8.

asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give an updated report on support for football clubs for both the premier and first division of the Irish League.

(AQO 652/01)

Under the safe sports grounds scheme, which I announced in August 2000, funding amounting to just over £2·5 million has been allocated to clubs in the premier and first divisions of the Irish League to carry out a range of health and safety improvements, to assist clubs to develop family spectator facilities and family-based activities, to operate coaching programmes and to develop club management.

I am glad to hear that this amount of money has been made available to the premier and first division teams. Can the Minister tell us how much will be available in the next tranche and indicate a timescale for the assistance? As he will be aware, most of the clubs need help now rather than four years or five years down the line. Can he also indicate whether the available finance will be within the proposed soccer strategy presently being looked at by the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure?

The funding that I referred to has been under the major works - urgent health and safety works - and safety management programmes for sports grounds. To date, some £2·5 million has gone to soccer clubs, Gaelic clubs and rugby clubs. A further £1 million has been made available for 2002-03, which will allow the scheme to continue. Taking the allocation that we are getting from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, topped up with some money from the Football Foundation, it means that we will have £1·5 million to continue the scheme next year. That is an important benefit, not only to soccer, but also to rugby and Gaelic sports.

I recently announced that £1·6 million has been made available as an outworking of the soccer strategy. That funding is over three years, and it is specifically for youth development, involving schools of excellence and the possibility of a football academy.

9.

asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his plans for ensuring that all schoolchildren have an opportunity to participate in workshops and performances given by the Ulster Orchestra.

(AQO 646/01)

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is providing the Ulster Orchestra with revenue funding of £1·25 million in the 2001-02 financial year to carry out several programmes, one of which is in the field of education. For many years the orchestra has, through its outreach programme, offered various activities and programmes of work for the benefit of children. Those have been developed in conjunction with the education and library boards and the district councils. Schoolchildren are given opportunities to participate in special events such as adopt-a-player schemes, curriculum-based creative projects, special concerts, outreach work, local community music groups and residencies by smaller ensembles from the orchestra.

It is impossible to assure the Member that every schoolchild will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and performances given by the Ulster Orchestra. However, I am confident that everything possible, within the limitations of available resources, is being done to encourage and support closer associations between young people and the Ulster Orchestra.

I take the opportunity to express my appreciation to the Ulster Orchestra for the efforts that it has made to reach out to the wider community, and to young people in particular. I am a little disappointed that the Minister cannot guarantee that all schools, particularly those in rural or disadvantaged areas, will have the opportunity to experience the educational value as well as the entertainment value that the orchestra provides. I ask the Minister to give some thought to how all children can be treated equally in that respect.

I am not sure that there was a question there, but the Minister may wish to respond.

When the Member referred to all schoolchildren, I assumed that he meant schoolchildren in Northern Ireland only. There are approximately 350,000 schoolchildren in the system, so it would be unreasonable to expect us to reach 100% of them.

The Ulster Orchestra recognises that children are its audiences of the future, and it also recognises the strong educational benefits that getting involved with schoolchildren can bring. Consequently, it has set up an educational department to develop opportunities for schoolchildren to participate in workshops and performances. Education plays an increasingly important role in the orchestra's work. It is also part of my Department's corporate strategy. I am sure that the Member is aware that one of our targets in the Programme for Government is to increase participation through enhancing children's and young people's access to creative expression. The Ulster Orchestra's efforts are a perfect example of that, and we are serious about ensuring that the orchestra reaches large numbers of people. We encourage that, but there are limitations to the resources that the Ulster Orchestra has available, and, as the Member will be aware, there are also limitations to the Department's resources.

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10.

asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to assess Waterways Ireland's need to recruit additional staff; and to make a statement.

(AQO 600/01)

One of the key challenges facing Waterways Ireland is establishing the body as an effectively functioning corporate organisation.

