That this Assembly supports the right to education of school children attending all schools throughout north Belfast.

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Personal Statement

I have received a request from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, to make a personal statement.

In answer to an earlier question from the hon Member for North Antrim (Dr Paisley) about the opening of the Brussels Office, I said that invitations had been issued only to the Northern Ireland permanent secretaries. That was incorrect. I have subsequently discovered that a further six invitations were issued, including invitations to two European MEPs, a member of staff of a MEP and to two members of ECOSOC (European Parliament Economic and Social Committee). Therefore, I correct that answer. Invitations were not issued to the wider range of people who were likely to be invited. It is not uncommon for people's diaries in Europe to be noted about forthcoming events, but Mr Mallon and I agreed that the opening should take place later this year.

I wanted to correct the statement that I made earlier, and I apologise for the factual error to you, Mr Speaker, and to the hon Member.

As is normal practice and as the Minister's statement relates to a question raised by Dr Paisley, I call Dr Paisley.

I welcome the Minister's statement, and I trust that at some later time he will tell the House how much money was spent on issuing the invitations and then cancelling all the arrangements.

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Oral Answers to Questions

First Minister and Deputy First Minister

1.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister if they will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Bloomfield Report.

(AQO 19/01)

The Acting Deputy First Minister (Mr Mallon):

The Bloomfield Report made 20 recommendations - some generic and some specific. The devolved Administration and the Northern Ireland Office have responsibility for taking forward the recommendations in the devolved, reserved and excepted fields respectively. With regard to the generic recommendations, all Government Departments are represented on the interdepartmental working group set up to co-ordinate activity on victims' issues. The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister has recently published a consultation paper on a cross-departmental strategy aimed at facilitating the co-ordination and improvement of the delivery of services. Health boards have established trauma advisory panels and issued directories of services; the criminal injuries compensation system has been reviewed; a trauma centre has been established; issues relating to the disappeared have been taken forward; and a memorial fund has been established to assist victims in a variety of ways.

It is unfortunate that the two junior Ministers with direct responsibility never seem able to come to the Assembly to answer for actions that, Members are told, are their responsibility.

Is the acting Deputy First Minister satisfied with the present level of communication with the Victims Liaison Unit of the Northern Ireland Office? As well as the cross-departmental strategy, the Programme for Government mentioned capacity building and victims' groups, contact with victims' groups, informing the community about the presence of the Victims Unit and assessing what improvements are needed. What further movements have taken place, given that those were all aims of the Programme for Government for this year?

I am sorry that the Member has to make do with Sir Reg Empey and myself in the absence of junior Ministers.

The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister is responsible for all devolved matters, and the Northern Ireland Office is responsible for reserved and excepted matters. We appreciate that, sometimes, that is confusing, and an information leaflet was sent out at the end of January to victims' groups, individual victims and the victims' spokespersons of political parties. The leaflet set out the responsibilities of the respective units and the responsibilities of the devolved Government.

The exercise has produced positive feedback from a variety of groups and has been built on by the continuation of a rolling programme of visits to victims' groups by the staff in the Victims Unit. The consultation process addresses the issue of what the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and the Northern Ireland Office need to do to ensure that victims know which part of Government to deal with.

2.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the date of the next Executive meeting.

(AQO 4/01)

The next meeting of the Executive will take place on Thursday 13 September 2001.

Will the acting First Minister assure the House that he will use the next meeting of the Executive to raise the objections to IRA/Sinn Féin's continued presence in the Executive that many members of his party voiced during the summer recess during the Colombian episode? If so, and if he is genuinely concerned, will he sign the motion for the exclusion of Sinn Féin that the DUP has tabled and has left with the Business Office?

The hon Member will know that the Belfast Agreement put a series of obligations on parties that signed up to it. One of those obligations was that disarmament had to take place. That is long overdue. The Member will also know that under the rules, exclusions can be processed if there is cross-community support for them. I do not know what measures, other than tabling the motion, he has taken.

A few weeks ago, the Member said that he would not be part of any coalition that included any non-Unionist. I do not know whether his party shares that view, but I am conscious that any motion for exclusion requires cross-community support in the House. In 1998, the Prime Minister made certain commitments, publicly and in writing, to our party and to the public in 1998. I look to him to honour his commitments.

3.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail progress on the development of the latest Programme for Government and to indicate how it will differ from last year's programme.

