through a Border Inspection Post in any Member State. Such imports are issued with a Common Veterinary Entry Document which permits them to move freely within the EU. It is therefore not possible to provide information on meat imported indirectly into the north of Ireland from non-EU countries. In relation to the labelling of meat sold, this is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency, in Belfast. My Department is responsible only for the EU-wide Beef Labelling Regulations which requires all beef in the supply chain to be labelled with specified traceability and origin information. This includes the country, or countries, in which the animal was born, reared and slaughtered in. Beef imported from outside the EU must also be labelled in accordance with these rules. Where all the compulsory information is not available in relation to non-EU imports, labels must state that the meat is not of EU origin and give the name of country in which the animal was slaughtered.

Passing of Herd Numbers

Mr T Elliott asked e Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether her Department will review the guidelines on the passing of herd numbers following the death of a holder to make it possible for a herd number to transfer from one keeper to another, such as from father to son.

(AQW 2961/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has no plans to review these guidelines which have now been in place for almost two years. It is also relevant that the number in question (which is not the keeper’s property, but merely a reference number used by DARD for administrative and disease control purposes) is not a "herd" number, but rather a "keeper" number and, being person-related, is not transferable under the current administrative systems, whether the keepers in question are alive, dead or as is possible were a number applies to several keepers, a combination.

East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether the additional funding required for the East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme, as part of the Connswater Community Greenway project, will be forthcoming from her Department within the 2011/12 construction programme, ensuring that people and properties are protected from flooding and the estimated £2m cost savings from the joint project realised.

(AQW 2965/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Funding for the flood alleviation element of the Connswater Community Greenway project from 2011/12 will be dependent on the outcome of the Executive budgetary process which is expected to be finalised in February 2010. I have secured £2m funding for this project in the current financial year and will continue to ensure that we gain the maximum benefit from whatever future funding is available.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her Department's policy on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems.

(AQW 3015/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The NI Environment Agency, an executive Agency within the Department of the Environment, is leading development on the Sustainable Drainage Systems policy. Rivers Agency is providing input to the process as a member of the SuDS working group. In the interim, Rivers Agency continues to administer consent to discharge under the Drainage Order from SuDS and provides advice to Planning Service in line with PPS15 when this drainage solution is part of a development proposal. Sustainable Drainage Systems will also be considered by DARD Rivers Agency during the development of the ‘Flood Risk Management Plans’ as required by the Floods Directive. These are due to be in draft by December 2014 and finalised in 2015 by which stage the DoE policy position should be clearer.

Brucellosis

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to AQW2340/11, whether this particular strain of brucellosis has been identified in any other EU member state.

(AQW 3025/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Because there is not an internationally agreed standard for B. abortus molecular strain typing, it is not possible to make comparisons between Brucella culture from different countries. Traditionally the bacteria responsible for bovine brucellosis, Brucella abortus, has been subdivided into a number of biovars, which can be thought of as high level ‘strains’. There is an internationally accepted procedure for biotyping and nomenclature of biovars which facilitates international comparisons. North of Ireland brucellosis breakdowns are currently demonstrating two biovars. The same biovars may be shared by different countries but are not sufficiently discriminating to enable meaningful comparisons between individual breakdowns.The approach currently being taken to the more refined classification of molecular typing of bacterial isolates of Brucella abortus (of which strain 12 is one example from dozens) is still under development and evaluation. There is currently no internationally accepted standard method for molecular typing of B. abortus isolates. To date, AFBI have tested only isolates from breakdowns from the north of Ireland and hence it is not possible to say categorically if this particular strain has been found in any other member state.

Countryside Management Scheme

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farm businesses that applied to join the Countryside Management Scheme in 2010 have been accepted.

(AQW 3130/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Over 4800 applications were received in March 2010. The number to be progressed depends on availability of funding which is not yet known.

Countryside Management Scheme

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the future role of the Countryside Management Scheme.

(AQW 3131/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The future role of the Countryside Management Scheme will continue to be as is set out in the Rural Development Programme (2007-2013):

• To support sustainable development of rural areas and to respond to society’s increasing demand for environmental services; To introduce or to continue to apply agricultural production methods compatible with the protection and improvement of the landscape and its features, natural resources, the soil and genetic diversity; and
• To encourage and support agricultural production methods which protect and improve the quality of rivers and lakes, and contribute to the mitigation of and adaptation to the impact of climate change.

Looking further ahead, the Scheme beyond 2013 will be the subject of review in the context of the next Rural Development Programme period.

Countryside Management Scheme

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farm businesses in each constituency are currently in the Countryside Management Scheme.

(AQW 3132/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department does not hold information on the number of participants in the Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) in each constituency. However, I can provide you with the number of participants on a county basis.

Table 1 shows participation for the Countryside Management Scheme at 30 June 2010.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Mr K McCarthy asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether her Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011 -2015; and whether it will include details of departmental savings measures and their anticipated impact.

(AQW 3205/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The publication of the Executive’s draft Budget heralds the start of the public consultation process. The Executive has remitted to departments the task of producing detailed departmental plans. I now have to sit down with my officials and analyse the situation, take careful stock of the money at my disposal and the pressures which have to be funded.It will take some time to work out where exactly we stand but I intend to make a statement in the New Year and engage with stakeholders on the way ahead.

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Libraries NI

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how many posts at Senior Executive Officer level and above have been (i) removed; and (ii) created since the creation of Libraries NI.

(AQW 2656/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland): Libraries NI took on responsibility for the public library service on 1 April 2009. However, for the purpose of answering this question I have taken the ‘establishment of Libraries NI’ to have commenced when the Implementation Team was set up (in June 2007). Since then forty one posts at SEO level and above were removed:

• Eleven library staff who would have been eligible to transfer to Libraries NI (under the TUPE* transfer scheme) from the five Education and Library Board’s and were declared redundant on 31 March 2008.
• 13 library staff who would have been eligible to transfer to Libraries NI (under the TUPE transfer scheme) from the five Education and Library Board’s and were declared redundant on 31 March 2009.
• A further 17 were identified in the roll out of the Libraries NI management structure and these were released on 31 March 2010.

It is planned that a further eleven posts will be declared redundant before 31 March 2011, pending DFP approval.Twenty posts at Senior Executive Officer level and above have been created since 1 April 2009.^*Transfer of Undertakings (protection of Employment) Regulations

BMF Business Services

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much his Department, and its arm length bodies, have spent on BMF Business Services since May 2007.

(AQW 2672/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: In the period May 2007 to November 2010, the Department and its Arms Length Bodies has spent the following amount on BMF Business Services:Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure including ALBs £40,885

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2793/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: There are currently no officials from within my Department directly engaged with European political institutions.Details of applications for European funding made by DCAL and associated Arms Length Bodies in the last three years are set out in the Table at Annex 1.

Velodrome Project, Downpatrick

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an update on the proposed velodrome project for Downpatrick, including when a decision will be made on the location and the amount of funding that will be allocated to the project.

(AQW 2996/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Velodrome project is being considered under the Elite Facilities Programme (now known as the Major Facilities and Infrastructure Programme).The second phase of this Programme required successful bidders to produce an outline business case (OBC). Projects selected to proceed to that stage were Down District Council (velodrome), Ballyholme Yacht Club (sailing), Lisburn City Council (volleyball and basketball), Antrim Borough Council (athletics) and Wilmar Leisure (tennis).However, you will be aware from my press release issued on 21 December 2010, regarding the impact of the draft Budget 2011-2015 on my Department’s activities, that my capital allocation does not allow for these major sports facilities to be taken forward at this time

Irish Language Strategy

Mr Pat Sheehan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, given that a commitment was made over three years ago, when he intends to bring forward an Irish language strategy.

(AQW 3034/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: I am not and will not be bringing forward an Irish Language Strategy. However, considerable work has been done on a Regional or Minority Languages Strategy for the Ulster-Scots language, culture and heritage and the Irish language to meet the requirements stipulated in the Northern Ireland Act. There remains an outstanding issue in relation to culture in the classroom which I hope to progress with the Minister of Education. I will bring forward the Strategy when this issue has been resolved.

Killyleagh Library

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how many people have used the Killyleagh Library in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3064/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The following table shows the number of people who have visited Killyleagh Library and the number of active borrowers who have used Killyleagh Library in each of the last five years.

Killyleagh Library

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much Libraries NI has spent on (i) infrastructure improvements; and (ii) new stock, at Killyleagh Library in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3065/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The attached table shows how much Libraries NI has spent on infrastructure improvements and new stock at Killyleagh Library in each of the last five years.

* Figures provided by the South Eastern Education Library Board (SEELB).

Arts and Disability Forum

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether the Arts and Disability Forum is considered a front-line service.

(AQW 3069/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Arts Council recognises that the Arts and Disability Forum, along with other funded organisations that work with people with disabilities, fits well within the Arts Council Strategy and the Arts and Disability Policy.

Justice Bill: Sport

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, given that the sections of the Justice Bill which deal with football issues and spectators have not been subject to an equality impact assessment and may constitute an infringement of the rights of a Section 75 group and result in unnecessary legal costs should they be challenged in the courts, whether he supports the inclusion of these sections in the Bill; and what steps he will take to review the process that has led to this situation.

(AQW 3088/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: I have already stated publicly that I support the introduction of legislation that will help organisers of major Football, Rugby and GAA matches protect existing and future fans from certain forms of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour which can, on occasion, cause disruption at or around games. I also believe that the sports law and spectator behaviour sections of the current Justice Bill seek to deal with the key areas that currently require legislative consideration. The subjection of these sections of the Bill to an equality impact assessment, however, has been and remains a matter for the Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA. I am, nonetheless, aware that the original sports law and spectator behaviour policy proposals were subjected to an equality screening exercise and that, subsequently, an Impact Assessment was carried out on the entire Justice Bill including those sections dealing with sports issues. I also understand that neither the screening exercise nor the Impact Assessment concluded that any of the sports related proposals constituted an infringement of the rights of any Section 75 group. Rather, it was concluded that they would have a positive impact on all Section 75 groups and would help promote good community relations by tackling certain forms of misbehaviour which can both arise from, and lead to, poor community relations. Any review of the process that led to this conclusion is a matter for the Minister of Justice in the first instance.

Libraries in the North Down Area

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how many books were lent by each library in North Down in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3109/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The information requested is set out in tables attached at Annex A.

Annex A

Financial Year 2005 – 2006

Financial Year 2006 - 2007

Financial Year 2007 – 2008

Financial Year 2008 – 2009

Financial Year 2009 – 2010

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether his Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011 -2015; and whether it will include details of departmental savings measures and their anticipated impact.

(AQW 3139/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: It is certainly my intention to publish details of my Department’s settlement, including Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the announcement of the draft Budget. However, given the number and variety of the sponsored bodies which will have to prepare these plans, there may be some slippage with some detail on saving delivery plans.

Down District Council's Velodrome Application

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure when a decision will be made on Down District Council's velodrome application, under the Elite Facilities Programme.

(AQW 3172/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Velodrome project is being considered under the Elite Facilities Programme (now known as the Major Facilities and Infrastructure Programme).The second phase of this Programme required successful bidders to produce an outline business case (OBC). Projects selected to proceed to that stage were Down District Council (velodrome), Ballyholme Yacht Club (sailing), Lisburn City Council (volleyball and basketball), Antrim Borough Council (athletics) and Wilmar Leisure (tennis).However, you will be aware from my press release issued on 21 December 2010, regarding the impact of the draft Budget 2011-2015 on my Department’s activities, that my capital allocation does not allow for these major sports facilities to be taken forward at this time

Libraries NI

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the scope and purpopse of the current review of the ten libraries, including which libraries are under review and the terms of reference.

(AQW 3175/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Libraries NI is currently involved in reviewing its service provision across the entire public library estate.The review is a three stage process:

• A review of the library estate in Greater Belfast; A review of the library estate in the rest of Northern Ireland; and
• A review of mobile library provision across Northern Ireland.

The evaluation criteria for the review, sub-divided into a number of specific criteria seek to identify libraries that are:

• Fit for purpose; Capable of delivering on the vision of Libraries NI; In the right location; and
• Sustainable.

Following a detailed Business Analysis of the 76 libraries which formed the subject of Stage 2, the following 10 libraries were identified as not meeting the criteria as set out above:

• Carnlough Draperstown Fintona Gilford Kells and Connor Killyleagh Moneymore Moy Richill
• Greystone

The findings of the report were approved by the full Board on the 9 December 2010.These reviews are operational matters for Libraries NI; the Board of which includes councillors from my own party, the SDLP, Sinn Fein and the UUP. A full public consultation on the Review proposals will commence on 10 January 2011 and will run for 12 weeks. As part of this process a series of meetings will be arranged, at which Libraries NI will discuss the proposals with library users, staff and the Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee.Nothing has been finalised by the Libraries NI Board at this stage and I would encourage everyone with an interest in libraries to participate in the consultation process. This will help ensure that in the future Northern Ireland has a modern, accessible and excellent library service.

Library Provision in Killyleagh

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his future plans for library provision in Killyleagh.

(AQW 3181/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Library services in Killyleagh are being considered within Libraries NI’s ongoing strategic review of the libraries estate.A full public consultation on the Review proposals will commence on 10 January 2011 and will run for 12 weeks. As part of this process a series of meetings will be arranged, at which Libraries NI will discuss the proposals with library users, staff and the Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee.Nothing has been finalised by the Libraries NI Board at this stage and I would encourage everyone with an interest in libraries to participate in the consultation process. This will help ensure that in the future Northern Ireland has a modern, accessible and excellent library service.This is an operational decision to be made by Libraries NI.

Department of Education

Maghera High School Site

Mrs M O'Neill asked e of an agreed Area Based Planning strategy, what measures she has instructed her officials to take to ensure that the vacated Maghera High School is retained in public ownership for continued redeployment as part of the schools' estate.

(AQW 2470/11)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): Is le Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirthuaiscirt é iarshuíomh Magherafelt High School agus caithfidh siad cloí leis an treoir polasaí a d’eisigh Láraonad Comhairleach na Seirbhíse um Thalamh agus Réadmhaoin.The North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB), which owns the former Maghera High School site, must adhere to the policy guidance issued by the Central Advisory Unit of Land and Property Services. This requires all owners of public sector property to keep their land holdings under continual review and to release surplus property with the least possible delay, subject to the need to realise the best value for the Public.My Department is in liaison with the Board and the Land and Property Service on the timing of the potential disposal of the Maghera High School.

Teachers

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of teachers who left teaching and received an enhanced redundancy package and were then employed in (i) a temporary post; or (ii) a full-time permanent position in each of the last three academic years, broken down by gender.

(AQW 2538/11)

Minister of Education: Please see table below:

Spreagann an Roinn fostóirí chun tosaíocht a thabhairt do mhúinteoirí nua-cháilithe nó do mhúinteoirí cleachta neamhscortha atá ag iarraidh filleadh ar fhostaíocht, nuair is féidir, agus folúntais post á líonadh. Ina theannta sin, thug an Roinn comhairle d’fhostóirí nár chóir dóibh múinteoirí scortha a athfhostú le clúdach gearrthéarmach a dhéanamh ach amháin nuair nach bhfuil múinteoirí nua-cháilithe agus múinteoirí cleachta neamhscortha le fáil.My Department exhorts employers to give preference, wherever possible, to newly qualified teachers (NQTs) or experienced non-retired teachers seeking to return to employment when filling vacancies, including those of a temporary nature.  My Department has also advised employers that retired teachers should only be re-employed to provide short-term cover where NQTs or experienced non-retired teachers are unavailable.

Education and Skills Authority

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education to detail all costs incurred, to date, for setting up the Education and Skills Authority, including staff salaries and expenses.

(AQW 2558/11)

Minister of Education: Leagtar amach sa tábla thíos sonraí ar na costais go dtí seo i leith bhunú an Údaráis um Oideachas agus Scileanna:

Details of the costs to date in respect of the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority are set out in the table below:

*Figures for 2010-11 are as at 31 October 2011.

These costs are an ‘invest to save’ measure. The establishment of the ESA will release £20 million per year from unnecessary bureaucracy, and will provide more effective arrangements for raising standards; planning the education estate; and ensuring access to the curriculum on the basis of equality.

New Build for Lurgan College

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education for an update on her Department's new plan for post-14 education provision in the Lurgan and Craigavon area, which is impeding the provision of a new build for Lurgan College.

(AQW 2559/11)

Minister of Education: Is ceist a bhaineann le húdaráis bhainistíochta na scoileanna é socrú na bpleananna um sholáthar oideachais iar–14 i gceantar an Lorgain agus Craigavon agus is fúibh moltaí a dhéanamh a d’fhéadfainn measúnú a dhéanamh orthu.Plans for the provision of post-14 education in the Lurgan and Craigavon area are a matter for the school managing authorities to determine and bring forward proposals for my consideration. My Department sets the policy context within which proposals can be brought forward and aims to put in place education provision on an area basis that is sustainable and viable in the long term. Our focus remains on ensuring that, at the age of 14, young people in the Craigavon area and across the north, will be able, through the Entitlement Framework, to access a much broader, better balanced and more economically relevant range of courses. My Department has asked the SELB to review the capital investment needs of Lurgan College, within the wider context of delivery of the Entitlement Framework by all schools, with the view to bringing forward a strategic plan for the whole area. The plan is awaited.Additionally, we continue to provide support via the school managing authorities in the area, to the Craigavon Area Learning Community and to the individual schools within it to help them plan and co ordinate their curricular offer in a coherent manner that expands options for young people, reduces duplication of often costly provision and provides increased opportunities for teachers and young people to come together to learn with and from one another.

Funding of Preparatory Schools

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 7575/10, when the Equality Impact Assessment on the funding of preparatory schools will be published.

(AQW 2560/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an tuairisc um Measúnacht Tionchair an Chomhionannais (EQIA) sa chéim dheireanach de chur i gcrích. Baineann an tuairisc seo leis an mholadh le maoiniú a bhaint ó ranna ullmhúcháin na scoileanna gramadaí.The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) report on the proposal to withdraw funding from the preparatory departments of grammar schools is in the final stages of completion. My Department will shortly be writing to all those who participated in the consultation to advise of the EQIA’s publication on the Department’s website.

Vacant School Places

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the current number of vacant school places in each primary school, in North Down and Ards.

(AQW 2561/11)

Minister of Education: Mionsonraítear sna táblaí thíos líon na n-áiteanna folmha scoile i ngach bunscoil i gceantair Chomhairle Ceantair Dhún Thuaidh agus Chomhairle Ceantair na hArda.The number of vacant school places in each primary school, in North Down and Ards District Council areas is as detailed in the tables attached.Figures provided have been derived from approved enrolment number against actual enrolment at the census date (8 October 2010) and exclude pupils in receipt of a statement of special educational needs and pupils admitted to Year 1 on appeal as they are admitted over and above a school’s approved admissions / enrolment.

North Down District Council

Ards District Council

Connor House Preparatory School, Bangor

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the total cost of transferring pupils from Connor House Preparatory School, Bangor to other primary schools.

(AQW 2562/11)

Minister of Education: As an 85 dalta atá ag freastal ar Connor House, beidh 19 dalta ó Bhliain 7 ag aistriú go dtí leibhéal iar-bhunscolaíochta i mí Mheán Fómhair 2010.Of the 85 pupils currently attending Connor House, 19 Year 7 pupils will transfer to post primary education in September 2011. As it will be for parents/guardians to decide which school they wish to send their child to, it is not possible to accurately project the total cost of transferring the remaining 66 pupils from Connor House to other primary schools. Some parents/guardians may choose to send their child to a primary school, whilst others may choose another preparatory department. The level of funding and therefore cost is not the same in each case.

Artworks

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister of Education to detail the value of the artworks that her Department currently has (i) on display; and (ii) in storage.

(AQW 2619/11)

Minister of Education: Tá na saothair ealaíne sa Roinn Oideachais ar iasacht ó Bhailiúchán Ealaíne an NICS. Is le Rannán Réadmhaoine na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra (DFP) é an bailiúchán agus is iad a bhainistíonn é. The Department of Education’s artworks are on loan from the NICS Art Collection which is owned and managed by Properties Division in the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). As this is a DFP asset, all on loan artworks will be covered in DFP’s own response to this question.