At present, 250 Waterways Ireland staff are in post. The full staff complement will be 381, of whom 70 will be based in Enniskillen. The recruitment process for the remaining staff is under way. Over 1,400 applications were received by the closing date of 14 December 2001 for 47 new administrative staff posts, of which 41 will be based in Enniskillen. The remaining technical posts to be filled will be advertised in the coming weeks. It is estimated that Waterways Ireland's presence will bring some £2 million to £3 million into the local economy each year.

I refer the Minster to the recent advertisements for posts at Waterways Ireland. If every post were filled, the total salary costs at the bottom of the pay scale would be around £835,000 and those at the top of the pay scale would be over £1 million. Is the Minister satisfied that the number of posts and the resulting costs are necessary to support the work of Waterways Ireland?

I must ask the Minister to be brief.

I will do my best. I am satisfied. Waterways Ireland's budget is £22 million; Northern Ireland's contribution is £3·7 million, in exchange for which we are getting around 1,000 kilometres of navigable waterways managed. We have the potential to create navigable waterways on the upper and lower Lagan, the Newry/Portadown Canal, the Ulster Canal and Lough Neagh. When grafted onto the Shannon-Erne Canal, Lough Erne, the Lower Bann and the waterways system in the South, those developments will create huge potential. Canals in the South are at a sophisticated level of development, and that benefits tourism there. As Mr Gibson and Mr Hussey pointed out, the development of waterways is a means of creating tourism in rural areas.

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Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions 8 and 10 in the names of Mr Neeson and Mr McGrady MP respectively have been withdrawn and will receive written answers.

1.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline (a) any grant aid paid in the past three years to potato processing plants; and (b) the amounts awarded.

(AQO 621/01)

Through the 1994-99 EU processing and marketing grants scheme, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has assisted potato processors to invest in modern grading, washing, packing and storage facilities. Since 1 January 1999, grant payments totalling £858,000 have been made to potato processors. Non-capital support to encourage better marketing has also been provided under the marketing development scheme. Since 1 January 1999, marketing grants of £89,000 have been paid to potato processors.

Will the Minister investigate the possibility of using her Department's expertise to give marketing advice to our potato growers on what action they might take to deal with the threat of cheap potato production from eastern European competitors? They are shortly to join the European Union and will be able to trade without restriction in our home markets.

We will certainly be giving marketing advice to our potato producers, because that is part of our role. I assure the Member that we will also enable our farmers to compete better with growers from other countries through processing grants and through our advice on how to improve the quality of their potatoes. We have been particularly aware of that factor in recent years, given the demands by supermarkets for uniform, nice-looking potatoes, which appeal to the customer. My Department has also been working hard to ensure that our producers are in a position to compete in that market.

What grants have been paid to potato producers, as opposed to potato processors? In the border counties of the Irish Republic, farmers are often paid around £5·8 million. That is making competition much more difficult here. Can the Minister say what money has been paid to Northern Ireland farmers?

I am interested to hear that Mr Poots envies the Republic, but I do not want to comment on that.

I am aware that we have problems with level playing fields in certain sectors. I have had representations made to me from several sectors, and I am looking at that. I am anxious to do something to ensure that our producers, at all levels, are in a position to compete on a level playing field.

There is no provision for capital grants to potato producers. However, my Department works closely with both seed and ware potato groups, the largest of which attracts over 50 growers. Competence development programmes to help improve husbandry skills, which have an impact on returns, also exist. In addition to grants for both processing and marketing, significant support is provided to the Northern Ireland potato sector by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, IDB and LEDU in terms of technical advice and support through Loughry Agricultural College and research and development activities.

My question has already been answered.

2.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assistance she will give to the fishing industry in the light of cuts imposed by the EU.

(AQO 653/01)

3.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the December Fisheries Council.

(AQO 631/01)

10.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assessment she has made of the annual quota allocations for each fish species as a result of the December 2000 European Council of Ministers' meeting; and to make a statement.

(AQO 598/01)

17.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to support Northern Ireland's fishermen in resisting the 25% cut in their staple nephrops catch proposed by the European Union.

(AQO 619/01)

I would like to take questions 2, 3, 10 and 17 together, as they all relate to the same area - the December Fisheries Council and its outcome.