(AQO 103/01)

Under the Belfast Agreement, we agreed that each year the Executive would agree and review, as necessary, a programme incorporating an agreed budget linked to the policies. That programme was scrutinised by Assembly Committees and approved by the Assembly. The process of reviewing and rolling forward the Programme for Government is under way.

An interdepartmental group representing Ministers met during the summer. It prepared a draft, which the Executive will consider this week. The drafting process has taken account of the comments made by Assembly Committees and others in response to the Executive's position report on the Programme for Government and Budget.

The revised Programme for Government will focus on the 2002-03 financial year. We plan to present it to the Assembly in draft form, together with the draft Budget, in the week commencing 24 September 2001. The present consensus, as was clear from the comments made by Committees, is that the broad priorities endorsed by the Assembly in March remain valid. However, a year's experience of administration may enable us to refine our analyses and strategic direction. We will also work to improve the public service agreements and to introduce new service delivery agreements.

Will the revised Programme for Govern­ment reinforce the fight against sectarianism, which is all too evident in our society and has been especially evident during the past week in Ardoyne?

We all deplore the situation at Holy Cross Primary School. We ask everyone connected with that dispute to take a step back and put the interests of the children first. We must build a process to secure a long-term resolution, and we are working to see how that can be achieved.

Children cannot be allowed to suffer the unacceptable intimidation and abuse that we have witnessed recently. Such sectarian strife, which places children at the forefront, is the road to disaster for all of us. The problem is not just north Belfast's problem; it is a problem for all of us. Adults have failed the children by allowing it to happen. We must reflect carefully on how we can help to stop it now. The Executive have unanimously supported the efforts made locally to resolve those problems. We have worked closely with those trying to facilitate a resolution during the past few weeks, and we are continuing to do all that we can to make progress.

We will consider the first draft of the Programme for Government later this week, and we will consider carefully the proposals that it might include on measures to tackle the deep and painful divisions in our society. We expect that those proposals will reflect and build on the progress that has already been made.

4.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to comment on the review and changes to the delivery of front line services envisaged in the consultation paper on a victims' strategy.

(AQO 53/01)

The consultation paper on a victims' strategy was issued on 7 August 2001, and the consultation period is due to last until 9 November 2001. Until the period of consultation has ended and all replies have been received and evaluated, it would not be appropriate to determine which services in the relevant Departments or agencies will need to be considered.

In implementing the strategy, the Executive will take appropriate steps to ensure that service delivery is improved. Not all the changes will require financial solutions, and in some cases a change to existing work practices may be all that is needed.

I thank the acting First Minister for his reply. He referred to the consultation paper on the victims' strategy that was issued on 7 August. That paper said that 30 years of violence had left a devastating trail of victims with a wide range of symptoms and requirements. Can the acting First Minister give an indication about the adequacy of the funding? Will it be sufficient to address seriously and fundamentally the continuing trauma of those people?

Funding is one of the issues on which, I hope, we can find common cause. As I said, it is not always a matter of resources; it is, perhaps, a question of people altering their procedures and having an awareness of the requirements. There are funds available under the Peace II proposals. As the Member will know, there is £6·7 million provided in the peace and reconciliation funding. We are also negotiating with the Northern Ireland Office about a sum of money in its budget that could be the subject of a transfer to our budget. That is an ongoing negotiation. The combination of those two aspects, along with the responses that we hope to receive in the consultation exercise, will provide us with a more effective delivery of service.

5.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to make a statement on consultations it has had to advance the work of the disability rights task force.

(AQO 104/01)

The Executive are committed to ensuring that disabled people have compre­hensive and enforceable civil rights. The Programme for Government includes a number of initiatives and actions which will honour that commitment, including additional places on the access to work scheme and an increase in the number of adaptations to existing homes to make them more accessible for disabled people. Our consultation paper on the Northern Ireland Executive's detailed response to the recommendations in the disability rights task force report 'From Exclusion to Inclusion', apart from those concerning education, will be issued shortly. The disability rights task force set us a challenging agenda, and we believe its impressive report will play an important role in achieving equality of opportunity for disabled people in Northern Ireland.

I welcome the acting Deputy First Minister's comments that it is a matter of enforceable civil rights for disabled people. I also welcome his commitment to the forthcoming consultation paper. Will we proceed to legislation as soon as possible? That has already been done in Britain, with the introduction of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

The Member makes a good point. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, which takes forward the disability rights task force recommendations on education in Britain, received Royal Assent in May. Responsibility for taking forward the recommendations in Northern Ireland rests with the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, and both Ministers have stated their commitment to introducing legislation. I understand that it is intended to issue a consultative document later this year about what should go into the Northern Ireland legislation.