Training Lip Reading Teachers

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education what plans are in place to ensure a pathway is in place for training lip reading teachers.

(AQW 2677/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tugtha le fios dom ag Príomhfheidhmeannaigh na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlann nach múintear léamh beola ar bhonn foirmiúil chuig daltaí lagéisteachta sna scoileanna. Tuigim gur ceann de na scileanna is riachtanaí é an léamh beola do dhaoine fásta a bhfuil lagéisteacht orthu agus iad níos sine in aois.I have been advised by the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that lip reading/speech reading is not formally taught to hearing impaired children in schools. I understand that lip reading/speech reading may be a skill most required by adults who have acquired a hearing impairment later in life. There is not, therefore, any pathway in place for training teachers in lip reading techniques.

School Maintenance Contracts

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education what measures are employed by (i) her Department; (ii) the Education and Library Boards; and (iii) other organisations within the education sector to ensure that school maintenance contracts are awarded on a value for money basis without compromising on the quality of the materials used or work done.

(AQW 2705/11)

Minister of Education: My Department seeks to ensure that all procurement is carried out in line with Public Procurement Policy as approved by the Executive in 2002 and in accordance with the principles of best practice. The Department of Finance & Personnel Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) advises and assists the Department on all matters regarding procurement. CPD issues approved procedures and procurement guidance directly to the Centres of Procurement Excellence, which includes the Education and Library Boards and other Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). My Department holds regular accountability meetings with the ELBs and other Non Departmental Public Bodies in the education sector at which procurement issues are discussed. Tá na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann agus na heagraíochtaí eile cuí san earnáil oideachais freagrach as a chinntiú go bhfuil córais ann a chinntíonn go gcloíonn gach gníomh fála, bronnadh an chonartha cothabhála san áireamh, le reachtaíocht fála agus go soláthraítear luach ar airgead. ELBs and other appropriate organisations within the education sector are responsible for ensuring systems are in place to ensure that all procurement activity, including the award of maintenance contract, is compliant with relevant procurement legislation and delivers value for money.

Education Other Than At School Service

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education (i) how Education Other than at School provision is organised in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area; and (ii) for her assessment of this provision.

(AQW 2747/11)

Minister of Education: Tuigim ó Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirdheiscirt (SEELB) go n-eagraítear a sholáthar Oideachas Seachas Oideachas Ar Scoil (EOTAS) ar bhonn geografach le hIonaid Chomharsanachta Oideachais sa Chaisleán Riabhach, in Ard Mhic Nasca agus i nDún Pádraig. I understand from the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) that its Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) provision is organised on a geographical basis with Neighbourhood Education Centres based in Castlereagh, Holywood and Downpatrick. There is a contract with Lagan Valley Project to provide a service. There is also provision for Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 pupils at Longstone Special School for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) (Beechcroft Unit), and Lakewood and Ardmore House schools. In addition, the SEELB provides home tuition for those pupils who are out of school for more than 6 weeks and support for school-aged mothers.The Education and Training Inspectorate’s (ETI) report of an evaluation of Alternative Education Provision (AEP) and EOTAS in the SEELB, published in April 2008, concluded that "overall, the AEP in SEELB makes good use of its available resources and provides good value for money. The provision has major strengths and is consistently good. The SEELB and the wider community can be confident in the quality and effectiveness of the provision. No follow-up inspection is required".

Education Other Than At School Service

Mr P Weir asked e Minister of Education whether there are any plans to change the Education Other than at School provision in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area; and (ii) what consultations are planned with staff and stakeholders.

(AQW 2748/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tugtha le fios dom ó Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirdheiscirt (SEELB) go bhfuil an post ‘Ceannaire Sholáthar Oideachais Eile’ (AEP) (an bainisteoir oibríochtúil) ar fáil agus go ndéanfar agallaimh roimh an Nollaig leis an phost seo a líonadh.I understand from the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) that the post of Head of Alternative Education Provision (AEP) (the operational manager) is vacant and interviews for a replacement will take place before Christmas.The SEELB has also advised that the management structure for AEP is currently being reviewed and should this require any significant change, a development proposal would be required. This would be carried out in accordance with relevant Education Orders and Department of Education guidance. If this is a requirement, consultation will take place with all of the relevant stakeholders. Any review will be predicated on improvement to enhance day-to-day management of the provision.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of officials within her Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of her Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2810/11)

Minister of Education: Is féidir liom a dheimhniú nach bhfuil duine ar bith de mo chuid feidhmeannach i dteagmháil le hinstitiúidí polaitíochta na hEorpa faoi láthair. I can confirm that none of my officials are currently involved in engagement with European political institutions. In addition, I can also confirm that the Department of Education submitted three applications for EU funding from the EU Peace III Programme in 2008 but none of these applications were successful.

Admission Criteria of Nursery Schools and Units

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education whether equality legislation applies to the admission criteria currently used by nursery schools and nursery units.

(AQW 2838/11)

Minister of Education: Tá réimse reachtaíochta comhionannais ann agus níl baint ag gach cuid de le critéir iontrála a úsáideann naíscoileanna agus aonaid naíscolaíochta. Mar shampla, ní shainmhínítear scoileanna mar údaráis phoiblí chun críocha Alt 75 den NI Act 1998 agus mar sin de, ní bhaineann an reachtaíocht seo le critéir iontrála a úsáideann naíscoileanna agus aonaid naíscolaíochta.There is a range of equality legislation and not all of it will apply to admissions criteria used by nursery schools and nursery units. For example, schools are not defined as public authorities for the purposes of Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 therefore this legislation may not apply to admissions criteria used by nursery schools and nursery units.Responsibility for drawing up admissions criteria rests entirely with the Board of Governors of each nursery school/unit and the criteria reflect the Governors' priorities for admission. There is, however, a duty upon the Governors to ensure any admissions criteria are legally based and compliant with relevant equality legislation. Equality legislation which is relevant in this instance includes:

• The Human Rights Act 1998 which requires public bodies including schools to act in a manner that is compatible with human rights.
• The Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (NI) 2005 which makes it unlawful for a school to discriminate against a disabled person in the arrangements it makes for determining admission to the school.
• The Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 which makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin in a number of fields including education.
• The Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976 which makes it unlawful to discriminate against an individual on the grounds of his or her sex in a number of fields including education.

Uptake of Free School Meals in Primary Schools

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister of Education to detail the level of free school meal uptake among primary school children in each Education and Library Board area.

(AQW 2858/11)

Minister of Education: Athraíonn líon na bpáistí a fhaigheann saorbhéilí scoile ó sheachtain go seachtain.

The number of children taking school meals varies from week to week. However, information collected annually from the School Meals Census provides a snapshot of the numbers taking meals on the day on which census information is gathered. The most recent figures available, for primary school pupils, taken from the 2009 census were as follows:

Grades of School Leavers

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of school leavers resident in the Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Area who achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths, in each of the last five years for which data are available.

(AQW 2883/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an freagra le fáil sa tábla thíos. Tabhair faoi deara le do thoil nár bailíodh an t-eolas go dtí an bhliain acadúil 2005/06 ar aghaidh agus mar sin de, níl ach eolas do cheithre bliana ar fáil sa tábla.The answer is contained in the table below. Please note that the data were only collected from the 2005/06 academic year onwards therefore only fours years of data are contained in the table.

Number of school leavers resident in Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Area achieving at least 5 GCSEs A*-C (inc. equivalents) including English and Maths by school type 2005/06 to 2008/09

Source: School Leavers Survey

Grades of School Leavers

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of grammar school leavers resident in the Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Area who achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths, in each of the last five years for which data are available.

(AQW 2884/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an freagra le fáil sa tábla thíos. Tabhair faoi deara le do thoil nár bailíodh an t-eolas go dtí an bhliain acadúil 2005/06 ar aghaidh agus mar sin de, níl ach eolas do cheithre bliana ar fáil sa tábla.The answer is contained in the table below. Please note that the data were only collected from the 2005/06 academic year onwards therefore only fours years of data are contained in the table.

Number of school leavers resident in Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Area achieving at least 5 GCSEs A*-C (inc. equivalents) including English and Maths by school type 2005/06 to 2008/09

Source: School Leavers SurveyChris Hughes

Lurgan College

Mr S Anderson asked the Minister of Education, whether her Department has received any correspondence from political representatives opposing a new school building for Lurgan College.

(AQW 2897/11)

Minister of Education: Fuair mo Roinn comhfhreagras ó ionadaí polaitiúil chuir i gcoinne na scéime molta caipitiúla oibreacha do Lurgan College cheal plean fhoriomláin ceantair um sholáthar iarbhunscolaíochta san earnáil rialaithe i gceantar na Lorgan.My Department is in receipt of correspondence from one political representative which opposed the proposed capital works scheme for Lurgan College in the absence of an overall area plan for post-primary provision in the controlled sector in the Lurgan area.On 10 August 2009, DE advised SELB that it was unable to approve the EA for Lurgan College as it did not sufficiently take into account the wider education policy framework in relation to Sustainable Schools and the delivery of the Entitlement Framework (EF). In writing to the SELB on 2 October 2009, DE asked SELB to reconsider the proposal in the wider context of delivery of the EF in the Craigavon area (Lurgan and Portadown) and to set out clearly how this development will contribute to the delivery of high-quality and sustainable provision on an area basis. The revised EA is awaited

School Closures

Mr S Anderson asked the Minister of Education how many schools have closed at least once in the last two months due to adverse weather conditions.

(AQW 2901/11)

Minister of Education: I rith na míonna Deireadh Fómhair agus Samhain 2010, chuardaigh 52 scoil faomhadh na Roinne le haghaidh dúnadh speisialta, ar feadh lae amháin ar a laghad, mar gheall ar dhrochaimsir. During the months of October and November 2010, 52 schools sought the Department’s approval for at least one exceptional closure day due to adverse weather conditions.Clearly the month of December caused further challenges for schools and the information regarding applications for closure in December is currently being collated. Once this work has been finalised a list of all schools closed will be placed in the Assembly Library.

Enrolment in Irish Medium Schools

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Education pursuant to AQW1212/11, how many pupils currently enrolled in Irish medium schools and units are from the Protestant community.

(AQW 2910/11)

Minister of Education: Tá 24 Gaelscoil ann. Tá sé taifeadta go bhfuil seisear daltaí ón phobal Protastúnach; 2,776 dalta ón phobal Caitliceach; 9 ndalta ar ‘Críostaithe eile’ iad; agus 157 dalta ar taifeadadh nár tugadh a gcreideamh nó nach raibh creideamh ar bith acu. There are 24 Irish medium schools. Six pupils are recorded as being from the Protestant community; 2,776 pupils from the Catholic community; 9 pupils recorded as ‘Other Christian’; and 157 pupils with religion recorded as ‘not stated/none’. There are 12 Irish medium units situated in English medium primary or post primary schools, with a total of 855 pupils. No pupils in those units were recorded as being Protestant; and, of the others, fewer than 5 have their religion recorded as something other than ‘Catholic’.Of the 410 children in funded places in the 29 Irish medium voluntary and private pre-school centres: 309 children have their religion recorded as Catholic; 101 children have their religion recorded as ‘not stated/none’. No children have their religion recorded as ‘Protestant’ or ‘Other Christian’.

Access to Pre-School Provision

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Education whether all pre-school children with special educational needs from the East Belfast constituency, who applied were able to access suitable local pre-school provision in the current academic year.

(AQW 2930/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tugtha le fios agam ag Príomhfheidhmeannaigh Bhoird Oideachais agus Leabharlann Bhéal Feirste agus an Oirdheiscirt go raibh rochtain ar sholáthar réamhscoile áitiúil oiriúnach ag gach páiste a bhfuil ráiteas ar riachtanais speisialta aige nó aici nó a bhfuil measúnú reachtúil á dhéanamh air nó uirthi maidir leis na riachtanais speisialta seo, sa bhliain acadúil reatha.I have been advised by the Chief Executives of the Belfast and South-Eastern Education and Library Boards that all children on whom a statement of special educational needs is maintained or are undergoing statutory assessment of their special educational needs were able to access suitable local pre-school provision in the current academic year.

Nursery School Places

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education how many nursery school places were available in (i) Newtownabbey; (ii) Carrickfergus; and (iii) Larne in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2932/11)

Minister of Education: Mionsonraítear sna táblaí thíos líon na n-áiteanna reachtúla naíscoile i mBaile na Mainistreach; Carraig Fhearghais; agus Latharna i ngach bliain le cúig bliana anuas.

The statutory nursery school places available in Newtownabbey; Carrickfergus; and Larne in each of the last five years are as detailed in the attached tables. The North Eastern Education and Library Board have advised that information in respect of the number of applications received is only available for the last four years and is also detailed in the attached tables. The number of applications detailed includes those in respect of children in their final pre-school year (who are the target of the provision) and those in their penultimate pre-school year.

Nursery School Places

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education how many applications were received for nursery school places in (i) Newtownabbey; (ii) Carrickfergus; and (iii) Larne in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2933/11)

Minister of Education: Mionsonraítear sna táblaí thíos líon na n-áiteanna reachtúla naíscoile i mBaile na Mainistreach; Carraig Fhearghais; agus Latharna i ngach bliain le cúig bliana anuas.

The statutory nursery school places available in Newtownabbey; Carrickfergus; and Larne in each of the last five years are as detailed in the attached tables. The North Eastern Education and Library Board have advised that information in respect of the number of applications received is only available for the last four years and is also detailed in the attached tables. The number of applications detailed includes those in respect of children in their final pre-school year (who are the target of the provision) and those in their penultimate pre-school year.

Closure of Schools

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Education whether any schools have closed in the last two months as a result of a heating system failure; and if so, to list the schools affected.

(AQW 2939/11)

Minister of Education: I mí Dheireadh Fómhair agus i mí na Samhna 2010, d’iarr na 5 scoil atá liostaithe thíos ar an Roinn Oideachais druidim eisceachtúil a fhaomhadh cionn is gur theip ar an chóras téimh agus d’fhaomh an Roinn na hiarratais seo.During the months of October and November 2010, the 5 schools listed below applied to, and received approval from, the Department of Education for an exceptional closure citing heating failure as a reason for their request.Blythefield Primary School, BelfastForth River Primary School, BelfastSt Brigid’s Primary School, AugherSt Finian’s Primary School, NewtownardsSt Peter’s High School, Derry

Sale of School Palying Fields and Sites

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of school playing fields and playgrounds that have been sold in each of the last 15 years, (ii) the names and addresses of these sites; and (iii) the price for which they were sold.

(AQW 2952/11)

Minister of Education: Sholáthair na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann an t-eolas sna táblaí thíos. The information is outlined in the table below as been provided by the Education Boards.

A total of five playing fields have been sold over the last 15 years. These have been identified as defined in your question. There may be other school playing fields and playgrounds sold but these would have formed part of the sale of the complete school property and hence are not included in the above table.

Abusive Pupils

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Education what measures are in place to protect teachers from abusive pupils.

(AQW 2981/11)

Minister of Education: Bíonn freagracht dhlíthiúil ar Bhord Gobharnóirí agus ar Phríomhoidí scoileanna le dea-iompar agus smacht a chothú.Board of Governors and Principals of every grant-aided school have a legal responsibility to encourage good behaviour and discipline. It is critical that a school’s position is clearly set out in its Discipline Policy and that the entire school community – pupils, parents and staff – are fully aware of it and the implications. Sanctions are available to schools, such as suspension and expulsion, for breaches of the school discipline policy, including verbal abuse of and physical attacks on school staff, and should be covered in school policies.The Department’s publication ‘Promoting and Sustaining Good Behaviour: A Discipline Strategy for Schools’ (1998) sets out a support model of progressively more intensive interventions for pupils whose behaviour is challenging. The Strategy is underpinned by guidance issued by the Department to schools in 2001, "Pastoral Care in Schools: Promoting Positive Behaviour". The Department has also issued guidance on the use of reasonable force to restrain or control pupils who are at risk of harming themselves or others.In addition, the Teachers' Negotiating Committee, of which the Department is a member, is currently in the process of finalising a workable, affordable teachers' health and well being strategy, aimed at promoting a more proactive approach to teachers’ health and wellbeing through an inclusive approach to best policy and practice on all aspects of workplace health. The Committee is also in the final stages of agreeing guidance on tackling violence against staff in schools which will include guidance on the handling, recording and reporting of violent incidents.

Children with a Full-time or Part-time Classroom Assistant

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Education how many children in mainstream education with (i) learning difficulties; and (ii) care issues currently have a full-time or part-time classroom assistant in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area.

(AQW 2986/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tugtha le fios dom ag Príomhfheidhmeannach Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirdheiscirt gur mar seo a leanas líon na ndaltaí i scoileanna príomhshrutha a bhfuil ráitis ar riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu agus a bhfuil tacaíocht á thabhairt dóibh ó chúntóir ranga lán aimsire nó páirt aimsire:I have been advised by the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board that the number of pupils with statements of special educational needs who are currently supported by a full-time or part-time classroom assistant in mainstream schools is:-

1. 177 with moderate/severe/specific learning difficulties

(ii)      1074 with care issues (medical/sensory/attention/behavioural difficulties)

School Maintenance Backlog

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to provide a breakdown of the current school maintenance backlog in each school in the North Down area.

(AQW 2989/11)

Minister of Education: Seo mar a leanas riaráiste cothabhála na scoileanna i dtoghcheantar an Dúin Thuaidh, de réir chórais bhainistíochta eastáit na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlann.According to the Education and Library Boards’ estate management system the maintenance backlog in schools in the North Down constituency is as follows:

School	Maintenance Backlog (£)
Ballyholme Primary School	3,500
Ballymagee Primary School	3,290
Ballyvester Primary School	6,920
Bangor Central Primary School	143,850
Bangor Grammar School	4,791,098
Bangor Nursery School	49,400
Bloomfield Primary School	306,105
Clandeboye Primary School	268,695
Clifton Special School	3,700
Crawfordsburn Primary School	20,250
Donaghadee Primary School	140,430
Glencraig Integrated Primary School	61,900
Grange Park Primary School	256,540
Holywood Nursery School	8,075
Holywood Primary School	222,594
Kilcooley Primary School	249,242
Millisle Primary School	119,335
Priory College	568,935
Rathmore Primary School	366,955
Redburn Primary School	599,405
St Anne's Primary School	18,210
St Columbanus' College	556,895
St Comgall's Primary School	3,130
St Malachy's Primary School Bangor	191,193
St Patrick's Primary School Holywood	296,145
Trinity Nursery School	45,050
Total

You will note that the total backlog figure for North Down is considerably larger than that detailed in a previous response to you in September 2009; this is mainly due to the addition of Bangor Grammar School to the table. This school was not previously included as it was due to be replaced as part of the Schools’ Modernisation Programme. A backlog figure for this school was obtained following a condition survey, carried out as part of my review of capital projects, earlier this year. This review was commissioned to ensure that the investment in the schools estate was consistent and supportive of the DE policy Framework.

Moderate Learning Difficulties

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils in each primary school in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area who currently attend a moderate learning difficulties unit.

(AQW 2993/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tugtha le fios dom ag Príomhfheidhmeannach Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirdheiscirt (SEELB) gur mar seo a leanas líon na ndaltaí atá ag freastal ar aonad dóibh siúd a bhfuil deacrachtaí measartha foghlama acu (MLD) i mbunscoileanna an SEELB:

I have been advised by the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) that the number of pupils who currently attend a moderate learning difficulties unit (MLD) in primary schools in the SEELB is as follows:

The above named primary schools are the only primary schools in the SEELB which have MLD units. All pupils who attend these units are registered at that primary school.

Glenwood Primary School, Belfast

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2586/11, given that her Department has categorised the proposed major capital works at Glenwood Primary School, Belfast as partially compliant with the Sustainable Schools policy, what action needs to be taken to ensure that the proposed works are fully compliant.