This was a long and arduous meeting, particularly as we were faced with proposals for extremely severe cuts in stocks, including those of particular interest to the local industry. The best deal possible for Northern Ireland in the circumstances was obtained. I was successful in obtaining an increase in the nephrops total allowable catch (TAC) from the proposed 14,175 tons to 17,790 tons. This was no mean achievement, bearing in mind that the European Commission's proposal was for a 25% cut in this TAC. It was reluctant to accept any increase because of its view that the by-catch at this fishery includes stocks under threat.

In addition, increases above the Commission's proposals were obtained for such stocks as Irish Sea cod, plaice, sole and haddock. While I have not made an individual assessment of each fish species for which total allowable catches were agreed, I regard the outcome as successful, particularly for Irish Sea cod. I was grateful for the support of my ministerial colleagues from England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland during the negotiations. However, the need to conserve fish stocks has to be balanced with the need to protect the industry. During these negotiations I was determined to achieve that balance.

With regard to assistance for the industry, I have already introduced a £5 million fishing vessel decommissioning scheme, the results of which have recently been made known. In addition, I have recently announced the availability of £15 million to fund four new schemes to assist the local industry. These are the improvement of facilities at Northern Ireland's fishing ports, support for aquaculture processing and marketing of freshwater and marine products and promotion of fishery products. I hope to announce, in the not-too-distant future, further assistance schemes, including schemes to help with safety training and an improvement in the quality and marketability of fish on board fishing vessels.

Does the Minister agree that the unseen consequences of the EU quota cuts are the impacts on families who have mortgages and unpaid debts et cetera? Can the Minister say what finance will be available to assist with the tie-up scheme for the next few weeks, for example? The Minister said that there would be new schemes for retraining. What finance will be available for those in the fishing industry who want to retrain?

Many of the issues raised by Mr Shannon are a matter for the Department for Social Development, not my Department. I have addressed the question of the tie-up scheme on numerous occasions in the past. It has not previously been policy to provide compensation for a reduction in quotas or for closures. However, I am taking stock of the economic position of the industry following the outcome of the December Fisheries Council meeting. The position is that despite last year's closure, the local industry was able to catch almost all of its cod and haddock quotas and a substantial proportion of the quota for nephrops.

Following the December council outcome, which was quite favourable in terms of overall fishing opportunity, and given the current reduction in the fleet following our decommissioning scheme, there is no strong prima facie case for compensation. I am, however, keeping the situation under review.

The retraining programme that the Member referred to will be resourced by the £25 million of EU funds allocated. Its specific details will be made known as soon as we come to a decision.

I thank the Minister for her detailed responses and congratulate her and the Department for sticking up for the fishing industry and the agriculture industry when she goes to other places. However, it would appear that the fate of the fishing industry lies largely at the whim of scientific agencies, despite the fact that our experts quite often disagree with their findings. Will the Minister continue to raise these anomalies with her United Kingdom partners and, by so doing, quickly bring more prosperity back to the fishing industry in Northern Ireland?

I do not think that we will ever reach a situation in which the fishermen will agree with the scientists. I endeavour to ensure that the fishermen are part of the consultation exercise. Whereas the Commission has always taken the view that it had to go by the science, this year's proposals for cuts were clearly not in line with the science. I was able to use that strong argument at the council, as did my ministerial counterparts, to ensure that the cuts were not as drastic as those proposed.

I have to be guided by the science community. I cannot use scientific arguments in favour of reducing cuts one year yet refuse to accept them in another year if they do not suit me. The real issue for the fishing industry and me is to ensure that we find a balance between maintaining a viable industry and conserving the stocks. That is never going to be easy. Looking at the scientific evidence and taking cognisance of it is an important part of that process.

I thank the Minister for the detail of her last answer. Does she envisage developing a ten-year plan for Northern Ireland's fishing industry in co-operation with her colleagues in Brussels, so that the Province's fishermen might at least be able to get a medium-term picture of their future?