6.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to state what plans have been made to meet United States Ambassador Haass during his visit to Belfast this week.

(AQO 82/01)

We can confirm that Ambassador Haass is due in Belfast on a two-day visit beginning tomorrow. His itinerary includes meetings with representatives from several of the main political parties, as well as a range of other engagements. Mr Mallon and myself expect to be present at separate meetings with the ambassador during the course of his visit.

Mr Haass today said that he was deeply disturbed over the arrests of the Republicans in Colombia, a country in which there are hundreds of American citizens and in which America spends billions of dollars.

Will the acting First Minister encourage the United States Government to take action against Sinn Féin in the USA if the case that the three Sinn Féin members were involved in training activity with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Colombia is proven?

We all accept that the arrests introduce a deeply disturbing dimension to the situation. We talked earlier about three-, four- and five-year-old children having access to schools, which I support. However, we must remember that FARC kidnaps five-year-old children and holds them for six months. An American child was released only after police action.

We must also remember that those people make their living from pedalling death to young people in America and Europe through narcotics. Action has allegedly been taken by certain paramilitary organisations in our society against people who pedal drugs. Therefore, I cannot understand how others can consort with an organisation that makes its living from selling drugs and narcotics and from kidnapping young people. As a result, a huge problem has arisen. It is interesting to note that some Members who are normally so vocal have been silent about this.

The activities of the child- kidnapping, drug-running, anti-United States terrorists, who have been found in Colombia recently, alarm the people of the Province. At his meeting with Ambassador Richard N. Haass, will the acting First Minister urge the Ambassador to ensure that the United States Government will take action now to close the fund-raising door that is open to IRA/Sinn Féin?

I said that Ambassador Haass would be meeting party representatives. I hope to be one of those representatives. I have already made personal representations to him along those lines. I have no difficulty in repeating them, because FARC is a dangerous organisation. It poses a threat not only to American activities in Colombia, but to western Europe and the United States through the pedalling of poison, which is primarily aimed at young people. FARC is an unsavoury organisation. There is no way that any involvement with it can be swept under the carpet. The American Administration are genuinely shocked, and there may be congressional hearings. Some of my Colleagues will take the opportunity to draw those matters to the attention of the American legislators this week.

7.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail what reports have been received and whether consultations have taken place between them and Her Majesty's Government on the issue of decommissioning.

(AQO 122/01)

I thank the Member for his question and for the little bit of nostalgia that accompanies it; it will, no doubt, develop into neuralgia before the question is over. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) has reported to the British and Irish Governments five times this year, and those reports have been published. The latest report was dated 6 August 2001. We have not jointly consulted the British Government on the issue of decommissioning. However, our respective parties have met the British Government separately to discuss the matter.

The Minister will recall that, back in those happy days when we were participating in office together, we were severally consulted by the Government from time to time on the issue. It would be valuable if it could be confirmed that, in the run-up to August this year, we were told that both the British and Irish Governments had made it clear to the Republican movement that the actual fulfilment of its obligations - the commencement of actual decommissioning - was necessary and that engagement with the IICD and agreement on modalities - welcome though that would be - would not be sufficient by themselves.

Will the acting Deputy First Minister join me in appealing - even if it is to remarkably empty Benches - to the representatives of the Republican movement to ensure that their obligations are discharged in the course of the next few weeks and that they do not put the continued operation of the Assembly in peril?

The Member will be aware that all participants in the Good Friday Agreement have agreed that the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) has responsibility for achieving the decommissioning element of the Good Friday Agreement. The commission can achieve that objective only by working with all paramilitary groups, and I call on all groups to engage intensively with the commission without further delay. The latest IICD report reflected progress in respect of IRA weaponry, and it was deeply unhelpful that that progress was overtaken by that group's withdrawal from contact with the IICD.

I agree with the statement that was made subsequent to that by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in which he anticipated the type of action that would deal with the issue, following the undertaking given to the IICD. Unfortunately, that action has not taken place, but the will of the people is that the matter be dealt with once and for all and in such a way that it will no longer damage the political process.

Alongside the resolution of decommissioning, we must also make progress on policing, the operation of the institutions and normalisation if we are to resolve all the difficulties facing the political process.