(AQW 3009/11)

Minister of Education: Ciallaíonn measúnú ‘páirt-chomhlíontach’ ar na Tionscadail um Mhóroibreacha Caipitil go bhfuil roinnt ceisteanna ann a bhaineann go díreach le scoil éigin nó a bhaineann le ceisteanna níos leithne maidir le soláthar inbhuanaithe sa cheantar sin.The assessment of major capital works projects as partially compliant means that some issues have emerged, which relate either directly to a school, or to wider issues about sustainable provision in that area.In the case of Glenwood Primary School, my Department has asked the Belfast Education and Library Board to ensure that the proposed major capital works project is part of an area based solution, which aims to produce sustainable provision that serves the future needs of all primary school children in the Shankill area. My Department will continue to work closely with the board on this matter.

Springhill Primary School, Belfast

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2585/11, given that her Department has categorised the proposed major capital works at Springhill Primary School, Belfast as non-compliant with the Sustainable Schools policy, what action needs to be taken to ensure that the proposed works are fully compliant.

(AQW 3010/11)

Minister of Education: Ciallaíonn measúnú ‘neamh-chomhlíontach’ ar na Tionscadail um Mhóroibreacha Caipitil go bhfuil buarthaí móra ann faoin tionscadal atá molta faoi láthair agus go mbeidh athruithe de dhíth le díriú isteach ar cheisteanna a bhaineann go díreach leis an scoil nó a bhaineann le ceisteanna níos leithne maidir le soláthar inbhuanaithe sa cheantar sin.The assessment of major capital works projects as non-compliant means that there are major concerns about the project as currently proposed and reworking is required to address school specific or wider issues about sustainable provision in that area.In the case of Springhill Primary School, my Department has asked the Belfast Education and Library Board to ensure that the proposed major capital works project is part of an area based solution, which aims to produce sustainable provision that serves the future needs of all primary school children in the Upper Shankill area.

Draft Early Years (0-6) Strategy

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Education, following her decision to extend the consultation period on the draft Early Years (0-6) Strategy, when she expects the strategy to be implemented.

(AQW 3118/11)

Minister of Education: Is tréimhse ríthábhachtach i saol an pháiste iad na luathbhlianta agus tá sé riachtanach go bhfreastalóidh an Straitéis ar riachtanais gach páiste.The early years are a vitally important time in a child’s life and it is imperative that the Strategy that is delivered meets the needs and requirements of all children. There is clearly a significant interest among parents, schools and a range of stakeholders on the best way forward for early years provision and services in the coming years. I want all interested parties to know that they have had the opportunity to contribute to the debate and I have, therefore, extended the deadline for the consultation to 31 January 2011. The consultation to date has raised a wide range of important issues. It has identified a desire for a much broader based cross departmental Early Years Strategy which covers key services from 0-6 in an integrated fashion. While it would essentially be a decision for the Executive to decide to progress this I have written in the first instance to ministerial colleagues in both OFMDFM and DHSSPS to arrange a meeting to hear their views in order to help me decide how I wish to proceed. I do not wish to delay the publication and implementation of an Early Years Strategy any longer than is necessary. However, I want to ensure that the Strategy that is taken forward has taken careful account of the issues raised. Therefore I will wish to consider the timetable for the publication of the Strategy following the completion of the consultation, the analysis of the findings and my meetings with ministerial colleagues.

Capital Projects for the City of Londonderry

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education to detail the capital projects for the City of Londonderry that are awaiting approval.

(AQW 3182/11)

Minister of Education: Seo a leanas na cúig thionscadal i gceantar Dhoire atá ar an Phlean Soláthair Infheistíochta.In the Derry area there are currently 5 projects on the Investment Delivery Plan namely:-Belmont Special SchoolEbrington PSEglinton PSFoyle & Londonderry CollegeNew Buildings PSand a further 4 projects comprising 6 schools which are at the early stages of planning, namely:-Broadridge PSBunscoil CholmcilleGaelscoil Edain MhoirRosemount PS }St Anne’s PS } single projectSt Eugene’s PS }

Department for Employment and Learning

Honoury Degrees

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the cost incurred, including expenses, by each university for the provision of honorary degrees in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2728/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Mr D Kennedy): This is information that my Department does not hold. The funding provided by my Department can only be used for the purposes for which it is given and no funding is provided for awarding honorary degrees. The information provided by the universities is detailed in the table below. The University of Ulster could not provide costs for academic years 2005/06 and 2006/07.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2812/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: (i) For the purpose of this question, "European political institutions" is taken to refer to the European Council, the European Parliament or the European Commission. Five members of staff currently have direct contact with the European Commission on delivering on the implementation of European Social Fund (ESF) projects and the Transnational Network Project on Empowerment and Inclusion.(ii) In terms of the Department’s success rate in accessing European funding in the last three years:

• A total of €166 million ESF funding was allocated to Northern Ireland for the period 2007-2014 and the Department is the Managing Authority for these funds on behalf of the European Commission; and
• a total of €0.494 million "Transnational Network Project on Empowerment and Inclusion" funding was accessed in August 2009 for a period of 3 years.

Student Loans

Mr T Burns asked the Minister for Employment and Learning (i) what is the current interest rate on student loans taken out (a) before 1998; and (b) after 1998; (ii) for his assessment of the disparity in these rates; and (iii) to detail what representations he has made to the student loans company to correct this disparity.

(AQW 2968/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: I can advise that (i) for the current academic year 2010/11, the interest rate for student loans taken out (a) before 1998 (mortgage style loans) is 4.4% and (b) after 1998 (income contingent repayment loans) is 1.5%; (ii) the reason for the difference in the interest rates is that mortgage style loans and income contingent repayment loans are entirely distinct loan products which are governed by separate legislation and also have different loan repayment arrangements; (iii) as the interest rates for each loan type have been set in accordance with the relevant legislation, I have not made any representations to the Student Loans Company on this matter.

Sign Language Interpreters

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when training for sign language interpreters and tutors will commence.

(AQW 2976/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: I am committed to delivering the personal pledge of my predecessor to enhance course provision in sign language in Northern Ireland. My Department has taken receipt of proposals from potential delivery partners and is currently working with those partners to ensure that the training to be provided meets with the expectations of the sign language sector. This has necessitated, for example, a short feasibility study to address issues such as sustainability of provision and future developments within the interpreting profession.Subject to formal approval of expenditure by the Department of Finance and Personnel, it is my intention that preparatory course provision will be operational by June 2011 and that initial tutor and interpreter provision will commence in September 2011.

Re-aligning GCE A Level Equivalents

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) any correspondence which his Department has had with the Irish Universities Association in relation to re-aligning GCE A Level equivalents for entry to university in the Republic of Ireland, to take account of the introduction of the A* grade at GCE A2 Level; (ii) his Department's response to any such correspondence; and (iii) what action he intends to take to ensure that students from Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged.

(AQW 3073/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department has not had any correspondence with the Irish Universities Association in relation to re-aligning GCE A Level equivalents for entry to university in the Republic of Ireland, to take account of the introduction of the A* grade at GCE A2 level. However, I understand that the Council for the Curriculum, Assessment and Examinations (CCEA) is currently, with the support of the Minister of Education, pursuing the matter with the Irish Universities Association.I will be asking the Minister of Education to update me on the outcome of this issue, as I am concerned that students from Northern Ireland could be placed at a disadvantage when applying to universities in the Republic of Ireland.

Student Loans Company

Mr T Burns asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, for each of the last five years, to detail (i) the number of people who have been overcharged by, or made overpayments to the Student Loans Company: (ii) the total amount overcharged/overpaid; (iii) the average amount overcharged/overpaid per person; (iv) the number of refunds issued and the total amount refunded; and (v) the average time taken to provide full refunds for overcharges/overpayments.

(AQW 3114/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Due to the unavoidable time lag between income contingent repayment student loan deductions being made and the Student Loans Company receiving information from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, it is possible for students to over repay their loan before the Student Loans Company becomes aware that their repayments should stop. Students are never therefore "overcharged" and over repayments by students are refunded with interest by the Student Loans Company when borrowers’ accounts are reconciled at the end of the financial year.It is not possible to provide all the information requested broken down by each year but I can advise that over the last five full financial years from 2005/06 to 2009/10 (i) the number of Northern Ireland domiciled graduates who have made overpayments is 4,006; (ii) the total amount overpaid is £2,551,850; (iii) the average amount overpaid per person is £637; (iv) 3,084 customers have received refunds and the total amount refunded is £2,037,412; (v) No figures are held for the average time taken to provide full refunds for overpayments.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he can confirm that his Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011-2015; and whether it will include details of departmental saving measures and the potential impact of these measures.

(AQW 3143/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Following the delayed publication of the Draft Budget last week, my officials are working through the detailed implications for my Department over the four year Budget period. When that process is completed we will then be in a position to publish a detailed Savings Delivery Plan. In the interim, I will endeavour to publish an indication of the areas from which I may have to seek reductions in expenditure as soon as possible.

Antrim College

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what action he is taking to address access to further and higher education and vocational training within the South Antrim constituency since the closure of Antrim College; and what access is currently available.

(AQW 3194/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Northern Regional College’s Business Improvement Plan, which was commissioned by the College to examine its operations and improve efficiency, has presented proposals for the rationalisation of its estate. Whilst the plan includes the proposed closure of Antrim Campus in June 2011, the College has indicated that it intends to continue to have a presence in the Antrim area. To that end, it is pursuing a number of possible partnership arrangements with other local education providers, to enable it to continue to offer further education in Antrim, particularly to part-time students. A wide range of full time provision will also continue to be delivered through the College’s other campuses and outreach centres. The College has recently completed a new £10m project at Newtownabbey which will provide further education for full time students from the Antrim area. These measures will ensure that a comprehensive range of further education provision continues to be accessible to all those living in the area. Additionally, 52 training suppliers are contracted by my Department to deliver the ApprenticeshipsNI and Training for Success programmes throughout Northern Ireland, offering a wide range of vocational training provision. Whilst these programmes are demand led my Department provides a guarantee of a training place to all eligible participants who wish to avail of the opportunity, including those in the South Antrim constituency.The higher education institutions actively target potential students within the South Antrim constituency by promoting course provision through a wide variety of media. As a result, students from this area continue to access higher education provision at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Ulster, St. Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College. In addition Northern Regional College provides a range of higher education courses to students in the area.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Executive Office in Brussels

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any communication her Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 2746/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster): Individual communications between my Department and the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels (ONIEB) are not compiled. However, my Department has been in regular contact with ONIEB in relation to projects that need State Aid Approval. Also recently, matters relating to Regional Aid post 2013, a reduced rate of Corporation tax in Northern Ireland and the Presbyterian Mutual Society have necessitated contact with ONIEB. In addition, the Department liaised with ONIEB in relation to the following: (i) a visit to Brussels by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in October 2010 (ii) arrangements for the visit to Northern Ireland of Commissioner Marie Geoghan Quinn on the 12 November 2010 (iii) to use ONIEB facilities for a presentation on 2 December 2010 about the ISLES offshore grid study. In November 2010 ONIEB contacted (i) the Department's Consumer Affairs Branch to ascertain who would advise a consumer about a property deal in Bulgaria and (ii) the Department's Finance Division seeking clarification on a briefing request.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the number of officials within her Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of her Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2813/11)

1. Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: There are currently no DETI officials directly involved in engagement with
   European political institutions;
2. In each of the last 3 years, DETI has successfully accessed the following EU funding:

1. EU Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for NI 2007 – 2013

   DETI recorded expenditure on the Central EU Database is set out below. 50% of this expenditure is EU funded.

   2008-092009-102010-11*	Total
   £541,793£7,810,059£3,847,671	£12,199,523

   *The 2010-11 figure relates to the period 1 April – 30 November 2010 only. It is anticipated that further payments will be made by the end of March 2011.

   EU Peace and Reconciliation (Peace II) Programme 2000-2008

   A total of £5,783,111 (£2.4m of which was EU funding) was paid directly to 24 projects during financial year 2008-09.

2. Interreg IVA 2007-2013

The Department has received the following Interreg IVA funding in respect of Project Kelvin:

Direct International Routes between Belfast International Airport and Toronto

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether her Department, or its agencies, have provided funding to support direct international routes between Belfast International Airport and Toronto in each of the last three years; and whether there are any plans to provide such funding in the future.

(AQW 2962/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: No funding has been provided in the last three years to support flights between Belfast and Toronto. The development of new air services is primarily a matter for the commercial judgement of the airports working with the airlines to determine whether a route will be financially successful. In the absence of clear market failure, such as gave rise to the now closed Northern Ireland Air Route Development Scheme, any direct governmental involvement would be seen as market manipulation and be contrary to the current EU guidance on the provision of start-up aid to airports and airlines. However, the Canadian market is an important market for tourism to Northern Ireland and where an opportunity exists in such a market, Tourism Ireland will commit co-operative marketing funds in order to help secure a new, or re-instated, service.

Key Flight Routes from Northern Ireland's Airports

Mr G Savage asked e Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether her Department has a policy which sets out the criteria for funding for the creation and retention of key flight routes from Northern Ireland's airports, and if not, what consideration she has given to developing such a policy.

(AQW 2963/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The development of new air services is primarily a matter for the commercial judgement of the airports working with the airlines to determine whether a route will be financially successful. In the absence of clear market failure, such as gave rise to the now closed Northern Ireland Air Route Development Scheme, any direct governmental involvement would be seen as market manipulation and be contrary to the current EU guidance on the provision of start-up aid to airports and airlines. In this context my Department and the agencies funded by it, which include Invest NI, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland Limited, all actively work with Northern Ireland’s airports to provide assistance where possible.

Promotion of Tourism

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how much her Department has spent on the promotion of tourism in each constituency in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2975/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) expenditure on Marketing, Advertising & Promotion and Publications in each of the last three years is as follows:

Year:	Marketing, Advertising& Promotion:	Publications:	Total:
2007/08	£ 4,095,000	£ 221,000	£ 4,316,000
2008/09	£ 8,243,000	£ 411,000	£ 8,654,000
2009/10	£ 8,856,000	£ 155,516	£ 9,011,516
Total:	£ 21,194,000	£ 787,516	£ 21,981,516

This promotional expenditure is Northern Ireland wide, and not attributable to specific constituencies, regions or areas.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment when she intends to make public Mr Arthur Boyd's next six-monthly progress report on the affairs of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

(AQW 2987/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: A six-monthly progress report on the affairs of the Presbyterian Mutual Society was filed with the Registrar of Industrial and Provident Societies on 17^th December 2010 and covers the period 17^th May 2010 to 16^th November 2010. This is available for public scrutiny at the registrar’s office at Waterfront Plaza, Belfast and online: http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-registry-index/credit_union-society_search.htm.

Funding by Invest NI

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the companies that are currently funded by Invest NI in the (a) Down District Council; (b) Newry and Mourne District Council; and (c) Banbridge District Council areas; (ii) how much funding has been allocated to each company in each of the last three years; and (iii) the purpose of each allocation of funding.

(AQW 2998/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: During the period 1^st April 2007 to 31^st March 2010, Invest NI approved offers of assistance worth £35m to companies in the Down, Newry and Mourne and Banbridge District Council Areas (DCA). Table 1 shows the amount of assistance offered in each DCA in each of these 3 years. This represents the value of support which is expected to be paid towards business-related investment during the life-time of assisted projects.

TABLE 1: Invest NI Assistance Offered (£m) in Banbridge, Down, and Newry & Mourne DCAs (2007/08 – 2009/10)

The support offered by Invest NI over this 3 year period involved 844 projects. The resources needed to provide the requested information for each project would constitute a disproportionate cost. Therefore, the response is restricted to the 38 projects which were offered £100,000 or more that are already in the public domain and the publication of which will not harm the commercial interests of the company concerned. Table 2 provides details of those projects and the purpose of Invest NI’s support.

TABLE 2: Individual Details of Offers Over £100k made by Invest NI in Banbridge, Down, and Newry & Mourne DCAs (2007/08 – 2009/10)

The remaining 806 projects in Table 1 include 802 which were offered assistance of £8.27m, the majority of which was to indigenous companies.In addition, during the same period Invest NI also indirectly offered support of over £260,000 to nearly 1,000 new business starts through the Enterprise Development Programme (formerly the Start a Business programme), delivered in conjunction with Enterprise Northern Ireland. Table 3 shows the number of businesses and the associated assistance offered to these projects.

TABLE 3: New Local Businesses Assisted Under the Enterprise Development Programme in Banbridge, Down and Newry & Mourne DCAs (2007/08 – 2009/10)

Note: The new Enterprise Development Programme established in 2009 does not offer financial support to establish a business but provides training, advice and guidance.

Northern Ireland Electricity

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) for her assessment of whether it is consistent with current EU policy for the Irish Government owned Electricity Supply Board to acquire 100% of the Northern Ireland Electricity grid; and (ii) whether her Department has made any representations to the Irish Government in relation to this matter.

(AQW 3048/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: I am not aware of any EU policy obstacle to the sale of the Northern Ireland Electricity Grid system to ESB. Both the UK Office of Fair Trading and the Irish Competition Commission have examined the transaction, which is an entirely commercial matter between Arcapita-owned NIE and ESB, and have determined that there is no impediment to completing the transaction.I have made no representations to the Irish Government in relation to the specific EU issue raised by the Member. However, the Member is already aware that I have met with Minister Eamon Ryan and the Chairman and Chief Executive of ESB on a number of matters.

Proposed Sale of Northern Ireland Electricity's Grid

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what representations she, or her departmental officials, have made to the Irish Government in relation to the proposed sale of Northern Ireland Electricity's grid to the Electricity Supply Board.

(AQW 3050/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: As Energy Minister, I have responsibility for protecting the interests of energy consumers in Northern Ireland. I have, therefore, taken a close interest in the proposed sale of NIE to ESB and in July I met with Eamon Ryan, the Irish Energy Minister, to discuss the transaction.Subsequently, I, and my officials, have met with ESB senior management and have secured written commitments in relation to issues including the continued independence of NIE, a commitment to grid investment, and in relation to job security and pensions for NIE staff. These commitments, in a letter from the Chief Executive, have already been lodged in the Assembly Library.

Proposed Sale of Northern Ireland Electricity's Grid

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether she is aware that the sale of Northern Ireland Electricity's grid to the Electricity Supply Board will make it beyond the reach of any private intervention.

(AQW 3072/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The then Northern Ireland Electricity was floated on the stock exchange in 1993 and the public was able to trade in its shares. The Bahrainian-based bank Arcapita purchased Viridian Group in 2006, at which time the company ceased to have shares on the stock exchange.The sale of NIE is an entirely commercial matter and the Department has no formal powers to intervene in the transaction.

Regulation of the Home Heating Oil Market

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether she will bring forward measures to regulate the home heating oil market.

(AQW 3095/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Regulation has been viewed as unnecessary due to the competitive nature of the oil industry. The home heating oil markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland also are not regulated. Nor is it apparent that significant benefit could be achieved by regulation. Regulation would not protect Northern Ireland consumers from volatile movements in international oil prices and it would impose sizable regulatory costs on the oil supply and distribution sector. This comprises more than 250 companies employing 10,000 people across Northern Ireland. This cost would, in turn, be passed on to business and domestic users. However, I am alert to concerns about the cost of home heating oil, especially for those on low incomes, and my Department continues to monitor the oil supply and distribution network. Recent figures from independent energy consultants indicate Northern Ireland consumers have been able to buy their oil cheaper than consumers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

EU State Aid Approval

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) to explain the nature of the EU state aid approval needed for the Executive to carry out its rescue plan for the Presbyterian Mutual Society; (ii) what work has been done to achieve this approval to date; (iii) what are the stages of the approval and what is the current position; (iv) whether similar approvals were required and provided in relation to UK Government support for other banks and building societies; and (v) if and when EU approval is expected to be given.