I have not made any decisions on a ten-year plan for the fishing industry. Again, the difficulty lies in the need to maintain a balance between conservation of stocks and preservation of the industry. A review of the common fisheries policy is under way, and we will contribute to that, as will my counterparts in the United Kingdom and the South of Ireland, because the review will have an impact on what happens in the immediate future.

Can the Minister expand on the preparations that took place for the December Fisheries Council? Given the experience gained, will she accept my congratulations on this occasion and assure us that the fight for fair play for our fishermen goes on?

My preparation for December's European Fisheries Council began when the 1999-2000 Fisheries Council ended. I began to make a case for reversing the 10% cut in prawns, which was a disappointing result, but we fought very hard and had the support of the UK Minister in doing that. In the run-up to the council I met Mr Morley, the Scottish Minister, Mr Finnie, and representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the Commission's proposals. I also had a meeting with Mr Fahey of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources in Dublin to discuss areas of mutual interest. At all stages, including during the council, I was at pains to reflect the needs and concerns of our local industry. I was very grateful for the support of Mr Morley, Mr Finnie and Mr Fahey.

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4.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the strategic study 'Organic Farming in Northern Ireland: A Development Strategy' being undertaken on behalf of her Department; and to make a statement.

(AQO 627/01)

In order to increase market opportunities for organic produce and to encourage the development of a vibrant organic sector in Northern Ireland, I commissioned consultants to undertake a strategic study on how best to develop organic farming in Northern Ireland. I considered the report to be a realistic view of the prospects of the organic sector against the targets set out in the rural development plan, which is to have 1,000 producers farming 30,000 hectares of land organically by the year 2006. The report emphasises the importance of the organic sector's being market- led if it is to be viable in the long term.

The consultants' report has been the subject of a consultation exercise, and all the comments received are being considered carefully. I am also receiving oral and written representations on organic farming in the context of the Vision for the Future of the Agri-food Industry exercise. The vision report recommends that the organic development strategy should be implemented in full. The consultation period for the vision exercise has been extended to 31 January 2002. I shall wish to take all representations into account as well as the comments of the Assembly Committee before providing a detailed response to the consultants' recommendations.

I welcome the Minister's response, and I welcome the report. What are the key strategic goals of the report?

The report has five strategic goals. The first is to increase the production base in Northern Ireland significantly by 2006; the second is to promote the orderly development of a diverse range of market outlets and effective supply chains for organic food produced in Northern Ireland; the third is to increase the competitiveness of all organic producers in Northern Ireland by increasing their technical and managerial capacity for effective production and marketing; the fourth is to develop the capacity of appropriate agencies and organisations to service the needs of the organic sector in Northern Ireland; and the fifth is to secure greater collaboration between organisations to achieve appropriate and coherent action for sector development.

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I also welcome the Minister's launching a report on organic food production. Does she agree that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development should aim at a target higher than 3% for organic produce? As a consequence of foot-and-mouth disease we are more aware of the need for food safety and of the need to monitor imports carefully. Should we not therefore raise our target to the 10% or 20% that other European countries are trying to achieve?

First, I am concerned that there is an implication in the Member's question that food that is not organic is not safe. I should like to knock that on the head. Three per cent is a realistic target at this stage, and we have the funds to meet it. We must also look carefully at the market.

There are two issues that come up in organic farming. First, we have to keep our eye on the market. At the moment, demand exceeds what is available. For obvious reasons, the premium could drop, so we have to take cognisance of all the issues. At the moment, 3% is a realistic target, and we have the funds to meet it.

I do not want to raise expectations unnecessarily, but I want to repeat that although organic food is a marketable product at the moment, we are anxious that in Northern Ireland we should be able to meet our market needs and not have to import from other countries. I do not want anyone to run away with the idea that if it is not organic, it is not safe. All our food in Northern Ireland, especially our beef, is as safe as you can get.

In that interchange the Minister highlighted the issue of production, as opposed to marketing, of new niche products such as organic produce. However, in the light of the target of 1,000 producers with 30,000 hectares within five years, can she give an indication of the uptake so far in the organic farm scheme?