Does the acting Deputy First Minister not think it strange that, when the former First Minister was asked that question in this House, he hedged? Now he asks the same question. That is an interesting situation. When the Democratic Unionist Party met Gen de Chastelain, he said that the talks had not been called off and that the IRA had said that it had withdrawn its offer but had not ceased to keep the link. Why is he telling us the opposite today?

I note the Mem­ber's remark about the gamekeeper-turned-poacher. It is a strange situation, not without its piquancy.

I cannot answer for the independent commission about discussions that the Member and his party might have had. Broadly, the issue has had a festering effect on the political process. It has damaged it and has led to the type of suspicion and antagonism that we saw only too vividly last week. The issue must now, surely, be dealt with once and for all.

Does the acting Deputy First Minister share my frustration and disappointment that the latest IICD report was withdrawn in days? Will he, on behalf of all the people in Ireland who supported the Good Friday Agreement, urge the IRA forthwith to reinstate its offer to IICD?

I fully agree with the Member's comments. Decommissioning is an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement and must be addressed if we are to overcome our current difficulties. I have no hesitation about asking the IRA to deal with the issue in a way that will allow the full political potential of the Good Friday Agreement to be realised.

8.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, in view of the more difficult economic climate predicted for the year ahead, to indicate how the revised Programme for Government will address the issue.

(AQO 101/01)

With the priority of securing a competitive economy, the Executive have agreed an important set of measures that will provide the infrastructure and environment for economic growth. Simultaneously, we have placed strong emphasis on ensuring that we have the skills needed for a modern economy, through investment in education and skills.

The revised Programme for Government continues to refine those priorities and seeks to develop our programmes. That will create a stronger economy so that we may provide appropriate support to those affected by the downturn in the global economy and respond to changing economic circumstances.

Although I welcome the acting First Minister's assurance that support for those affected by the downturn will be forthcoming, does he recognise that the downturn is already being felt in the north-west through, for example, the loss of jobs at Calcast Ltd in Campsie last week? A comprehensive package of measures, including the provision of gas to the north-west, is required.

It should never be said that an opportunity to get that one in was wasted. The Member will be aware that Colleagues in the Executive are discussing the provision of gas beyond Greater Belfast, and we hope to determine our policy on that soon.

There has been a history of difficulties with Calcast Ltd. Its current parent company undertook an investment programme that resulted in the provision of new machinery and production lines, and that has led to some job losses.

The economy changes all the time. Our job is to ensure that we have the best skills and infrastructure possible, to ensure that our companies remain competitive in world markets. As the Member knows, I am frequently in the north-west and in her city. I take a keen interest in the economy of that part of the Province, and I assure her that my departmental agencies are doing all that they can in co-operation with local authorities and other organisations in the area to create the best possible opportunities for job growth.

9.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail if it has had any contact with the Administration of President Bush in respect of the apparent involvement of Irish Republicans with Colombian terrorists and, if so, have these contacts suggested that the President shares with me a sense of disappointment at this apparent involvement.

(AQO 85/01)

I have been in­formed that there has been contact between the acting First Minister's office and the United States Administration on that matter. The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister has ongoing contact with President Bush's Administration on a range of issues pertaining to political developments here.

Does the acting Deputy First Minister have any information on when the United States House of Representatives International Relations Committee will hold hearings in Washington? Will the Executive send representatives to those hearings?

I understand that no decision has been taken on whether the United States Congress International Relations Committee will hold hearings into the recent arrests in Colombia. Until that matter is decided on by that body, it would be impossible for the Executive to form a proper opinion on the second part of the question.

Does the acting Deputy First Minister intend to impress upon President Bush's Administration the depth of the concerns of people in the Province? Will he seek an assurance that specific action will be taken against IRA/Sinn Féin in all its activities in the USA, whether they be fund-raising or public relations? Moreover, will he press for strict passport controls?

As the acting First Minister said earlier, Ambassador Haass will be in Northern Ireland later this week. I assume that political parties will meet him.

I have no doubt that points about the arrests in Colombia will be made in the meetings with political parties.

Our time is up for questions to the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister.

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

We do not take points of order during Question Time, but we will happily take them at the end. I will ask my Colleague who is taking over from me to note that.

Regional Development

1.

asked the Minister for Regional Develop­ment to detail the total cost of upgrading Craigavon Bridge in Londonderry and what problems have been identified with the upgrading.