(AQW 3135/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: State Aid approval is required for the £175 million loan element of the package. This is because the loan element does not pass the Commission's Market Economy Investor test. DETI officials have drafted the required State Aid notification documents, these have been signed off by HMT and the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and were formally notified, via the Commission’s electronic State Aid Notification Interactive (SANI) system, on 5 January 2011. The next stage of the State Aid process will involve the European Commission undertaking a detailed assessment to ensure the NI Executive’s package of assistance is compatible with the State Aid rules.   In all cases where the UK provided State Aid to banks and building societies, the aid was subject to a similar detailed assessment. The Commission's assessments and decisions can be accessed from the European Commission's State Aid Register. (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/register/).The Commission’s policy is to never comment on specific cases until a decision has been taken. It also states that the time it needs to arrive at a decision depends on many factors including the complexity of the case.  In this case, the BIS State Aid unit has advised that it could take the Commission some time to arrive at a decision.  This advice is based on the Commission’s ongoing workload relating to financial institution / banking cases as well as the complexity and uniqueness of this case, for example the fact that Presbyterian Mutual Society is not a bank. DETI will be working closely with UKREP, BIS and HMT to ensure that the Commission’s assessment process is as short as possible. Precise timings will become clearer as we work through the State Aid approval process.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Mr S Neeson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if she can confirm that her Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011-2015; and whether it will include details of departmental saving measures and the potential impact of these measures.

(AQW 3145/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My department plans to publish draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011-15, which would include details of departmental savings measures and the potential impact of these measures.

Broadband Upgrades

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, pursuant to AQW 168/11, which telephone exchanges in the South Antrim constituency have had broadband upgrades to date; and to detail the increase in the broadband speed as a result of each upgrade.

(AQW 3163/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Upgrades are taking place in 10 exchange areas in the South Antrim constituency ,Antrim, Crumlin, Dundrod, Templepatrick, Randalstown, Toombridge, Kells, Glengormely, Ballyclare and Whiteabbey. This work is ongoing with, to date some 60% of upgrades completed, which is in line with the project plan. Regarding the speeds available as a result of these upgrades, broadband speeds depend on a wide range of individual factors for consumers however the minimum services as specified in the contract are being delivered in those areas that have had an upgrade completed. Precise details can be found through the website www.fasterbroadbandni.com.

Regulator to Ensure the Fair Pricing of Oil

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether she has any plans to appoint a regulator to ensure the fair pricing of oil, given the level of dependency on oil as a primary heating source.

(AQW 3180/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Regulation of the Northern Ireland oil sector has been viewed as unnecessary due to the competitive nature of the oil industry. The home heating oil market in the rest of the UK is not regulated. Nor is it apparent that significant benefit could be achieved by regulation. Regulation would not protect Northern Ireland consumers from volatile movements in international oil prices and it would impose sizable regulatory costs on the oil supply and distribution sector.

Draft Budget

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for her assessment of the impact of the draft Budget on the construction industry.

(AQW 3185/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The level of capital investment funding available to the Executive is planned to fall over the next four years as a result of the 2010 national Spending Review, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 October 2010. Following the publication of the local draft Budget document on 15 December 2010, it is not possible at this stage to determine the impact on the construction sector, as departments are currently considering their draft Spending Plans. In addition, not all of the capital investment by Northern Ireland departments relates to construction activity.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether her Department intends to put proposals to the administrator of the Presbyterian Mutual Society in relation to setting out the Executive's plan to ensure that savers have their money returned.

(AQW 3189/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Yes. My Department plans to put the Executive’s proposals to the Administrator as soon as practically possible.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for an update on (i) plans to provide funds to the Presbyterian Mutual Society administrator for distribution to members; (ii) when members can expect to receive this assistance; and (iii) what level of financial assistance members can expect.

(AQW 3206/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: As announced in their recent Spending Review, the Coalition Government has agreed to both make a £175M loan facility available to the Executive and also contribute £25 million to a Mutual Access Fund (MAF) in 2011/12. Funding for the proposed solution has now been incorporated in the Executive’s draft budget and spending plans for the four year period 2011 – 2015 which were agreed on 14 December.A significant number of important steps still need to be taken before payments can be made. These include, in particular, making the necessary legislation for both schemes in the Assembly, the Administrator securing members’ and creditors’ agreement to the proposals as part of his formal Scheme of Arrangement, and securing EU State Aids approval to the Executive’s proposed loan. Details of payments to be made have not yet been finalised.

Department of the Environment

Transfer of Planning Functions

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of the Environment (i) to outline the level of funding his Department intends to allocate to local councils, as part of the transfer of planning functions; and (ii) whether he can confirm that the transfer of planning functions will be at zero cost to local councils.

(AQW 2566/11)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): The Executive has yet to agree the circumstances and timescale for the transfer of planning functions to councils. Arrangements for transfer will be determined in line with those decisions and will take account of resource issues.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of the Environment (i)| how many complaints have been made against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in the last 12 months; and (ii) how many of those complaints have been upheld after investigation.

(AQW 2778/11)

Minister of the Environment: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has received seven formal complaints. One complaint was upheld after investigation.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of the Environment how many cases the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has dealt with in the last 12 months.

(AQW 2779/11)

Minister of the Environment: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has received seven formal complaints. One complaint was upheld after investigation.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2811/11)

Minister of the Environment: A number of Departmental officials are currently engaged directly with European Institutions in relation to the implementation of EU Directives, infraction proceedings and monitoring programme requirements. However, at any one time, the level of engagement various greatly and is dependent on the nature of the matter and the current work programme.Officials are not directly engaged with European Union political institutions in relation to accessing EU funding. Instead they act in support of officials in the European Division of the Department of Finance and Personnel who liaise on behalf of all the departments.Through the INTERREG IIIA programme and the Building Sustainability Programme, EU Funding of £2.2 million was secured by the Department over the last three financial years as follows:

• 2007-08 £1,289,000 2008-09 £911,000
• 2009-10 Nil

Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of the Environment how may staff will be required to administer (i) license processing; and (ii) any other aspects of the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.

(AQW 2914/11)

Minister of the Environment: The Department is currently implementing the provisions of the Goods Vehicles Act with a view to it being operational early in 2012.At this point in the process it is not known what the staffing requirement for the introduction and management of various aspects of the new licensing system will be. The Department is currently considering resource requirements to enable the Act to be effectively implemented, managed and enforced.

MOT Test

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of the Environment (i) how many cars failed an MOT test in each of the last three years; and (ii) what these figures represent as a percentage of the total number of tests carried out.

(AQW 2971/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested for the last three years has been included in the following table. The table reflects figures for private car vehicle tests ("MOT’s") only.

Driving Tests

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of the Environment (i) how many learner drivers failed their driving test in each of the last three years; (ii) what these figures represent as a percentage of the total number of driving tests taken; and (iii) how this figure compares with the rest of the UK.

(AQW 2973/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested for the last three years has been included in the following tables. The tables reflect figures for car learner drivers taking their test from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010.

Northern Ireland Figures

UK comparison Figures

* Figures sourced from the 2009/10 Driving Standards Agency Annual Report and Accounts

MOT Test

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of the Environment what is the current average waiting time for an MOT test, broken down by test centre.

(AQW 2974/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested has been included in the following table. This information is updated on a weekly basis and posted on the Agency’s website.

(NorthernVehicle waiting times for week ending 11/12/2010

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of the Environment to outline his Department's policy on Sustainable Drainage Systems.

(AQW 3016/11)

Minister of the Environment: A Cross-Government Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Working Party set up and chaired by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), is working towards the publication of a SuDS Strategy which is intended to provide a coherent approach for all stakeholders. A draft Strategy was issued for consultation from July to October 2009.A number of the Department's Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) already help promote the use of SuDS. In particular PPS 15 ' Planning and Flood Risk' includes guidance on the use of SuDS at Annex C of the document. Policy LC 3 of the second Addendum to PPS 7 encourages greater use of permeable paving in urban areas to help reduce flash flooding. In addition, draft PPS 16 on Tourism which was published on 23 November 2010 proposes the appropriate use of surface materials to ensure adequate control of surface water run-off.

Management Training Courses

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of the Environment how many departmental staff have attended management training courses in each of the last two years.

(AQW 3018/11)

Minister of the Environment: My Department offers a central management development programme which is certified by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). The number of staff attending courses as part of the programme was 31 in 2008/09 and 24 in 2009/10. Staff also attended one off management training courses during this period. The numbers attending these courses were 95 in 2008/09 and 13 in 2009/10.

Sewage Pumping Station at Loughadian Brae

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) any assurance he was given that the sewage pumping station at Loughadian Brae, Poyntzpass was installed correctly; (ii) who approved the installation; (iii) whether an inspection was carried out prior to this approval; (iv) whether the pumping station has been approved, and if not why; (v) who is responsible for the operation of the pumping station; (vi) to outline what conditions were stipulated when approving permission for the pumping station and the emergency overflow; (vii) whether Northern Ireland Environment Agency staff have visited the site in the last four years; and (viii) for an update on any enforcement action in relation to the pumping station.

(AQW 3029/11)

Minister of the Environment: Under the terms of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), on behalf of the Department of the Environment, consents continuous or emergency discharges to waterways from commercial, industrial or domestic properties. The pumping station at Loughadian Brae, Poyntzpass was consented by NIEA on 27 July 2007. The discharge from this asset was inspected by NIEA prior to the consent being issued. The Agency has consented the emergency discharge to the waterway and as such can only enforce the conditions of the discharge consent. NIEA does not advise on or consent the construction of a pumping station. The Agency is aware of construction issues associated with this pumping station however, the responsibility for dealing with this lies with the consent holder. In this case, the contractor who constructed the pumping station is the consent holder, who I understand has gone out of business. Under these circumstances, responsibility for the pumping station must be taken on by the householders who use the system.The consent requires the pumping station to be designed to include the following safeguards to minimise the risk of an emergency discharge.

1. All surface (storm) water shall be excluded from the pumping station; A standby pump which automatically activates should the duty pump fail (for reasons other than a power cut) is provided; Suitable storage capacity is provided, usually 6 hours, but in this case 12 hours; Facilities for connection to a mobile generator are provided should power be interrupted; Access is provided for a tanker to remove sewage should both pumps be inoperative; Maintenance schedule and records are to be retained for inspection by NIEA;
2. A telemetry based alarm system to alert the consent holder or their agent should there be a failure of the pump(s);

8. Should a discharge occur 6mm screening is required to limit thedischarge of solids.After a number of complaints regarding this asset NIEA staff visited the pumping station and found that there was no telemetry alarm aerial, which is a breach of its consent. The Agency is currently putting together a file in respect of this breach of consent with a view to submitting this to the Public Prosecution Service. With regard to pollution complaints made in relation to the pumping station, I can confirm that there have been 2 reports of suspected pollution. The complaints were made in March 2007 and in August 2010. Both were investigated by Water Quality Inspectors acting on behalf of NIEA. During these investigations, there was no active discharge from the site and no evidence was detected of an impact on the adjacent waterway.

Speed Awareness Course

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of the Environment to outline any restrictions that apply to drivers who have received a caution for speeding and wish to avail of the speed awareness course as a substitute for three points on their licence.

(AQW 3032/11)

Minister of the Environment: The speed awareness course is an initiative run by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and therefore responsibility does not lie with my Department. I would recommend that you address your question on the restrictions associated with the initiative to the Chief Constable.

Planning Service

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of the Environment what requirements exist for Planning Service to consult with planning authorities in the Republic of Ireland in relation to (i) development plans; and (ii) specific applications, which have an impact on border areas.

(AQW 3096/11)

1. Minister of the Environment: Development Plans

   Article 7 of European Union Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans or programmes on the environment (commonly known as the SEA Directive) provides for transboundary consultations on draft development plans where either the plan making body considers that the implementation of the plan or programme being prepared in relation to its territory is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State, or in instances where a Member State likely to be significantly affected so requests. The process of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is undertaken in parallel with the preparation of development plans.Article 7 of the SEA Directive is transposed by Regulation 13 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (NI) 2004 and this sets out in greater detail the requirements for transboundary consultations between plan-making authorities in Northern Ireland with their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. In addition a best practice guidance note on SEA transboundary consultation for development plans is available on the Planning Service website.

   While there are no other statutory requirements to consult authorities in the Republic of Ireland, the Department, in the interests of good environmental planning practice, will normally forward copies of all relevant development plan documents to neighbouring County Council(s) in the Republic seeking comments as part of the plan preparation process.

2. Specific Applications

Part 6 of the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 relates to development likely to affect other EEA states. Where it comes to the attention of my department that an application is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another EEA state my Department shall in accordance with Regulation 18(1) of Part 6 publish a notice in the Belfast Gazette; send to the EEA state the particulars about the application and; give the EEA state a reasonable time in which to indicate whether it wishes to participate in the procedure for which these regulations provide.In addition, my Department shall in accordance with Regulation 18(4), arrange for the particulars and information in respect of the EIA application to be made available within a reasonable time and will ensure that those authorities and the public concerned are given an opportunity, before planning permission for the development is granted, to forward within a reasonable time frame, their opinion on the information supplied. In accordance with Regulation 18 (5) my Department shall enter into consultation with the EEA state and agree a timeframe for response. On the determination of the application concerned, my Department shall in accordance with Regulation 18 (6) inform the EEA state and forward to it a statement of the content of the decision and any conditions attached thereto; the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based including if relevant, information about the participation of the public; and a description, where necessary, of the main measures to avoid, reduce and if possible, offset the major adverse effects of the development.

Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of the Environment (i) whether an Equality Impact Assessment was carried out on his decision to downgrade the Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office to a sub-office; (ii) to detail the results of the Assessment; and (iii) when he will make a decision on this matter.

(AQW 3102/11)

Minister of the Environment: The decision about the status of the Downpatrick Planning Office does not require an Equality Impact Assessment.

Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the reasons for down-grading Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office to a sub-office.

(AQW 3104/11)

Minister of the Environment: The arrangements for Area Planning Offices are designed around the 11 council clusters. They will provide for an affordable, effective and consistently robust service across Northern Ireland, including Downpatrick, under both the existing 26 councils and when the new 11 council model comes into effect.

Divisional Planning Offices

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of the Environment how many (i) planning or technical; (ii) administrative; and (iii) ancillary staff are currently employed in each of the divisional planning offices, broken down by (a) grade; (b) gender; and (c) religious background; and (ii) what are the comparative figures for (a) 2005; (b) 2007; and (iii) 2009.

(AQW 3106/11)

Minister of the Environment: Staffing numbers for the 2009 and 2010 years in the Department’s

Divisional Planning Offices (DPO) broken down by Grade and gender are set out in the tables below.

The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) collects equality monitoring information for the purpose of providing statutory reports to the Equality Commission and also to enable the Service to monitor the effectiveness of its corporate equal opportunities policies. These functions are carried out by the Department of Finance and Personnel looking at the whole of the NICS as a single employer. This means that equality monitoring information is not held or processed in a way that identifies the profile of individual offices. Therefore, details on religious background cannot be provided.For the 2005 and 2007 years the only figures available are overall staff numbers for each of the Divisional Offices and these are as follows-

2005

2007

I previously explained to you in my letter of the 30 November 2010, the need to reduce staffing levels in the Planning Service and on 13 December 2010, I also provided you with details of the number of staff employed in the Downpatrick DPO in the Administrative disciplines.

Planning Applications

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of planning applications processed to decision stage in each divisional planning office in (i) 2005/06; (ii) 2006/07; (iii) 2007/08; (iv) 2008/09; (v) 2009/10; and (iv) 1 April 2010 to 30 November 2010, broken down by District Council area.

(AQW 3113/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested is contained in Planning Service’s annual and quarterly development management reports. The most recently published information is up to the period September 2010. The next quarterly report is due to be published in March 2011. The details requested are set out in the table below.

(Applications decided does not include withdrawn applications)

Sub-office of the Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of the Environment, following the staff and office rationalisation procedures, how many (i) planning or technical; (ii) administrative; and (iii) ancillary staff are currently employed in the sub-office of the Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office , broken down by (a) grade; (b) gender; and (c) religious background.

(AQW 3121/11)

Minister of the Environment: The current staffing numbers for the Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office broken down by Grade and gender are given set out in the table below.

The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) collects equality monitoring information for the purpose of providing statutory reports to the Equality Commission and also to enable the Service to monitor the effectiveness of its corporate equal opportunities policies. These functions are carried out by the Department of Finance and Personnel looking at the whole of the NICS as a single employer. Equality monitoring information is not held or processed in a way that identifies the profile of individual offices. Therefore, details on the religious background of the workforce in the Downpatrick office cannot be provided.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment when regulations to introduce a plastic bag levy will be brought forward if the draft Budget is approved.

(AQW 3123/11)

Minister of the Environment: In order to introduce a single use bag levy in Northern Ireland it will first be necessary to have relevant primary legislation passed by the Assembly. My officials are looking at how this can be brought forward as soon as possible. Regulations, made under the primary legislation, will also be required to enable the levy to operate and I can confirm that work on these will commence alongside the process to put in place the necessary primary legislation.

Tree Preservation Orders

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment how many Tree Preservation Orders have been revoked for the purpose of granting planning permission in each local council area, in each of the last ten years.

(AQW 3165/11)

Minister of the Environment: No Tree Preservation Orders have been revoked for the purpose of granting planning permission since April 2006. Information in the form requested for the period prior to April 2006 is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. It is unlikely however that a Tree Preservation Order would be revoked for the purpose of granting planning permission because of the fact that planning permission overrides Tree Preservation Orders.

Planning Application H/2008/0089/F

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of the Environment, in relation to planning application H/2008/0089/F, to detail (i) when it was validated; (ii) when it was presented to Magherafelt District Council with an option to approve; (iii) when it was referred to his office and for how long he has been considering this application; (v) whether the Planning Service has made a decision or when he expects a decision to be made.

(AQW 3214/11)

1. Minister of the Environment: A valid planning application for a hotel at Magherafelt Road, Castledawson was received by my officials on 4 February 2008. An initial opinion was taken to council on 10 February 2009 with an opinion to refuse on 4 grounds. A meeting took place with Martin McGuinness MP on 27 March 2009. My officials further consulted Magherafelt District Council with an opinion to approve the application on 9 June 2009. Subsequent to this, Dr McCrea MP MLA made representations to my officials on behalf of objectors and I met Dr McCrea on 19 January 2010 at which time he raised a number of detailed points on behalf of the objectors.
2. I have received further advice and I am currently considering the issues raised on behalf of the objectors. I intend to make a decision to determine the application in the near future.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Mr T Lunn asked the Minister of the Environment if he can confirm that his Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011-2015; and whether it will include details of departmental saving measures and the potential impact of these measures.

(AQW 3217/11)

Minister of the Environment: My Department are currently working through the detail of the Executive’s Draft Budget and assessing the implications for the Department’s services and programmes. Every effort is being made to publish this information as soon as possible which will include details of spending proposals and savings measures.

Fast Food Outlets in the Vicinity of Schools

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to propose planning policy to control the development of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools.

(AQW 3226/11)

Minister of the Environment: I have no plans to control the development of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools.

Department of Finance and Personnel

Civil Service: Temporary Contracts

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many staff employed within the Civil Service and the respective arms-length bodies are currently employed on temporary or 51-week contracts.

(AQW 1722/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): The numbers of staff employed on temporary or 51 week contracts at 3 November 2010 within the NI Civil Service and the respective arms-length bodies are set out on the attached table.

Number of staff employed in the NI Civil Service and the respective arms-length bodies currently employed on temporary or 51 week contracts at 3 November 2010

Notes:*DFP - Figure provided is at 15 October 2010.

Civil Service Overtime

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the procedures and protocols governing the working of overtime by Civil Servants; and what grades can authorise overtime.

(AQW 2160/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The NICS policy for the payment of overtime is contained within Chapter 8.08 of the HR Handbook, a copy of which has been placed in the Library for information. Overtime can be worked with the prior approval of the Head of Branch. Payment of overtime worked is normally authorised by Staff Officer or above. However, exceptions exist in the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, the Department of the Environment, the Department for Social Development and the Department for Regional Development whereby payment of overtime can be approved at Executive Officer 1 or analogous grades for business reasons.

Saving Plans

Sir Reg Empey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel which Departments have presented him with saving plans and which have yet to do so.