The uptake so far is 72 scheme participants, which is only half the number anticipated at this stage. That is mainly due to the effects of the foot-and- mouth disease situation, which meant that necessary on-farm inspections by organic sector bodies could not take place. However, we anticipate increased interest in the scheme in 2002.

5.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her support for farmers who wish to remain in the farming industry.

(AQO 651/01)

My Department provides an extensive range of practical and financial support to the agriculture industry. This includes business and technical advice, training and education, animal disease control and eradication, research and development and technology transfer, to name a few.

Perhaps the most graphic illustration of the help on offer from my Department is the fact that it administers various national and CAP support mechanisms, which collectively pay out some £200 million each year in direct subsidies to Northern Irish farmers. That is an average of £6,700 per farm business. It also has a role to play in the administration of CAP market support mechanisms, which are estimated to be worth up to a further £100 million per annum to Northern Irish farmers and are particularly important in supporting the dairy sector. The Department also operates measures such as the rural development and forestry programmes, which provide substantial additional direct and indirect support to the agricultural and rural communities.

Towards the end of her answer the Minister mentioned various schemes that are peripheral to the farming industry at times. She also referred to the dairy industry. Various Members and, indeed, the Minister will no doubt have received alarming information on the current position of the dairy industry. Does the Minister agree with the Ulster Farmer's Union (UFU) assessment that Northern Ireland's dairy sector is in a precarious position, with the threat of intervention building?

The Minister will be aware that an important meeting of the EU Dairy Management Committee will take place this Thursday. Can she detail her representations to Secretary of State Margaret Beckett on the present threat to our dairy industry, and can she assure the House that the UK representative on the Committee will be seeking more realistic levels of export refunds for skimmed milk powder and, in particular, whole milk powder to reflect the collapse in world market prices for milk powders?

Before the Minister answers, I remind Members that supplementary questions are supposed to be related directly to the original question, and there is some licence there.

The question is OK. I am fully aware of the difficulties of the dairy industry at the moment, and I have had a meeting with the industry and the president of the UFU.

The fact that the industry can use only 15% of its fluid milk in Northern Ireland does create a large problem for the industry when export refunds are cut. We are heavily dependent on the export of milk powders to other countries. Given the present state of the market and the current level of EU support, export refunds are clearly insufficient to maintain producer prices.

At last week's meeting in London with the UK agriculture Ministers, I impressed upon Ms Beckett the need to put pressure on the EU Commission to secure a significant increase in refunds. That is necessary if prices are to be stabilised and we are to avoid undermining the financial stability of this important sector for Northern Ireland. We did receive modest increases in November and December, but the need to get further increases was impressed upon Ms Beckett, and she has taken my point on board. UKRep is fully appraised of the importance of the issue for us.

Will the Minister accept that timely disbursement of EU premium payments would be an indication of her support for the industry?

Yes, I agree that timely payments are a priority, and I always endeavour to ensure that payments are made as quickly as possible. We did have some difficulty this year with the suckler cow premium payments because of the Commission's additional requirement to cross-check the payments. That created some slight delays.

Overall, however, my Department has a good track record of timely payments. In October 2001 the Department published the annual profile of premia payments for 2001-02. Since 24 October my Department has issued over £57 million in subsidy payments to farmers, and a further £4·3 million will issue to the industry by the end of January. Overall, payments are being made either within the target times or very soon afterwards. My officials will continue to strive to deliver on the challenging targets specified in the profile.

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6.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the Outreach Tourism measures available under the rural development strategy; and to make a statement.

(AQO 638/01)

The main tourism measure under the rural development programme is the natural resource rural tourism initiative. This Peace II measure will be delivered by five locally-based partnership bodies and will support tourism projects that utilise the natural resources of five of Northern Ireland's most disadvantaged rural areas.

The rural intermediary funding body will also deliver a tourism-related Peace II measure to assist rural communities to promote local identity, culture and heritage, with an emphasis on peace and reconciliation. The rural development programme can also deliver tourism support under the programme for building sustainable prosperity. That can assist local area-based or sectoral projects and programmes to develop quality tourism products in rural areas. The LEADER+ element of the rural development programme also has scope to support small-scale innovative tourism businesses.