(AQO 57/01)

Roads Service officials have advised me that the total cost of refurbishing Craigavon Bridge in Londonderry will be £4·2 million. The work is being undertaken in three phases. Phases one and two involved the refurbishment of the upper and lower decks of the bridge at a cost of £1 million each. Phase three will involve the painting of the whole structure at a cost of £2·2 million. Phases one and two have been completed; phase three has just started and will be completed by the end of summer 2002. Some aspects of the resurfacing work that were carried out on the upper deck as part -[Interruption].

Whoever's mobile phone is ringing should get out -[Interruption]. The law treats everyone equally.

Some aspects of the resurfacing work that was carried out on the upper deck as part of phase one did not meet the required standard. Officials, therefore, instructed the consultant and the contractor to undertake remedial work. This work was substantially completed on 2 September.

I welcome the Minister's detailed state­ment. However, as he is a public representative for Londonderry, he will be aware of the high level of congestion that the work caused for many who live in the city. The work particularly affected those who live on the east bank of the river. As we move into the third phase of the scheme, can the Minister assure us that we will be able to seriously address some of the traffic problems caused by the scheme while the main work was being done? That is very important. Most of the public representatives across the city received major complaints about the traffic congestion that this scheme caused.

I thank the Member for the supple­mentary question. I appreciate the disruption that was caused. I suspect that most Ministers who live close to works that cause disruption are lobbied on such matters, and I was not an exception. I am acutely aware of the problems that were encountered last weekend. During the first 10 weeks of the painting contract that constitutes phase three, minor lane restrictions will be in operation along the lower deck of the bridge. After that period, no further lane restrictions on Craigavon Bridge are envisaged, and I hope that that will be the case.

I also welcome the Minister's response, and I agree that work has been an ongoing problem. Did the initial problem result from the original design or did the work have to be redone because of the way in which it had originally been carried out?

There was a change in the specification of the original work, and as a result the costs of the works that were carried out - the works in relation to the change in specification that caused the problem - were borne entirely by the contractor and the design consultant who were responsible for the specification in the first instance.

When the problem arose - and we were aware of it some months ago - Roads Service took the opportunity to do some additional works of its own that it would have had to carry out in any case. Roads Service paid for that work, but the cost of the work caused as a result of the specification change was entirely borne by the contractor and the consultant.

2.

asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail those plans that have been initiated to decentralise functions within his Department.

(AQO 63/01)

At present three quarters of my Department's staff are located outside the Greater Belfast area. Staff are employed at 74 locations across Northern Ireland. Although I have no plans for further decentralisation I will continue to ensure that my Department's staff and functions are located where maximum efficiency in the delivery of services to all people in Northern Ireland can be provided.

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra. I want to see an increasing dividend in the matter of decentralisation. There is a growing focus on decentralisation within the Civil Service, and a conference will be held in the second half of October on that very matter.

With regard to decentralisation, I would like the west of the Bann to be viewed positively. I understand - and I can be corrected by the Minister if I am wrong - that the Department for Regional Development undertakes some of its administration for the Six Counties in Enniskillen, not least the processing of discs for disabled parking.

By their very nature the services delivered by my Department are highly decentralised. A cursory examination, for example, of the four client divisional headquarters of Roads Service are ample testimony to that. They are located in Belfast, Omagh, Coleraine and Craigavon. The north, south, east and west are covered so we are already fairly decentralised.

There are a significant number of industrial employees in Northern Ireland. However, I will continue to examine ways of ensuring that decentralisation is ongoing. We aim to achieve maximum effectiveness in delivery of the service and will continue to do so.

I thank the Minister for the answer he gave to the original question. I welcome the fact that there are 74 locations for members of staff to work in. Can the Minister assure the House that these offices, services and staff will not be removed from the east of the Province, outside of Belfast, as dictated by Sinn Féin/IRA? He knows that the vast majority of the population of Northern Ireland lives in the east of the Province and therefore should have jobs, services and facilities available to them. Does he agree that to take jobs from the east, simply to give them to the west, would create a false economy and is not a realistic approach to the problem of trying to bring new jobs to disadvantaged areas?

I am more than happy to confirm that the effective delivery of services will be the most important criterion in determining where those services are best delivered from and to. It is the case that the delivery of services across Northern Ireland has been adequate.

I will go so far as to say that that will continue to be the case without major change. If I were convinced that any elements within the Department for Regional Develop­ment were not already decentralised, I might be persuaded. However, given that we are effectively decentralised, I do not see a compelling case for further action on this.

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