(AQW 2612/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Departments have not been asked to submit Savings Delivery Plans to DFP. Instead they have been asked to publish their Savings Delivery Plans at the same time as, or shortly after, the publication of the draft Budget.However, departments were asked to enter details onto the DFP database of the spending areas where the indicative level of savings should be made. This was to have been completed by 26 August. To date only four departments, DCAL, DETI, DFP and DOE, have complied with this request.

Legislative Proposals in the European Commission

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether there is a specific individual or section within his Department to identify, at an early stage, legislative proposals in the European Commission and the potential impact on Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2789/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: OFMDFM's European Policy and Co-Ordination Unit (EPCU) has a role to monitor EU Directives across NI departments.  EPCU notifies all EU Co-Ordinators of all newly adopted EU Directives on a monthly basis. DFP has an EU Co-ordinator, who is responsible for notifying business areas within the Department of all EU Directives. It is the responsibility of the business area to identify the potential impact on Northern Ireland.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2794/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Officials in my department are not involved in engagement with political institutions. Officials in the main deal with the European Commission through the Commission’s departments or Directorates General. In 2007 my department succeeded in securing a substantial package of EU funding for the 2007-13 period through the Regional Competitiveness & Employment Programme, the PEACE III Programme and the INTERREG IVA Programmes with these allocations confirmed to Northern Ireland through Commission Decisions at the outset of the funding period. In addition to this funding package my Department has worked to increase Northern Ireland’s participation in the INTERREG IVB transnational and INTERREG IVC interregional programmes. These Programmes award funds competitively to partnerships of organisations from several Member States. DFP aims to treble the number of projects with Northern Ireland partners from a baseline figure of 17 approvals during the 2000-06 programming period. So far, in the 2007-13 period, there have been 35 projects approved from 96 applications which involve Northern Ireland. These projects will see local partners working with over 50 organisations from 23 Member States and non-Member States. They will bring more than €6.3 million additional European funding to Northern IrelandWork is continuing to ensure NI accesses the remaining funds which will be awarded under these programmes under next 12-18 months.

Redundancy Packages

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the redundancy terms on offer in the public sector compared to those in the private sector.

(AQW 2920/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Department has not commissioned any comparison of the redundancy terms in the public sector and the private sector. It should be noted that the Department of Finance and Personnel administers the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) only for Civil Servants and those Non Departmental Public Bodies, which are listed at Annex 2, of the 1972 Section of that scheme.

Redundancy Payments

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail (i) the number of Civil Service personnel who received redundancy payments in each of the last three years; (ii) the total amount paid out in each year; and (iii) the number of redundancy payments totalling in the current yeat to date (a) £10,000 or less; (b) £10,001 - £20,000; (c) £20,001 - £30,000; (d) £30,001 - £40,000; (e) £40,001 - £50,000; and (f) above £50,000.

(AQW 2922/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: In 2007/2008 one Civil Servant was made redundant, the cost of which cannot be disclosed as this would be in breach of the Data Protection Act; in 2008/2009 no Civil Servants were made redundant; and in 2009/2010 two Civil Servants were made redundant. The 2009/2010 cost was £124,756, which includes the initial costs for leavers during 09/10 years, and any ongoing liabilities.The number of redundancies and redundancy payments totalling in the current year to date are two within the £10,001 - £20,000 bracket. These payments are for ongoing Annual Compensation Payments only, paid from 1 April 2010 to 30 Nov 2010. No Civil Service personnel left on redundancy in 2010/11 to date.

Lone Pensioners Allowance

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many pensioners in the (i) North Down constituency; and (ii) the North Down Borough Council area have benefited from the Lone Pensioners Allowance since its introduction; and how much they have saved on their rates bill as a result.

(AQW 2964/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The table below shows the total Lone Pensioner Allowance awards made by Land & Property Services for owner occupiers in the North Down Borough Council area, along with their total value (as at 12 December 2010):

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive administers Lone Pensioner Allowance for the social and private rented sectors. The Executive has supplied the following information on total current awards of Lone Pensioner Allowance by its relevant office (as at 30 November 2010):

Land & Property Services records show the total amount awarded by NIHE during the period for the North Down Borough Council area (as at 12 December 2010):

Information is not available for North Down constituency as Land & Property Services records Lone Pensioner Allowance information by local government district and not parliamentary constituency.

The Level of VAT on Extensions and Refurbishments on Buildings

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, given the difficulties confronting small builders and construction firms, whether he will consider requesting that HM Treasury varies downwards the level of VAT on extensions and refurbishments on buildings with a value not exceeding £100,000.

(AQW 2985/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: While I have not recently received any substantive proposals in relation to reducing VAT on extensions and refurbishments, I am firmly of the view that we should consider all possible options to support economic growth in Northern Ireland.As you will be aware, the Coalition Government will shortly be publishing its consultation paper on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. A draft of this has recently been received and while the document focuses primarily on mechanisms for reducing the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland, the Government have also indicated that they are willing to consider other tax options to stimulate the local economy. I am happy to consider any proposals developed for reducing VAT on extensions and refurbishments in this context. I intend engaging with Treasury Ministers, in conjunction with Executive colleagues, on the Government’s paper early in the New Year. Furthermore, I would also encourage local stakeholders to respond to the Government’s consultation with any views or proposals they may have and I will be pressing the Treasury to give these full consideration.

Desertcreat College Development

Mr P McGlone asked e Minister of Finance and Personnel, in light of the budget announcement of 15 December 2010, what financial commitment his Department has made to the Desertcreat college development; and to outline the expected timescale for the project.

(AQW 3103/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: My department has made no financial commitment to the Desertcreat College and I am not in a position to comment on any associated timescale for the project. The Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety would be better placed to respond.

Christmas Bonuses

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail (i) the number of civil servants in each Department who are receiving Christmas bonuses this year; (ii) the monetary value of the individual bonuses; and (iii) the total of all the bonuses, broken down by grade.

(AQW 3105/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The NICS does not pay Christmas bonuses to any of its staff.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel on what price for a single plastic bag is the estimated £4million revenue projection for the introduction of a plastic bag levy based.

(AQW 3122/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: In developing the estimated resource generated by a plastic bag levy it was assumed that the levy per bag would be 15p. Based on current estimates some 189 million ‘single use’ carrier bags were used in Northern Ireland in 2009/10. As such a 15p levy per bag would generate some £28.4 million per annum. An adjustment to this figure was then made to account for the estimated decline in usage due to changes in consumer behaviour. An allowance was also made for the costs that the Executive will incur for administration, enforcement and promotion of the levy.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether a preferred use for the revenue raised by a plastic bag levy has been identified by the Executive; and if so, what is the preferred use.

(AQW 3124/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The proposed plastic bag levy receipts have been initially allocated to the advancement of the Green New Deal.

Dormant Bank Accounts Scheme

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the progress towards a dormant bank accounts scheme.

(AQW 3133/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: As you will be aware, this is a Treasury led initiative and therefore the timetable for the release of funds to the Reclaim Fund, the Big Lottery Fund and ultimately the opening of the applications process of the scheme is affected by a number of factors which are beyond the Executive's control.HM Treasury have recently confirmed that the Co-operative Financial Services submitted their application to establish and administer the Reclaim Fund to the Financial Services Authority in November 2010. The Co-operative Financial Services expect to have the Reclaim Fund set up in spring 2011 subject to the Financial Services Authority approval and following this, it expects to be able to release the first tranche of surplus dormant accounts funds in the second quarter of 2011.Based on the latest estimates provided by the Co-operative Financial Services a Barnett Share for Northern Ireland would be £1.5 – 2.9m. However, this is an estimate only and could be higher or lower. In line with Section 17 of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, HM Treasury will initiate a consultation exercise with all the Devolved Administrations on the apportionment process early this year concluding, in April 2011at the latest. It is then expected that the draft Apportionment Order will be drafted, Laid in Parliament and passed by the House of Lords and House of Commons by May 2011. In light of the continued uncertainty around the amounts likely to be available for the Scheme, I have decided that it would be prudent to await the outcome of the HM Treasury apportionment process before making my recommendations on priorities for the Scheme. At that point I would hope to have a clearer picture of the level of funding likely to be available to Northern Ireland and will be better place to formulate the priorities.

NI Civil Service Art Collection

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to list (i) the title; (ii) the artist; (iii) the current valuation; and (iv) the last known location, of the 14 paintings belonging to the NI Civil Service art collection whose whereabouts are unknown.

(AQW 3134/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The information requested is as follows.

Housing Association

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the mechanism by which the Executive hopes to obtain £80m from Housing Associations over the budget period 2011-15.[R]

(AQW 3138/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: This issue will now be taken forward by the DSD Minister. It is not the case that the Executive will obtain this funding directly from the Housing Associations. Instead, the Housing Associations have been asked to deliver an additional £80 million of new social housing over the four year Budget period, which has freed up resources previously drawn from DSD for allocation elsewhere.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether the £25 million contribution to the Executive in relation to the Presbyterian Mutual Society is a gift or a loan; and whether the £25 million contribution by the Executive to the PMS is a gift or a loan.

(AQW 3157/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The exact details of how the proposed Mutual Access Fund element of Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) solution have not yet been finalised and any final solution will be subject to the agreement of the Executive, the Assembly, the EU, and PMS creditors and members.The Government’s £25 million contribution to this was conferred in the Spending Review and our own draft Budget makes provision for the Executive’s £25 million contribution. In making their contribution the Government has required that it be repaid from any available surplus at the end of the ten year loan workout period for PMS assets. After this any remaining surplus would be available for distribution to PMS creditors and members.

Capital Projects

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) to detail the proposed amount available for expenditure on capital projects for the budget period 2011-2015; (ii) for a breakdown of the projects in each department; and (iii) for his assessment of the impact that this will have on the construction industry.

(AQW 3168/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The total planned gross capital expenditure over the four year Budget period amounts to some £5.2 billion. Departments have full flexibility in terms of what projects or programmes to take forward and it will be for each department to now make their investment intentions clear as part of the consultation process. Although the capital DEL allocation from Treasury will reduce considerably over the Budget period, the Executive has ensured that some £1.5 billion will be invested in 2014-15. This is similar to the level in 2005-06 and exceeds the long term trend. Whilst there will be some impact on the local construction sector, the Executive’s proposals will ensure that the construction sector will not be as adversely affected as some had predicted.

Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland 2008-18

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what impact the publication of the draft Budget will have on the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (2008-18).

(AQW 3169/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The existing Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (2008-18) will be replaced by a new Investment Strategy to reflect the changed financial circumstances.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether all revenue generated by the plastic bag levy will be directed to support the Green New Deal.

(AQW 3171/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The proposed plastic bag levy receipts have been initially allocated to the advancement of the Green New Deal, however the specific details of the plastic bag levy scheme and any ongoing link with Green New Deal have yet to be finalised.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether all the revenue generated by the plastic bag levy will be invested in a Green New Deal programme.

(AQW 3173/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The proposed plastic bag levy receipts have been initially allocated to the advancement of the Green New Deal, however the specific details of the plastic bag levy scheme and any ongoing link with Green New Deal have yet to be finalised.

Non-domestic Regional Rate

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for her assessment of the additional expenditure that may be incurred by local small and medium sized enterprises as a result of the proposed increase in the non-domestic regional rate.

(AQW 3187/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I announced as part of the draft budget that the non-domestic regional rate will be kept at the rate of inflation (using the GDP deflator). For the purpose of the budget document this equates to 2%, 2.25%, 2.5% and 2.5% over the four year budget period. These figures will be kept under review, to reflect any changes to inflation in the interim. Under the rating system businesses are not classified according to their size. However for those businesses with an NAV of £5,000 (which is the upper NAV threshold for the small business rate relief scheme), a 2% increase in the non-domestic regional rate would increase that element of a rate bill by around £23, in 2011/12, to £2101 on average (after relief). Using recent trend data would provide an increase in the non-domestic district rate, of 4.6% between 2010/11 and 2011/12. The increase for the district rate aspect of the same rate bill, using that assumption, would on average be around £41 for a property with an NAV of £5,000. For illustration, on the same basis, the overall average bill for business rates (properties with an NAV of around £18,000) would increase next year by a little over £300, of which around £110 would be associated with the regional rate. Using inflation as the basis of the non-domestic regional rate increase means that while there will be an increase to that aspect in monetary terms, it represents a freeze in real terms.

Plastic Bag Levy

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) how much he estimates the carrier bag levy will raise in revenue; (ii) whether the levy will also apply to paper bags; (iii) when it will come into force; (iv) which Department will collect and distribute the revenue; (v) and how will the levy be enforced.

(AQW 3199/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The introduction of a carrier bag levy is a matter for the Environment Minister to now progress. There were an estimated 189 million ‘single use’ plastic bags used in Northern Ireland in 2009-10. Allowing for changes in consumer behaviour and costs in administering and enforcement of the new scheme should allow for some £4million per annum to be generated. The draft Budget paper assumed that the levy will begin generating the additional revenue in 2011/12. The revenue raised will accrue to the Department of the Environment. In terms of enforcement and collection of revenue this will be for the Environment Minister to consider and advise on.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Mr S Neeson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether his Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011 -2015; and whether it will include details of departmental savings measures and their anticipated impact.

(AQW 3204/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: My department is planning to publish its draft spending and savings proposals before Christmas. This will include its draft savings delivery plan, details of departmental savings measures and their anticipated impact.

Non-Domestic Regional Rates

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the impact that an increase in non-domestic regional rates will have on the economy.

(AQW 3211/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I announced, as part of the draft budget, that the non-domestic regional rate will be kept at the rate of inflation over the next four years. The GDP deflator will be used as the measure of this. For the purpose of the budget document this equates to 2%, 2.25%, 2.5% and 2.5% over the four year budget period. These figures will be kept under review, to reflect any changes to the deflator. For the 2011/12 rating year this compares favourably to England where the inflationary increase in the non-domestic rate is based on the September 2010 retail price index figure of 4.6%. Similar increases are proposed for Scotland and Wales. Using inflation as the basis of the increase means that while there will be an increase to the regional rate in monetary terms, there will be no change to the regional rate aspect of rate bills in real terms and thus represents a freeze in real terms. In light of this I consider that Northern Ireland’s competitive position will not be adversely affected given the modest increase in the regional rate, which is lower than comparable figures elsewhere for 2011/12.In addition, the Executive is providing a range of additional assistance to businesses through the rating system. The small business rate relief scheme is providing help of around £8million per annum to more than 16,000 of our smaller businesses in Northern Ireland. The level of rates for manufacturing will also continue to be held at 30% for the next four years, currently saving businesses around £50m per year. This will help businesses of all sizes, large and small. These highlight the range of work undertaken by the Executive to support business.The position on both the regional rate and manufacturing rates is subject to consultation, as part of the budget, and Assembly approval in due course.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Cardiac Units

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many times, in the past twelve months, cardiac units in each Health and Social Care Trust have had to use a taxi to respond to an urgent call because an ambulance was not available.

(AQW 1924/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey): In the past twelve months there have been 15 occurrences of a taxi being used by cardiac units to respond to an urgent call because an ambulance was not available. These instances occurred within the Western Health and Social Care Trust and were consistent with the agreed protocols that ensure patients who require emergency out of hospital cardiac care receive the medical attention they require without delay. In these circumstances taxis were used to transport clinical staff to the patient. Any patient seen by a cardiac team who then required admission to hospital will have been transported by ambulance.An increase in the DHSSPS budget would allow me to invest in cardiac services going forward.

Carlisle House Substance Misuse Treatment Centre

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he will intervene to prevent the Health and Social Care Board from removing its support in March 2011 for three beds in the Carlisle House Substance Misuse Treatment Centre.

(AQW 2304/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The commissioning of local addiction services is the responsibility of the Health and Social Care system, based on an assessment of local clinical need. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) undertook a review of Tier 4 (inpatient) treatment services as part of the Trust’s Modernisation and Reform Plan. As an outcome of this review, the decision to reduce the contract with Carlisle House from 6 beds to 3 beds was taken to balance the complement of the full range of service provision in the area. The Trust is working with local partner agencies to improve working arrangements with organisations, such as Carlisle House, in the development of an integrated care pathway and the establishment of more robust governance arrangements that will improve information sharing, patient safety and quality of care. I understand that the Trust has been working closely over a number of months with Carlisle House in the process of contract renegotiation to achieve a successful outcome for all parties.

Carlisle House Substance Misuse Treatment Centre

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the Health and Social Care Board's decision to withdraw its support from March 2011 for three beds in the Carlisle House Substance Misuse Treatment Centre, what action he is taking to ensure that the beds are supported by another organisation so that Carlisle House maintains full occupancy.

(AQW 2305/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The commissioning of local addiction services is the responsibility of the Health and Social Care system, based on an assessment of local clinical need. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) undertook a review of Tier 4 (inpatient) treatment services as part of the Trust’s Modernisation and Reform Plan. As an outcome of this review, the decision to reduce the contract with Carlisle House from 6 beds to 3 beds was taken to balance the compliment of the full range of service provision in the area. The Trust is working with local partner agencies to improve working arrangements with organisations, such as Carlisle House, in the development of an integrated care pathway and the establishment of more robust governance arrangements that will improve information sharing, patient safety and quality of care. I understand that the Trust has been working closely over a number of months with Carlisle House in the process of contract renegotiation to achieve a successful outcome for all parties.

Student and Volunteer Workers

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many hospitals are currently recruiting students or volunteers to help out in medical departments; and what specific roles do these volunteers or students fulfil.

(AQW 2663/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Most Trusts report that they do not actively recruit students or volunteers to help out in medical departments. However, Trusts try to facilitate a large number of requests from students for volunteer placements. Volunteers are involved in 23 hospital sites across the five Trusts. Volunteer roles vary across Trusts and include: wheelchair pushers, meet and greet, befriending roles, buddies on childrens wards, patient visiting and ward support.

BMF Business Services

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much his Department, and its arms-length bodies, have spent on BMF Business Services since May 2007.

(AQW 2674/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Since May 2007 £16,170 has been spent on BMF Business Services by the Department and arms length bodies.

Lip Reading Classes

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans his Department has to provide financial support for lip reading classes.

(AQW 2675/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is for the Health and Social Care Board to commission services to meet the needs of the population of Northern Ireland. However, my Department is currently developing a new Disability Strategy for Northern Ireland, which will aim to improve outcomes and support for those with a physical disability, communication and/or sensory impairment, including those with hearing loss.The draft strategy includes an action to review existing sensory rehabilitation services from a user perspective with a view to promoting provision of cost effective and timely services.

Induction Loops

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking to increase the provision of fully functioning and maintained induction loop systems by his Department's service providers.

(AQW 2676/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Individuals with a sensory impairment are individually assessed by Sensory Support Services in Health and Social Care Trusts to determine their needs. Sensory equipment, including induction loop systems in private dwellings, is provided on the basis of this assessed need and available resources. Sensory support staff facilitate the provision of equipment and review the ongoing maintenance needs of the equipment with individual clients. Furthermore, the Regional Sensory Services Group, chaired by the Health and Social Care Board and which includes RNID representation, is currently considering the development of a standardised equipment policy and access criteria for across NI.

Acquired Hearing Loss

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans are in place to create a strategy for the rehabilitation of people with acquired hearing loss.

(AQW 2678/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department is currently developing a new Disability Strategy for Northern Ireland, which is expected to be issued for consultation by the end of 2010. The strategy will aim to improve outcomes and support for those with a physical disability, communication and/or sensory impairment, including those with acquired hearing loss.The draft strategy includes an action to review existing sensory rehabilitation services with a view to promoting provision of cost effective and timely services

Closure of Hospital Wards

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide details of all hospitals which currently have wards, units or areas which (i) are permanently closed; or (ii) have been closed temporarily or have not been in use for a period of more than six months broken down by ward, unit or area of each hospital.

(AQW 2690/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: (i) Details of all hospitals which currently have wards, units or areas which are permanently closed are shown in the following table:-

(ii) Details of all hospitals which currently have wards, units or areas which have been closed temporarily for a period of more than six months are shown in the following table:-

This information has been supplied by Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland and has not been validated by the Department.

Fracture Patients

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many patients with fractures have been admitted to, and remained in hospital for at least 24 hours since 22 November 2010.

(AQW 2691/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is not yet possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of people with fractures who have been admitted to, and remained in hospital for at least 24 hours since 22^nd November 2010.

Social Workers

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he can offer an assurance that he will ring-fence funding for social workers who are also front line Health Service staff.

(AQW 2718/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the dedication of social workers who provide a key front line service.Whilst I will do everything I can to limit any impact the expected budget cuts will have on the frontline, I am not able to ring fence resources to particular staff groups. To do so would be to deny Trusts the flexibility to meet demand pressures where they arise and to adopt new and more effective methods of working across settingsAs Health and Social Care are fully integrated in Northern Ireland, I am fighting for full protection of my budget.

Social Workers

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of newly qualified social workers who have obtained a post as a social worker in each of the last two years.

(AQW 2720/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information below is in relation to the last 2 financial years 08/09 and 09/10.

*The head count information in the above table was provided by the HSCT’s.* indicates where data could not be provided within the timescale

Social Workers

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the risk to families as a result of the recruitment freeze on social workers.

(AQW 2721/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There is no recruitment freeze on social workers.

Family Group Conferencing

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the decision made by two Health and Social Care Trusts to no longer provide facilitated family group conferencing.

(AQW 2722/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information provided by the HSC Board indicates that each of the 5 Health and social Care Trusts remain committed to providing Family Group Conferencing services as part of their family support services.

Generic Drugs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps are being taken to increase the percentage of generic drugs dispensed.

(AQW 2730/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department has been running a "Go Generic" campaign to increase the amount of generic prescribing in Northern Ireland for a number of years now. As a result there has been a marked increase in the amount of generic dispensing in Northern Ireland. My aim is to achieve a generic dispensing rate of 64% by March 2011 which is comparable to the current UK rate. This will equate to a 50% increase in generic dispensing in Northern Ireland since 2005. The use of generic medicines in favour of branded equivalents continues to be a central strand in my Department’s overall strategy to improve quality in medicines management for all patients through cost effective prescribing.However, it is a matter for the clinician or GP, in consultation with their patient, to decide on the most appropriate course of treatment for the patient and to prescribe the medication to support that treatment. There have been clear instructions provided to prescribers that there will remain situations where it is appropriate for branded drugs to be prescribed and dispensed.

Prescription of Drugs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what initiatives are in place to reduce the prescription of drugs where alternative treatment pathways are available.

(AQW 2731/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Public Health Agency (PHA) has taken the lead in the promotion marketing of the physical activity referral programme which includes a range of schemes which take referrals from health professionals for previously sedentary individuals with the intention of treating a range of health conditions known to be associated with physical inactivity such as the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer. They can also reduce the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes and obesity. In 2008 the PHA (then the Health Promotion Agency) commissioned research into the schemes and one of the benefits noted was a reduction in medication.There are also a number of initiatives for people with mental health problems including a Directed Enhanced Service (DES) Specification provided to GP practice patients with mild to moderate depression. The DES encourages the provision of non-drug therapies in the treatment of mild-moderate depression. In 2009 "Beating the Blues", a computer based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme, was introduced into GP practices to be used in the treatment of mild or moderate depression. The importance of talking therapies in early intervention and the management of conditions was also a key element in the document "A Strategy for the Development of Psychological Therapy Services" published by my Department in June 2010.

Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) for a breakdown of the schools attended by young people who have been admitted to Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit as the result of attempted suicide; (ii) whether these schools are co-operating on this issue with the relevant statutory agencies; and (iii) whether the Department of Education has been informed of any non-compliance.

(AQW 2733/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not available to the Heath and Social Care sector.Responsibility for the Intensive Support and Learning Unit at Beechcroft falls to the South Eastern Education and Library Board. Any enquiries regarding liaison with schools should be directed to the Minister for Education.

Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, for each night of the last six weeks, how many young people have been referred to Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit as a result of attempted suicide.

(AQW 2734/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: During each night of the last six weeks up to Monday 6 December 2010, nine young people were referred to Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit as a result of attempted suicide.

Palliative Care Strategy for Children

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he will consider bringing forward a palliative care strategy specifically for children.

(AQW 2740/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department published a Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for Adults in Northern Ireland in March 2010. Although children are not included within the scope of the Strategy, it does include reference to the Department’s Integrated Care Pathway for Children and Young People with Complex Physical Healthcare Needs, which maps out their journey from diagnosis to end of life care.I remain committed to ensuring that a full range of high quality services are available to children and young people with palliative and end of life care needs, in the setting that is most appropriate to meet their needs. I have therefore asked the HSC Board to provide me with a report which determines how the Integrated Care Pathway is meeting the palliative and end of life care needs of children and young people and to identify any possible gaps which need to be addressed.

Nursing and Residential Homes

Mr D Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the current average weekly cost per resident in a (i) nursing home; and (ii) residential home.

(AQW 2749/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The 2008/09 average weekly cost of Residential Care and Nursing Care is £694 and £561 respectively. The above costs cover the Family & Child Care, Care of the Elderly, Mental Health, Learning Disability and Physical & Sensory Disability Programmes of Care and take no account of individual case complexities.

0844 and 08445 Telephone Numbers

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why GP surgeries are permitted to use 0844 and 08445 telephone numbers when the use of these numbers has been stopped in England and Wales.

(AQW 2754/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I am advised that the use of 0844 and 08445 numbers by GP surgeries has not been stopped in England and Wales. A small minority of GP practices in Northern Ireland use 084 numbers. However, 0844 and 08445 numbers are not classified as premium rate numbers and I am advised that, in many cases, if called from a BT landline, they cost less than a call to an 028 number.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many (i) children; and (ii) adults in each Health and Social Care Trust area are currently diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders.

(AQW 2781/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not available.

Autism

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many children have been born with autism in each of the last three years, broken down by hospital or other place of birth.

(AQW 2782/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not available.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many new cases of autistic spectrum disorder have presented to each Health and Social Care Trust in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 2783/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not available.

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2795/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: (i) There are currently no DHSSPS officials who are directly engaged with European political institutions. Any engagement on health or social care-related issues would normally be by way of Westminster.(ii) My Department has been successful in two funding applications to the EU INTERREG IVA Programme, one in 2008, the other in 2009.The first, made in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland, secured £24 million of funding to undertake a range of cross-border health and social care activity. These activities are currently ongoing.The second, made in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in the Republic of Ireland, secured almost £1.3 million to undertake a three year collaborative project between the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Services in the six border counties of Ireland. This project has started to roll out recently.

Locum Doctors

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the cost to each Health and Social Care Trust of hiring locum doctors in each of the last four years.

(AQW 2801/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The cost of locum doctors is set out in the table below. Information prior to 1 April 2007 relates to legacy Trusts and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Locum doctors are professionally-qualified, medical practitioners used in each Health and Social Care Trust on a temporary basis to ensure continuity of care for the patient.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many babies diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome have been born in each Health and Social Care Trust area in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2803/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the number of babies that have been born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome during each of the last five years is not available as these babies present with a wide spectrum of symptoms from mild irritability to seizures and occasionally death, and therefore these statistics are not routinely and consistently collected across all of the Health and Social Care Trusts.

Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any communication his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 2818/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is not possible to detail all communications with the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels as these are not usually retained. Most of the communications are in the form of e-mails from the Office to the Department and are "for information".

Legislative Proposals in the European Commission

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there is a specific individual or section within his Department to identify, at an early stage, legislative proposals in the European Commission and the potential impact on Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2819/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Through liaison with the Department of Health and the other Devolved Administrations there is a procedure in place across my Department by which appropriate officials in relevant business areas are aware at an early stage of EU Commission proposals for legislation. However, there is no specific individual or section dedicated to this task.

Junior Doctors

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he will undertake a review of the management of medical provision by junior doctors in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on this issue.

(AQW 2822/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have no plans to review the management of medical provision by junior doctors in hospitals, and will not therefore be making a statement on the issue.

Ambulance Service Protocols

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he will undertake a review of the Ambulance Service protocols which govern the transportation of patients from rural areas to hospitals, particularly the transportation of patients between 10pm and 8am; and if he will make a statement on this issue.

(AQW 2823/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have no plans to undertake a review of Ambulance Service protocols governing the transportation of patients to hospitals.Ambulance policy is to take emergency patients to the nearest appropriate hospital unless directed to a specific hospital by a physician,. Not every hospital can deal with every emergency so bypass protocols have been developed for certain types of emergency to ensure patients are taken directly to a hospital with the right facilities to treat them. The protocols are based on professional clinical advice and were developed in partnership by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), the Health and Social Care Board and Health and Social Care Trusts.In addition, NIAS’s patient care service provides non-emergency transport for patients with a medical need to access hospital outpatient and other services. It generally operates from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm although in some areas these hours are extended.

Sleep Apnoea

Mr F Molloy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the funding allocated to each Health and Social Care Trust for sleep apnoea; and (ii) the number of patients treated for this condition in (a) 2007/08; (b) 2008/09; (c) 2009/10; and (d) 2010/11.

(AQW 2825/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Patients reporting sleep apnoea can be treated in an inpatient, daycase, outpatient, daycase or primary care setting. As such the information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Staff Salaries in the Belfast Trust

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2281/11, to detail the positions held by staff within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust who earn (i) between £50,000 and £100,000 per annum; and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per annum.

(AQW 2839/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Staff Salaries in the Northern Trust

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety pursuant to AQW 2281/11, to detail the positions held by staff within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust who earn (i) between £50,000 and £100,000 per annum; and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per annum.

(AQW 2841/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Staff Salaries in the South Eastern Trust

Mr J Craig asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2281/11, to detail the positions held by staff within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust who earn (i) between £50,000 and £100,000 per annum; and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per annum.

(AQW 2842/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Staff Salaries in the Southern Trust

Mr J Craig asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2281/11, to detail the positions held by staff within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust who earn (i) between £50,000 and £100,000 per annum; and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per annum.

(AQW 2843/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Fire Hydrants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of fire hydrants which are in active use by the Fire and Rescue Service; (ii) the number of recorded incidents of vandalism which have been recorded on these fire hydrants in each of the last five years; and (iii) the cost of the repairs and the estimated amount of water lost as a result of these incidents.

(AQW 2846/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) holds location details for 87,571 Hydrant Fittings and 3,094 Strategic Hydrants across Northern Ireland.Information on hydrants which have been vandalized is not routinely collected by NIFRS.The installation and maintenance of fire hydrants is a matter for Northern Ireland Water. Neither my Department nor NIFRS holds any information on repairs or water lost through vandalism to fire hydrants.

Hospital Waiting Times

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the current waiting times for each type of surgical procedure in the Accident and Emergency Units of each Belfast hospital, compared to the waiting times in the (i) 2001/02; and (ii) 2005/06 financial years; and if he will make a statement on this issue.

(AQW 2860/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on waiting times for surgical procedures in A&E units is not available.In Priorities for Action 2010/2011 I set a target that that from April 2010, the HSC Board and Trusts should ensure 95% of patients attending any A&E department are either treated and discharged home, or admitted, within 4 hours of their arrival in the department. No patient should wait longer than 12 hours.

Hospital Waiting Times

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the current waiting times for an appointment with each type of medical professional, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, in each Belfast hospital compared to the waiting times in the (i) 2001/02; and (ii) 2005/06 financial years; and if he will make a statement on this issue.

(AQW 2861/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The waiting times for people referred for treatment by each type of allied health professional in each Belfast hospital, as at 3^rd December 2010, are provided in the tables below. Information for the Ulster Hospital was not available as the South Eastern HSC Trust did not have sufficient time to collate the data. Comparable information for 2001/02 and 2005/06 is also not available as it was not collected at that time.

Belfast City Hospital

Royal Victoria Hospital

Mater Hospital

Musgrave Park Hospital

Forster Green Hospital

While waiting times for services have been transformed in recent years, the increases in waiting times for allied health professionals are disappointing and are a direct result of my budget being cut. If it is cut further then we will see more increases in waiting times as we simply cannot match the demand in services without funding to match. I apologise to those patients waiting longer to be seen and wish to assure you that I am making every effort to get people treated as quickly as possible.

Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the programmes and services his Department funds to provide support for male victims of domestic violence.

(AQW 2866/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Domestic violence is a cross-departmental issue which DHSSPS and DOJ jointly lead on. My Department currently funds the Men’s Advisory Project to deliver counselling services and anger management programmes to male victims of domestic violence. Male victims can access services including counselling within Health and Social Care through a range of mechanisms including:Accident and Emergency Services;Hospital and Community Mental Health Teams;Child and Family Services;General Practitioners and other primary care professionals;Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS);Therapeutic work with fathers of children experiencing domestic violence; andMulti-Agency Risk Assessment Conferencing (MARAC) safety planning for high risk victims of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) what training is provided to General Practitioners and staff in Accident and Emergency Units to deal with disclosures of domestic violence and; (ii) whether medical professionals are trained to deal with, and recognise, the issues faced by both male and female victims so that they can properly assess risk.

(AQW 2867/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Domestic violence is a cross-departmental issue which DHSSPS and DOJ jointly lead on through the "Tackling Violence at Home" Strategy published in October 2005. As an integral part of this routine enquiry on domestic violence was introduced into ante and post natal care and this has since been extended to several Accident and Emergency Units. A key action in the 2010/12 Domestic Violence Action Plan is to extend the routine enquiry to all Accident and Emergency Units and to the Primary Care sector including General Practitioners. Continued Training for Health and Social Care Professionals is provided by Trusts covering all victims of domestic violence, both male and female. Training is currently available to General Practitioners through the Trust Area learning teams. Training is also provided to Health and Social Care professionals on the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process which was rolled out across Northern Ireland during 2010 and which helps identify and protect high risk victims of domestic violence.

Staff Salaries in the Western Trust

Mr J Craig asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety , pursuant to AQW 2281/11, to detail the positions held by staff within the Western Health and Social Care Trust who earn (i) between £50,000 and £100,000 per annum; and (ii) in excess of £100,000 per annum.

(AQW 2869/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:This information could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Minor Ailments Scheme

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of how the reduction in the minor ailments scheme will impact on GP surgeries.

(AQW 2907/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: (NorthernThe Minor Ailments Scheme will now focus on conditions which require treatment and not those from which (Northernpeople will mainly recover from in a matter of days, with or without medication. These adjustments were made to achieve a more effective use of the limited resources available and to ensure the scheme continues to provide the greatest benefit to people in Northern Ireland. There is no evidence that these changes will impact on GP surgeries. Indeed patients suffering(Northern from conditions such as colds and hayfever should really be considering if they need to visit their GP at all. (NorthernPatients who feel the need for symptomatic relief for a wide range of minor illnesses like colds and coughs can still purchase over-the-counter remedies at pharmacies and other retail outlets.

Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, given that patients have been turned away and phone lines left unstaffed because of insufficient resources, what action he is taking to improve the appointments system at the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

(AQW 2935/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Most people attending the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital are seen on a walk-in basis and almost three quarters are able to access the service within 48 hours. Those attending HIV clinics, erectile dysfunction (ED) clinics and GUM follow up cases normally have a pre- arranged appointment. It is recognised that there may be times when demand can exceed capacity; however, it should be noted that all patients who are not able to be seen at the clinic on a particular day, are triaged by a nurse and given information and advice on the appropriate place for treatment, which may be at the clinic on a subsequent day.Work is currently ongoing to explore the potential to develop HIV services outside the Belfast Trust. This, coupled with recently opened GUM clinics in other parts of the Province, should improve local access and reduce the demands on the Belfast service.In addition, it should also be noted that funding has been secured to upgrade the current telephone system; it is anticipated that work will commence early in the New Year.

Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital

Ms D Purvis asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking to improve service provision and capacity for HIV appointments at the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

(AQW 2936/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Most people attending the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital are seen on a walk-in basis and almost three quarters are able to access the service within 48 hours. Those attending HIV clinics, erectile dysfunction (ED) clinics and GUM follow up cases normally have a pre- arranged appointment. It is recognised that there may be times when demand can exceed capacity; however, it should be noted that all patients who are not able to be seen at the clinic on a particular day, are triaged by a nurse and given information and advice on the appropriate place for treatment, which may be at the clinic on a subsequent day.Work is currently ongoing to explore the potential to develop HIV services outside the Belfast Trust. This, coupled with recently opened GUM clinics in other parts of the Province, should improve local access and reduce the demands on the Belfast service.In addition, it should also be noted that funding has been secured to upgrade the current telephone system; it is anticipated that work will commence early in the New Year.

Imported Meats

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much (i) red meat; and (ii) white meat has been imported and then labelled as 'processed in Northern Ireland' in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2943/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: DARD is the Competent Authority with responsibility for importation of red meat and white meat from Third Countries. DARD has advised that it does not collect information on the quantity of red meat, or white meat, imported into Northern Ireland.The Food Standards Agency does not collate details of the quantities of red meat and white meat imported from Third Countries nor quantities of such meat incorporated into various processed meat products.The Food Standards Agency is the Competent Authority for food safety and, in Northern Ireland, certain food labelling and composition responsibilities.The Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (as amended) which are enforced by Environmental Health Officers of District Councils require that food business operators must not mislead the consumer regarding particulars of the place of origin or provenance of the food. The Agency has issued guidance to help the food industry comply with this labelling requirement. The subject of food labelling is currently under review in the European Union and the Commission is currently working on a draft Food Information for Consumers regulation.

Northern Ireland Family Fund

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much funding his Department has provided for the Northern Ireland Family Fund in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2953/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

The table provided below shows the funding provided by my Department to support the Family Fund’s work in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years:

Northern Ireland Family Fund

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many families currently receive support from the Northern Ireland Family Fund.

(AQW 2954/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In 2009/10, The Family Fund supported 2,773 families in Northern Ireland. In addition, the most recent information available from The Family Fund at 30 September 2010 indicates that the Fund has supported 1,427 families in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Family Fund

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to ensure the continuation of funding for the Northern Ireland Family Fund.

(AQW 2955/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department continues to provide funding support to The Family Fund and there are currently no plans to reduce this commitment.

Health and Social Care Trusts; Bonus Payments

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether senior or middle managers in any of the Health and Social Care Trusts have received bonus payments in each of the last three financial years; and, if so, what was the cost of these bonuses to the Health Service.

(AQW 2957/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There were no bonus payments made to the Senior Executives in the Health and Social Care in the current financial year, or in 2009/10 year. Details of Superior Performance Bonus payments made to the Senior Executives in 2008/09 year were recorded in the annual accounts and published in Trust’s Annual Reports. Bonus payments are not available to middle managers on Agenda for Change pay arrangements.

Avarage Spend on Health per Head of Population

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the avarage spend on health per head of population.

(AQW 2958/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The most up to date information available, from the HM Treasury Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, shows that in 2009/10 Northern Ireland had the lowest spend per head (including capital and revenue) of all UK Administrations.In 2009/10, £1,881 was planned to be spent on Health per head of population. This is 2% lower than the average spend on Health across the UK

Spend Head across UK Administrations on Health

Source: HM Treasury, PESA 2010, Chapter 10Following the Appleby Review it has been demonstrated that the population in Northern Ireland have additional requirements for health services that are 10% greater than England. It also showed the need for social services is 35% greater here. When an analysis is undertaken of this additional need, it is found that the health and social care of the population here was underfunded by some £640m in 2010/11.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) age; and (ii) type of infection.

(AQW 2969/11)

1. Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the number of people under the age of 16 diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in each of the last three years, broken down by age is not available.
2. Information on people under the age of 16 diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease is available for the following infections only: Uncomplicated Genital Chlamydia, Uncomplicated Gonorrhoea, Infectious Syphilis, Anogenital Herpes (first attack), and Anogenital Warts (first attack). It is important to note that information does not equate to the number of people diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease as a person may be diagnosed with more than one infection or more than one episode of the same condition.

The number of new episodes of selected infections for people under the age of 16, in each of the last 3 years, broken down by type of infection is detailed in the following table:

Source: Public Health Agency (PHA)In order to avoid personal disclosure an ‘*’ represents a cell count of less than 4.

Alternative Medicine Schemes

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether any ‘alternative medicine’ schemes are currently operating and being funded by his Department; and the Health and Social Care Trusts in which these schemes are offered.

(AQW 2970/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I am advised that the Belfast HSC Trust provides a range of complementary therapies in several areas including mental health, oncology and haematology, and maternity services. In the Northern HSC Trust, the Chemotherapy unit at Antrim Hospital employs a part time complementary therapist, funded from endowment and gift monies, to provide treatment such as aromatherapy, massage, reflexology etc to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.The Southern Health and Social Care Trust do not directly provide any ‘alternative medicine’ although as part of the Big Lottery funded Children’s Hospice at Home scheme within the SHSCT some relaxation sessions are provided for families to help them manage the ongoing stress of coping with life threatening or life limiting illness. The Western HSC Trust provide and fund physiotherapists within Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services and the Pain Clinic who use Acupuncture.

Health Budget

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to list the sources of money put into the health budget from sources other than Government; and to detail the amount of income from these sources in each of the last three financial years.

(AQW 2984/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In 2007/08 HSC organisations obtained estimated revenue income from sources other than Government of £174m and in 2008/-09 of £190m. A breakdown is provided in the attached document. Further information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The HSC is also donated capital items such as buildings and equipment from time to time, which are not "income", but are nonetheless vital in delivering services.

Downe Hospital, Downpatrick

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps will he take to enhance existing services and provide additional services at the new Downe Hospital.

(AQW 2997/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The development of existing and new services at the Downe Hospital is a matter for the South Eastern Trust, and where appropriate the Health and Social Care Board, taking into account issues such as need, effectiveness and affordability of the proposed developments. Since the new Downe Hospital opened, the Trust has introduced several new services – cataract surgery, fracture surgery, a Midwifery Led Unit, bowel screening, consultant led sexual health services and new diagnostic procedures. The Trust has advised that it is currently considering a number of further service development opportunities for the Downe Hospital including further development of the Midwifery Led Unit with the aim of increasing the number of births in the unit; increasing gynaecology activity; additional ENT ICATS outpatient clinics (including audiology diagnostic service); recruitment of a Community Consultant Paediatrician in the new year based in the Downe Hospital and offering a weekly out-patient clinic with links to inpatient acute paediatric service in the Ulster Hospital; expansion of cataract surgery; commencement of a Cardiac CT service; and commencement of a dermatology UVB (ultraviolet light) service.

Fire and Rescue Service

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of people currently employed in the Fire and Rescue Service; (ii) the number of employees who are (a) full-time fire-fighters; and (b) retained fire-fighters; (iii) how these figures compare to 2005; 2007; and 2009.

(AQW 2999/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The table below details the number of people employed within Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) in the years requested and the breakdown between staff groups.

The establishment for Wholetime Firefighters, Controls and Support Staff is based on full-time equivalent (FTE) as NIFRS has a number of staff working part- time or job sharing.Retained Firefighter establishment is based on actual people in post.

Fire and Rescue Service

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of people who have retired from the Fire and Rescue Service in each of the last ten years; and (ii) how many of these people went to work for other agencies and were then re-employed by the Fire and Rescue Service (a) as full time fire-fighters; (b) as retained fire fighters; (c) as managers; (d) as administrators; or (e) in other technical grades.

(AQW 3000/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: (i) The table below details the number of people who have retired from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) in each of the last 10 years.

(ii) NIFRS does not keep records of staff retiring, going to work for other agencies and then being re-employed by NIFRS.

Swine Flu Cases

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of confirmed Swine Flu cases in each month since January 2010; and the figures for the same period in the previous year.

(AQW 3001/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The number of laboratory confirmed Swine Flu cases in Northern Ireland during each month since January 2010, and the same period in 2009 are detailed in the table below:

Monthlaboratory confirmed swine flu cases 2009	laboratory confirmed swine flu cases 2010
January0	9
February0	8
March0	0
April0	0
May2	0
June32	0
July45	0
August83	0
September201	0
October746	3
November214	4
December 29	21*

Source: Public Health Agency (PHA)* Information for December 2010 refers to the number of laboratory confirmed cases between 1^st and 13^th December 2010 inclusive.

Reported fractures

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people have reported at hospitals since 1 December 2010 with fractures; and to provide the figures for the same period last year.

(AQW 3002/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information provided by HSC Trusts indicates that between 1^st December and 13^th December 2010, 2,069 people reported to hospitals in Northern Ireland with fractures. This compares to 1,407 people during the same period in 2009.Note that information provided by the South Eastern HSC Trust for the Ulster Hospital has been estimated based on the assumption that 60% of patients are referred to Outpatient Clinics from A&E with fractures.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme

Dr K Deeny asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what vaccine is used in the current Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme.

(AQW 3020/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Cervarix is currently used in the HPV vaccination programme. The UK contractwas awarded to GlaxoSmithKline following a rigorous process which followed EU procurement regulations. The Department of Health, England, currently intends to begin a procurement exercise for HPV vaccine in early 2011 which is expected to conclude during the summer 2011. The analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination was published in the British Medical Journal in July 2008. The Department of Health, England, has commissioned an update to the cost-effective modelling for the HPV vaccine. This model is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by HPV vaccine against cancer and non-cancer diseases. This model will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV vaccination programme. My Department is kept informed throughout the procurement processes for childhood vaccines purchased by the Department of Health, England, on behalf of the four UK Health Departments. My Department will provide an input to Department of Health, England, officials, as required and in line with procurement regulations, to the forthcoming tender process for the HPV vaccine.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme

Dr K Deeny asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when the next UK-wide tender process for a vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme will begin and conclude.

(AQW 3021/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Cervarix is currently used in the HPV vaccination programme. The UK contractwas awarded to GlaxoSmithKline following a rigorous process which followed EU procurement regulations. The Department of Health, England, currently intends to begin a procurement exercise for HPV vaccine in early 2011 which is expected to conclude during the summer 2011. The analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination was published in the British Medical Journal in July 2008. The Department of Health, England, has commissioned an update to the cost-effective modelling for the HPV vaccine. This model is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by HPV vaccine against cancer and non-cancer diseases. This model will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV vaccination programme. My Department is kept informed throughout the procurement processes for childhood vaccines purchased by the Department of Health, England, on behalf of the four UK Health Departments. My Department will provide an input to Department of Health, England, officials, as required and in line with procurement regulations, to the forthcoming tender process for the HPV vaccine.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme

Dr K Deeny asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department has carried out a cost benefit analysis on the use of a quadrivalent vaccine in the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme.

(AQW 3022/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Cervarix is currently used in the HPV vaccination programme. The UK contractwas awarded to GlaxoSmithKline following a rigorous process which followed EU procurement regulations. The Department of Health, England, currently intends to begin a procurement exercise for HPV vaccine in early 2011 which is expected to conclude during the summer 2011. The analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination was published in the British Medical Journal in July 2008. The Department of Health, England, has commissioned an update to the cost-effective modelling for the HPV vaccine. This model is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by HPV vaccine against cancer and non-cancer diseases. This model will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV vaccination programme. My Department is kept informed throughout the procurement processes for childhood vaccines purchased by the Department of Health, England, on behalf of the four UK Health Departments. My Department will provide an input to Department of Health, England, officials, as required and in line with procurement regulations, to the forthcoming tender process for the HPV vaccine.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme

Dr K Deeny asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department will be consulted by the UK authorities, as part of the next tender process on the choice of vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme.

(AQW 3023/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Cervarix is currently used in the HPV vaccination programme. The UK contractwas awarded to GlaxoSmithKline following a rigorous process which followed EU procurement regulations. The Department of Health, England, currently intends to begin a procurement exercise for HPV vaccine in early 2011 which is expected to conclude during the summer 2011. The analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination was published in the British Medical Journal in July 2008. The Department of Health, England, has commissioned an update to the cost-effective modelling for the HPV vaccine. This model is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by HPV vaccine against cancer and non-cancer diseases. This model will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV vaccination programme. My Department is kept informed throughout the procurement processes for childhood vaccines purchased by the Department of Health, England, on behalf of the four UK Health Departments. My Department will provide an input to Department of Health, England, officials, as required and in line with procurement regulations, to the forthcoming tender process for the HPV vaccine.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme

Dr K Deeny asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department will express its opinion, as part of the forthcoming tender process, on the choice of vaccine for the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme; and if so, how and to whom will it be expressed.

(AQW 3024/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Cervarix is currently used in the HPV vaccination programme. The UK contractwas awarded to GlaxoSmithKline following a rigorous process which followed EU procurement regulations. The Department of Health, England, currently intends to begin a procurement exercise for HPV vaccine in early 2011 which is expected to conclude during the summer 2011. The analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination was published in the British Medical Journal in July 2008. The Department of Health, England, has commissioned an update to the cost-effective modelling for the HPV vaccine. This model is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by HPV vaccine against cancer and non-cancer diseases. This model will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV vaccination programme. My Department is kept informed throughout the procurement processes for childhood vaccines purchased by the Department of Health, England, on behalf of the four UK Health Departments. My Department will provide an input to Department of Health, England, officials, as required and in line with procurement regulations, to the forthcoming tender process for the HPV vaccine.

Consumption of Cigarettes

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the changes in the consumption of cigarettes since the ban on workplace smoking was introduced; and what statistical evidence is now available on health improvements since the ban.

(AQW 3028/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Data is not available on the numbers of cigarettes consumed in Northern Ireland; consequently there are no figures to show any changes in consumption since the introduction of smoke-free legislation in April 2007. However, data is available on adult smoking prevalence rates for the year prior to the ban 2006/07 and up until 2009/10 year. It shows that the prevalence rate prior to the smoking ban was 25% of the adult population while in 2009/10 it was 24%. As smoking related illnesses take many years to manifest in an individual, the overall impact of smoke-free legislation on health improvement cannot be meaningfully measured within the short timeframe since introduction of the ban. A Regulatory Impact Assessment was prepared to assess the benefits and costs associated with introduction of the smoke-free legislation. This advised that benefits to the health service are expected to accumulate over a 20 year period with the estimated savings being based on a reduction in mortality from less exposure to second hand smoke and a further 2% reduction in smoking prevalence among active smokers.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Mr C Boylan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he has had any discussions with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in relation to its proposals to scale back funding for projects which promote independent living and working for people with physical or mental disabilities.

(AQW 3045/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have had no discussions with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in this regard. The Trust reserves the right to realign contracts to better meet the needs of the client group and ensure good value for money and cost effectiveness. Furthermore, the Trust has been open with the public, users, carers, the media and public representatives in relation to the financial pressures it is under to remain within budget and to continue to deliver the services that are essential to people’s independence and well being.

Funding for Homestart Projects

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps he will take to ensure the continuation of funding for Homestart projects and offices in Downpatrick, Newcastle, Ballynahinch and Kilkeel.

(AQW 3046/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: You will understand that, until my Departmental Budget has been finalised, I am unable to guarantee any new funding beyond the current arrangement, which runs to March 2011.My Department has a particular focus on Families Matter, the family and parenting strategy. Through that strategy, I am investing £2.5 million a year, on a recurrent basis, to support families through a range of family support initiatives.My officials are currently engaged with the Health and Social Care Board to ensure that this funding is used to best effect to support early intervention services for hard-to-reach families and provide, not only practical assistance, but also help in building their parenting resilience and skill. As existing providers, I would think that the Home Start schemes in question would be well positioned to enter into dialogue with their local Health and Social Care Trusts about how they might further contribute to delivering on this agenda, and I would urge them to do so.

Pain Management Treatment

Mr P Girvan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what recourse is available to patients who feel their pain management treatment isn't effective; and whether the health budget is designed to opt for cheaper medication.

(AQW 3047/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is for the clinician or GP, in consultation with their patient, to decide on the most appropriate course of treatment for the patient. While it is my Department’s policy that drugs should be prescribed generically, it also allows for occasions where, in the clinical opinion of the prescriber, branded drugs should be prescribed and dispensed. If a patient feels that their pain management treatment is not proving effective, they should discuss the position with their GP who can refer the patient to a specialist pain management clinic. These hospital-based clinics can provide a broader range of pain management solutions.

Medical Practitioners and Consultants

Mr P Girvan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why medical practitioners and consultants are allowed to work between the Health Service and private clinics, given that people on a lower income cannot afford to attend these private clinics.

(AQW 3049/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: All medical practitioners and consultants are permitted to work privately under the terms and conditions of nationally agreed employment contracts.Full time doctors and consultants are contracted to work 40 hours, or more, each week for the HSC. Thereafter they may undertake private work for other organisations provided that it does not result in detriment to HSC patients or services, or diminish the public resources that are available for the HSC.

Children in Care

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, further to his statement of 14 December 2010 on the 11th Sectoral North-South Ministerial Council meeting, to detail the "particular concerns" which would trigger the use of arrangements under a joint protocol on Children in Care and on the Child Protection Register.

(AQW 3054/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Particular concerns that would trigger the use of arrangements under a joint protocol will include:

• Children whose names are on the child protection register/child protection notification system and who move between the jurisdictions; Children who are subject of legal orders in one jurisdiction who move to reside in another; and
• Children for whom there are significant concerns in relation to their welfare or who are assessed as particularly vulnerable who move between jurisdictions.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and the joint protocol will assist staff to make decisions about sharing information in a timely manner to ensure the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children.

Accident and Emergency Facility at the Causeway Hospital

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there are any changes planned for the New Year to the existing accident and emergency facility at the Causeway Hospital.

(AQW 3057/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I refer the Member to the answer given to AQW 3100/11.

Cost of Healthcare Provision in Prisons

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the approximate annual cost to his Department of healthcare provision in prisons since April 2008.

(AQW 3058/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I refer my colleague to the information provided in AQW 7714/10.

Prostate Specific Antigen Test

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many men have undergone the prostate specific antigen test in each of the last three years.

(AQW 3059/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the number of men who have undergone the prostate specific antigen test in each of the last three years is not available.

Herceptin Treatment

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) to detail the cost per cycle of Herceptin treatment; (ii) how many cycles of the drug were approved for treatment last year; and (iii) to define the criteria for qualification to receive this drug.

(AQW 3060/11)

1. Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The cost of the drug is dependent on the patient’s weight. The cost of one cycle of Herceptin for a 70kg patient is £1166.66; to treat one patient (70Kg) with adjuvant Herceptin (which is 18 cycles in total-one cycle every three weeks for one year) the cost for the drug alone is approximately £21000.00. The cost increases as the patient's weight increases. The number of cycles approved for treatment in the year 2009/2010 are given in the table below;

   Trust	No. of cycles approved
   Belfast	689
   Northern	362
   South Eastern	358
   Southern	350
   Western	104
   Total	1863

2. The criterion for qualification to receive Herceptin is HER2 positive breast cancer.

Downpatrick Fire Station

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether Downpatrick Fire Station will retain its two fire tenders.

(AQW 3061/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has no plans to change the emergency operational response arrangements provided by Downpatrick Fire Station.

Direct Payments

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the amount of monies paid out in Direct Payments by each Health and Social Care Trust during (a) 2008/ 2009; and (b) 2009/2010; and (ii) any cap on Direct Payments in each Trust during those periods.

(AQW 3063/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on Direct Payments expenditure by HSC Trust is published on the Departments website at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-cib-3/statistics_and_research-cib-guide/statistics_and_research-cib-direct-payment.htmMy Department’s current policy is to encourage the use of Direct Payments as they offer greater flexibility, independence and choice in how and when services are provided to individuals who are assessed as eligible for social care support. Therefore, during the periods requested, there were no caps on Direct Payments in Trusts.

Direct Payments

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there is a specific budget for Direct Payments in each Health and Social Care Trust; and to detail the Direct Payment budget in each Trust for 2009/10.

(AQW 3066/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Direct Payments are made across a number of programmes of care to meet differing client needs across a range of social care services.  Direct Payments are one of a number of alternative means of meeting the social care needs of the population. They are funded out of overall social care budgets and as such there are no Trust budgets specifically in respect of Direct Payments. 

Direct Payments

Mrs D Kelly asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether Direct Payments can be used to purchase Day Time Activity Services such as (i) befriending services; (ii) supported employment opportunities; (iii) training places; (iv) advocacy services; and (v) driving lessons.

(AQW 3067/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Direct Payments are cash payments, made in lieu of traditional social service provisions, to individuals who have been assessed as needing personal social services and for whom a Trust has decided to provide those services. If, following an assessment, a client need is identified and the Trust proposes to provide a service to meet this need, the client can request to receive a Direct Payment with which to purchase services personally. Such services may include those listed in the question. When arranging a Direct Payment, the Trust will discuss how the potential recipient intends to secure the services he or she has been assessed as requiring. Trusts are encouraged to explore innovative and creative options to meeting a client’s needs; however, the Trust must be satisfied that the person’s assessed needs will indeed be met, and that the money is being spent appropriately.

Direct Payments

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any campaigns undertaken by his Department or the Health and Social Care Trusts since 2007 to encourage the uptake of Direct Payments; and how successful these campaigns have been.

(AQW 3068/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: No campaigns have been launched by my Department to encourage the uptake of Direct Payments. Instead I introduced a new target under Priorities for Action which states that by March 2011, the Health and Social Care Board and Trusts should increase the number of Direct Payment cases to 1,750. Due to the strong performance of the Board and Trusts, this target number has been reached, and is on track to be well exceeded.

Urological Cancer

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many patients suspected of having urological cancer are currently awaiting a review appointment in each Health and Social Care Trust.

(AQW 3081/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Waiting times for (a) a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist; (b) treatment following a decision to treat being taken; and (c) treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, during the months of April, May and June 2010, the most recent months for which information is available, can be found at the following link:http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats 2/waiting_times_main/waiting_times-4.htm

Specialist Neurological Beds at the Royal Victoria Hospital

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the impact on patient waiting times across Northern Ireland of the recent closure resulting from specialist neurological beds at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

(AQW 3082/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have been assured by the Belfast Trust that the recent reduction in the number of neurology inpatient beds will not have an impact on waiting times for elective admission to the ward. The Trust can utilise beds in a flexible manner and if there is a need for more inpatient neurology beds these will be provided.I have visited the neurology ward in the RVH and met with the Belfast Trust and the neurologists providing the specialist service across Northern Ireland. I am absolutely assured of their commitment to providing ongoing care for neurology patients and to ensuring that such care is of high quality, effective and timely.

Red Flag Referral Cancer Patients

Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many red flag referral cancer patients are currently awaiting a review appointment; and what is the average waiting time for cancer patients to receive a review appointment following diagnosis.

(AQW 3083/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Waiting times for (a) a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist; (b) treatment following a decision to treat being taken; and (c) treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, during the months of April, May and June 2010, the most recent months for which information is available, can be found at the following link:http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats 2/waiting_times_main/waiting_times-4.htm

Direct Payments

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the eligibility criteria for Direct Payments; and (ii) any sub-eligibility criteria for Learning Disability Services in relation to Direct Payments.

(AQW 3084/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Direct Payments are cash payments, made in lieu of traditional social service provisions, to individuals who have been assessed as needing personal social services and for whom a Trust has decided to provide those services. They are available to:

• Disabled people over 16; Older people who receive services from the Trust; Disabled parents; Parents of disabled children; Carers over 16 for services to meet their own needs; and
• People affected by mental illness.

There are no specific sub-eligibility criteria for Learning Disability Services, but a Trust can only offer Direct Payments if it is satisfied that the recipient is willing and able to manage Direct Payments, with help if required.

Waterways Rescue and Recovery Training

Mr J O'Dowd asked e Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what waterways rescue and recovery training Fire and Rescue Service personnel in the Craigavon area stations have received; and what equipment is available for those personnel to conduct water-based rescues and recovery.

(AQW 3085/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: All Fire and Rescue Service firefighters, including those based in the Craigavon area, have received a water awareness course covering working in the vicinity of and in and around water.All NIFRS frontline fire appliances carry water rescue kits with four life jackets and two throw lines; in addition, the lead appliance carries a hose inflation kit.

Agenda for Change Payments

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many Agenda for Change payments are outstanding for staff of the former Craigavon and Banbridge Health and Social Services Trust; and what is the estimated timeframe for the payment of all the outstanding claims.

(AQW 3086/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Southern Health and Social Care Trust, which covers the former Craigavon and Banbridge Health and Social Services Trust, has paid Agenda for Change arrears to all its current staff.

Care Matters Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the implementation of the Care Matters Strategy.

(AQW 3090/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Care Matters in Northern Ireland was developed in conjunction with other Government Departments and voluntary sector partners. My Department is currently progressing a number of initiatives under Care Matters in Northern Ireland that fall within the remit of my Department in order to improve the lives of children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care.

Child Protection Internet Safety Initiatives and Projects

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the child protection internet safety initiatives and projects that have been developed by his Department.

(AQW 3092/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My officials liaise closely with UK counterparts as part of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety. During February 2010, to coincide with Safer Internet Day, my Department funded a media and press awareness raising campaign within Northern Ireland to highlight the issue of internet safety and the benefits of the ‘Click Clever Click Safe’ campaign which promotes a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ where parents/carers/children can obtain advice and report instances of concerns in relation to internet safety. Responsibilities for Internet safety issues fall to a number of NI Departments. My Department works with relevant Departments and other Agencies as part of the Safeguarding sub-group of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People to promote issues around Internet safety etc. In addition, under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council my Department is involved in a cross-border group of officials which oversee areas for co-operation on child protection, including internet safety. This group continues to keep each other appraised of ongoing developments within respective jurisdictions. My Department is also currently bringing forward legislation to establish a Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) next year. This Board will play a key role in addressing issues relating to internet safety.The UK Government is currently considering how best to proceed in the area of internet safety. When decisions have been taken on the way ahead we, along with other relevant NI Departments, will consider what the implications are for Northern Ireland.

Accident and Emergency Department at the Causeway Hospital

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many times the accident and emergency unit in the Causeway Hospital has failed to provide complete emergency cover in the last three months; and what changes to this facility are planned for the future.

(AQW 3099/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The delivery of services at the Causeway Hospital remains a matter for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust as the service provider, However, I am advised by the Trust that at no time in the last three months has the Accident and Emergency Department at Causeway Hospital failed to provide complete emergency cover and, as responded to previously, there are currently no plans to make changes to this department

Accident and Emergency Department at the Causeway Hospital

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there are any plans to close the accident and emergency unit at the Causeway Hospital.

(AQW 3100/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: While the delivery of services at the Causeway Hospital is a matter for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust as the service provider, I can advise that the Trust has no plans to change accident and emergency services at Causeway Hospital and has recently implemented a number of initiatives in order to sustain services on a 24 hour 7 day week basis.

Desertcreat College Development

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the budget announcement of 15 December 2010, what financial commitment his Department has made to the Desertcreat college development; and to outline the expected timescale for the project.

(AQW 3101/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: To date, my Department’s expenditure in respect of this project is nil.The draft budget announcement on 15 December indicated that the Executive has committed the full funding for the project through the Department of Justice budget. Timescales for the project will be confirmed by the Department of Justice once business case approval is obtained and the draft budget is finalised.

Attempted Suicide

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people presented to the Ulster Hospital in the last six months as a result of attempted suicide.

(AQW 3111/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Care Workers

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether existing social care workers are required to be registered as such or will the introduction of compulsory registration of social care workers only apply to newly appointed staff.

(AQW 3128/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Existing social care workers, including all newly appointed staff, within specified groups will be required to register with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

Fire and Ambulance Unit in Downpatrick

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the recent proposals by the NI Ambulance Service about a Fire and Ambulance Unit in Downpatrick.

(AQW 3137/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: To date, no formal proposals for a Fire & Ambulance Unit in Downpatrick have been submitted to my Department.

All proposals for the provision of fire and ambulance services in the Downpatrick area will be assessed with a view to ensuring updated fire and ambulance provision in Downpatrick as quickly as funding constraints permit.

Draft Savings Delivery Plans

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department will publish its draft Savings Delivery Plans within one week of the publication of the draft Budget 2011 -2015; and whether it will include details of departmental savings measures and their anticipated impact.

(AQW 3142/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I will not be in a position to publish draft savings delivery plans for my Department within one week of publication of the draft budget. The proposed allocation for my Department is some £800 million (15%) below the funding required to maintain services in line with increased demand by 2014-15.

The priority of my Department must be to deliver services that are safe, sustainable and meet people’s needs. We must meet the increased demand arising from a growing elderly population and from having the youngest population in the UK. People will also rightly expect that as new technology, new treatment solutions and innovative models of service delivery become available throughout the UK that patients here can avail of them to prolong their lives and improve their health.

I will therefore not be able to publish Savings Delivery Plans until I have had time to fully consider the implications of the proposed allocations

Reduction in Cancer Beds in the South Eastern and Belfast Trust area

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the impact that the reduction in cancer beds in the South Eastern and Belfast Trust areas has had on waiting lists for treatment or surgery.

(AQW 3144/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There are no dedicated cancer beds in the South Eastern Trust and therefore no beds have been closed.

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has advised me that a recent LEAN project has enabled the Trust to improve services and increase efficiency within Oncology in the Cancer Centre, while reducing the number of beds by 3.

This project has resulted in better access times for day case chemotherapy treatment and has avoided patients having to stay overnight.

Regional Fertility Clinic

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the (i) target time; and (ii) actual time for appointments at the Regional Fertility Clinic, from the date when a referral is made by a GP.

(AQW 3162/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: A target has been set that by March 2011, no one should wait longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment.

Currently, the average length of wait for a first appointment is 17-21 weeks from receipt of referral; however, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is working towards achieving the nine week target by the end of March 2011.

IVF Treatment

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the (i) target time; and (ii) actual time for the commencement of IVF treatment, from the date when a referral is made by a GP.

(AQW 3164/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In 2009, I announced additional recurrent funding of £1.5m to ensure that no-one who qualifies for publically funded fertility treatment will have a waiting time of longer than a year.It should be noted that this is measured from the time patients are added to the waiting list to receive treatment, not from the time that they are referred; this is in line with how other access targets are managed.

Current waiting time for treatment at the Regional Fertility Centre is 12-13 months; however, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is working towards reducing this to 12 months by the end of March 2011.

Child Residential Care

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) how many children have absconded or run away from residential care in each Health and Social Care Trust area, in each of the last ten years; (ii) how many of these children were returned to care; and (iii) how many remain unaccounted.

(AQW 3166/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:The info rmation requested is not available centrally.

Abortions

Mr W Irwin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many women have travelled to Great Britain for abortions in 2010.

(AQW 3179/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information is not currently available on the number of women who travelled to Great Britain for abortions in 2010.

Job Losses in the Health Service

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the statement made by the Regional Health and Social Care Board chief executive that 4000 jobs could be lost in the Health Service as a result of the recent budget announcement.

(AQW 3190/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The proposed budget settlement for Health means a real terms cut of 2% (almost £90 million) to the whole of the Health and Social Care current budget. As a consequence, there is insufficient funding to continue to deliver services at their current level. The proposed budget does not take account of meeting the ever increasing demand for services. Taking into account the increase in demand expected over the next four years, the budget shortfall by the end of that period is 15%. Of this, more than 6% is to be met in the next financial year; just over three months from now. If this budget is ratified it will mean longer waiting times for patients and clients for HSC services and it will have major implications for thousands of jobs; the current estimate is between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs in the 2011/12 year.

Our Health and Social Care budget needs investment – not cuts.

Stationery

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much his Department and its arm's-length bodies have spent on stationery in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3191/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Care Workers

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether any Health Service organisation insisted upon its social care workers being registered prior to his announcement to introduce compulsory registration for social care workers; and whether they were within their rights to do so.

(AQW 3213/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information is not available centrally.

It is for Individual Health Service organisations to advise whether they insisted upon social care workers being registered prior to the announcement of the introduction of compulsory registration of specified groups of social care workers on 14 December 2010.

Department of Justice

CCTV Cameras

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of CCTV cameras in each local council area; and (ii) who is responsible for the running costs of each system.

(AQW 2652/11)

Minister of Justice (Mr D Ford): This response deals only with town centre CCTV cameras which the NIO installed under the ‘Looking out for You’ CCTV Challenge Fund Competition and which are now DOJ’s responsibility. It does not take account of the many other privately operated schemes which may be operating across Northern Ireland and for which DoJ has no responsibility.

CCTV cameras funded under the DoJ ‘Looking Out for You’ Challenge Fund Competition

* Installation works nearing completion

Gang Culture

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Justice what steps he intends to take to curb the gang culture.

(AQW 2667/11)

Minister of Justice : Northern Ireland does not have a gang culture comparable with other areas of the British Isles. Where it may manifest itself is in the form of paramilitary activity and serious organised crime.

I chair the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), which acts as a forum to allow Government, law enforcement agencies and the business community to develop strategies for dealing with organised crime in Northern Ireland. One of the OCTF’s key objectives is to disrupt gangs and take the profit out of organised crime and remove their criminal assets through criminal and civil proceedings.

Prisoners

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Justice, for each of the last five years, what proportion of adults in the prison system entered prison for the first time.

(AQW 2680/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not collated by the Northern Ireland Prison Service and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Courses for Prisoners

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Justice how many prisoners are currently enrolled in courses for (i) GCSEs; (ii) A-levels; (iii) degrees; and (iv) other higher education qualifications; and what proportion of the prison population these figures represent.

(AQW 2681/11)

Minister of Justice : The current education enrolment figures for prisoners within NIPS establishments, at December 2010 are set out in the table below:

TABLE A : EDUCATION STATISTICS

The total number of prisoners enrolled in these courses is 207, which equates to 14% of the overall prison population.

*Equivalent qualifications include for example:

GCSE’S Essential skills level 2: Level 2 award/cert/dip for IT users:

ECDL (level 2).

A-levels AutoCAD: Openings: Undergraduates.

Degrees Bible Study: Post graduate.

Arrests at Sport Stadiums

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of arrests made by the PSNI for offences committed within a sports stadium in each of the past three years; (ii) the number of these arrests which resulted in a conviction; and (iii) the sentences that resulted from these convictions.

(AQW 2703/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not available in the format requested, however the following table details incidents at and related to sporting events in recent years.

Sports incidents

Football

GAA

Rugby

Safety incidents

Offences Related to Sport

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice whether his Department holds any information on any person, currently living in Northern Ireland but originally from outside the UK, who has been convicted, in another part of the European Union, of an offence related to sport.

(AQW 2704/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not available in the format requested, however the following table details incidents at and related to sporting events in recent years.

Sports incidents

Football

GAA

Rugby

Safety incidents

Offences Related to Sport

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted of offences committed (i) before; (ii) during; and (iii) after the Northern Ireland vs Poland football international on 28 March 2009; and to outline the sentences handed down as a result of these convictions.

(AQW 2707/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not available in the format requested, however the following table details incidents at and related to sporting events in recent years.

Sports incidents

Football

GAA

Rugby

Safety incidents

BMF Business Services

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Justice how much his Department, and its arms-length bodies, have spent on BMF Business Services since May 2007.

(AQW 2727/11)

Minister of Justice : The Department of Justice came into existence on 12^th April 2010. Details of expenditure relating to BMF Business Services before that date are a matter for the previous department.

Expenditure incurred by the Department of Justice and its arms-length bodies is shown in the table below:

The expenditure shown above is from 1^st April 2010 to 30th November 2010 as, under Machinery of Government rules, the DOJ will account for expenditure from 1^st April 2010.

Convictions for Carrying a Weapon

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Justice how many people under the age of 18 have been convicted for carrying a weapon in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2737/11)

Minister of Justice : The table below gives the number under 18 years old convicted for an offence related to the illegal possession of a weapon.

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 under the age of 18 convicted for an offence related to the illegal possession of a weapon 2002-2006

1. Includes the offences ‘armed with offensive weapon with intent to commit offence’, ‘possessing offensive weapon in a public place’, ‘possessing article with blade or point in a public place’, ‘possessing article with blade or point on school premises’, ‘possessing offensive weapon on school premises’, ‘possessing handgun without certificate’, ‘possessing firearm with intent’, ‘possession of firearms by a minor’, ‘possession of firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence’.

Proceeds of Crime Legislation

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Justice how much money has been recouped under proceeds of crime legislation in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2741/11)

Minister of Justice : I am unable to advise how much money was recouped before 2008/09, because prior to this period the Home Office, who administered the recovery scheme across the UK, did not keep a separate record of the net value of criminal assets recovered in Northern Ireland.

This practice changed following the publication of a Home Office assets recovery action plan in May 2007, which set a target for the recovery of criminal assets across the UK. Stemming from this a Northern Ireland Assets Recovery Action Plan was published in July 2008 setting targets for Northern Ireland in 2008/09 and 2009/10.

From 2008/09 to the end of November 2010 the net value of criminal assets recovered in Northern Ireland is as follows:

Reoffending Rates

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice to detail the reoffending rates of prisoners compared with the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 2775/11)

Minister of Justice : Figures for Northern Ireland are only available for the years 2004 – 2007. The following table details the proportion of those adults discharged from custody who were convicted within 18 months:

I have commissioned important work to develop a new, comprehensive Reducing Offending Strategy. The strategy aims to reshape fundamentally our approach to tackling the factors leading people into the criminal justice system and the obstacles which hinder them from getting back out of it.

Crime statistics for England and Wales are available on the Ministry of Justice and Home Office websites (www.justice.gov.uk, www.homeoffice.gov.uk), for Scotland on the Scottish Government Statistics website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics) and for the Republic of Ireland on the Central Statistics Office Ireland website (http://www.cso.ie).

Prison Population

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice to detail the prison population in each of the last ten years.

(AQW 2776/11)

Minister of Justice : The figures are shown in the table below:

Engagement with European Political Institutions

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of officials within his Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions; and (ii) the success rate of his Department in accessing European funding in each of the last three years.

(AQW 2814/11)

Minister of Justice : There are no officials within my Department who are currently directly involved in engagement with European political institutions.

One official currently works within the Department’s European Unit, which was established in April 2010 to manage the implications of EU policy, legislation and structural initiatives for the criminal justice system.  

To date, the Department of Justice has not accessed European funding. The European Unit is currently examining EU funding programmes for Criminal and Civil Justice to identify areas where the Department could apply for funds in 2011.

Erroneous Release of Sean Gerard Cahill from Maghaberry Prison

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the level of risk posed to the public as a result of the erroneous release of Sean Gerard Cahill from Maghaberry Prison.

(AQW 2816/11)

Minister of Justice : I am advised by PSNI that Sean Gerard Cahill is not considered to be a high risk individual and that he poses no particular risk to the public. PSNI is mounting an operational effort to re-apprehend Mr Cahill.

Causeway IT System

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice (i) whether a recent IT system error contributed to the erroneous release of prisoners; (ii) if this IT system error involved the recently installed Causeway IT System; and (iii) whether this system is linked with the Prison Service system, and if not, whether he intends to establish a link as a matter of urgency.

(AQW 2820/11)

Minister of Justice : (i) There is no evidence to suggest that an IT system error contributed to the erroneous release of either Devidas Paliutis or Connelly James Cummins.

An inquiry to establish the circumstances which led to the erroneous release of Sean Gerard Cahill is still ongoing. However at this stage it is clear that the incident almost certainly involved an element of IT system error.

(ii) The nature of the IT system error involved has not yet been fully established but there is no reason to believe that Causeway is involved.

(iii) The Causeway IT system is already linked with the Prison Service IT system, PRISM.

28-Day Charge Sheets in Domestic Violence Cases

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice whether he intends to review the practice of 28-day charge sheets in domestic violence cases and instead, when there is sufficient evidence, to introduce an overnight remand and appearance at the first available Magistrates Court.

(AQW 2821/11)

Minister of Justice : The practice of using 28-day charge sheets in cases involving domestic violence is a prosecutorial policy matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Public Prosecution Service.

The Chief Constable is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable. As my Department is not responsible for the PPS you may therefore wish to direct your question to the PPS and PSNI.

Legislative Proposals in the European Commission

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice whether there is a specific individual or section within his Department to identify, at an early stage, legislative proposals in the European Commission and the potential impact on Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2834/11)

Minister of Justice : In April 2010, the Department established a European Unit to manage the implications of EU policy, legislation and structural initiatives for the criminal justice system within Northern Ireland.  

Executive Office in Brussels

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice to detail any communication his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 2835/11)

Minister of Justice : Details of communication between the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels since the Department’s inception are set out in Table A below.

Table A

Attacks Against Orange Halls

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Justice how many of the convictions for attacks against Orange Halls in each of the last five years were subject to the enhanced sentencing criteria for hate crime.

(AQW 2848/11)

Minister of Justice : It is not possible to provide figures for the period requested. However, I can advise that the Northern Ireland Court Service carried out a manual trawl of enhanced sentencing records for the 2007 to 2009 period and none of these related to attacks on Orange Halls. This may be due to the fact that the criteria relating to enhanced sentencing for hate crime is aimed at protecting individuals as opposed to buildings.

Attacks Against Orange Halls

Mr W Humphrey asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of recorded attacks against Orange Halls in each of the last five years; and (ii) of these how many (a) have been cleared; (b) resulted in prosecutions; and (c) resulted in convictions.

(AQW 2850/11)

Minister of Justice : The PSNI is unable to provide statistics for the time period specified, however they have provided the following figures in relation to recorded attacks against Orange Halls and subsequent clearances:-

Source: PSNI Central Statistics Unit

Over the last three years, three cases have been referred to the Public Prosecution Service and proceedings have been taken against four persons, all of whom have been convicted for offences relating to criminal damage.

Jury Service

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice, for each of the last five years, to detail (i) the number of people called for jury service; (ii) the number of people who took up a place on a jury; (iii) a breakdown of the total amount of expenses paid out; and (iv) any expense claims for items of £100 or more.

(AQW 2857/11)

Minister of Justice : Information on jurors was not centrally collated prior to the introduction of a new IT system in October 2006. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the requested information prior to 2007 without incurring disproportionate cost. Nor is it possible to answer part (iv) without incurring disproportionate cost.

Table 1 below sets out the number of jurors summoned to attend for jury service and the number who were sworn on to a jury. Jurors are usually summoned to attend court between September and June each year.

Table 1

Table 2 below details the expenses paid to jurors at this stage.

Table 2

Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Justice to detail, for the last full year for which figures are available, how many applications for (i) contact orders; (ii) non-molestation orders; and (iii) occupation orders were granted to male victims of domestic violence.

(AQW 2876/11)

Minister of Justice : In 2009, 9,627 interim and final contact orders were made. However, information on the gender of applicants is not collected and not all contact orders applications relate to domestic violence.

Information on the gender of applicants and respondents in non molestation and occupation orders is not routinely collected and complete information is not available. However, figures on applications granted against female respondents, where gender information has been recorded, are available. These figures may include some interim and final orders where both the applicant and the respondent were female.

The table below details the number of orders made where information on gender has been recorded and where the respondent was female.

Table: Interim and Final Non Molestation and Occupation Orders made in 2009 against female respondents

Foreign Nationals Serving Prison Sentences

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice to detail the number of foreign nationals who have been jailed in each of the last five years broken down by (i) nationality; and (ii) type of offence.

(AQW 2885/11)

Minister of Justice : The Northern Ireland Prison Service started to collate statistics on the committal and discharge of foreign national prisoners in July 2006 and as a result of this it is only possible to give complete year figures from 2007.

These figures and those in the attached report are based on committals. Some will have been as a result of fine warrants. Where this is the case not all of the charges laid will have resulted in a continuing custodial sentence.

The figures quoted are correct at 16 December 2010.

(i) The breakdown of foreign national prisoners who have been committed in the last four years by nationality is:

TABLE A: BREAKDOWN BY NATIONALITY