Under INTERREG III, the proposed rural initiative measure includes opportunities to support local cross- border tourism.

How have the proposed natural resource rural tourism initiative areas been defined, and which local partnerships will deliver the initiative?

Parts of Northern Ireland are disadvantaged but have the potential to develop and sustain a strong tourism product based on their natural resources. It was decided, therefore, that the core of the target area should be rural areas that are disadvantaged and have an official designation in respect of their landscape or environmental quality - for example, being an environmentally sensitive area (ESA) or an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

The partnerships are the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, the South Armagh Tourism Initiative, the Mourne Heritage Trust, Sperrins Tourism Ltd and Shadow Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership in collaboration with Fermanagh Lakeland Trust.

Farmers are willing to diversify their means of income, and they must. Tourism is one way of achieving that. Will the Minister tell the House what action she is taking to rejuvenate the Department's rural development strategy in the light of dwindling farm incomes in recent years? Can she assure us that the initiatives will be led by farmers and will benefit the family farm?

My Department has been anxious to ensure that farmers and farming families should become involved in rural development. In the last tranche of rural development, there seemed to be resistance on the part of the farming community, because rural development was seen to be competing with farming. There is now a stronger appreciation that rural development is complementary to, and supportive of, diversification. It is as supportive of farming families as it is of the rest of the rural community.

My Department, the rural development advisors and I are anxious to work with farm groups and the farmers' union. We have been working to ensure that farmers are aware of the opportunities that arise from rural development programmes and are enabled to participate in and profit from them.

7.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to say (a) what procedures are in place to co-ordinate funding applications under the LEADER II Programme that are the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's responsibility; and (b) which applications are processed by other agencies such as the Rural Development Council and the Rural Community Network.

(AQO 613/01)

Unfortunately, I must ask the Minister to make her answer brief.

The LEADER II programme has been closed to application since 31 December 1999, and we have now embarked upon the LEADER+ programme. Funding applications under the current structural funds round will be recorded on a central applications database, which has been developed by the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Although the database was devised initially for the Building Sustainable Prosperity and Peace II programmes, work is underway to link LEADER+ applications to it.

All the delivery agents under the rural development programme, such as LEADER action groups, the Rural Development Council and the Rural Community Network, will be required to use the computer database, which will provide early warning of possible duplicate applications. Co-ordination will also be achieved in other ways. For example, the Department's rural area co-ordinators will have a key role in co-ordinating the various rural development measures. In addition, the Department has produced a user-friendly signposting brochure to guide potential applicants through the various measures. That brochure is readily available at all programme outlets.

Unfortunately, there is no time for a supplementary question.

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Assembly Commission

1.

asked the Assembly Commission, in the light of the review being conducted by the House of Commons Commission, what plans it has to review arrangements for the payment of rent for constituency offices.

(AQO 616/01)

The Member is correct to say that the House of Commons Commission is conducting such a review. However, that review is under way, and it would therefore be inappropriate to pre-empt any conclusions that may arise from it.

The Member will also be aware that the Assembly Commission recently asked the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) to review Members' salaries, allowances and pension arrangements. The review will examine all areas associated with Members' allowances, including the payment of rent for constituency offices. The review is a three-stage process in which all parties, including the Member's own, have every opportunity to contribute. Hay Management Consultants, on behalf of the review body, have just concluded the job analysis element of the review. Parties have also had the opportunity to submit written evidence, and the review body will take oral evidence on 29 January. I encourage all Members to take this opportunity to raise any issues that concern their parties about the current arrangements. Again, it would be inappropriate to comment on any issue covered by the review in advance of the SSRB's report of its findings in April of this year. However, I assure the Member that the Assembly Commission will consider carefully the conclusions and recommendations presented by the SSRB.

I thank Mr Wells for the response on behalf of the Commission. I refer to it and to a written answer that I received from his Colleague, Mr Fee, last week. It appears not to address the issue raised by my question at a time of widespread cynicism about political life in every part of this country and in the Republic.

First, does the Assembly Commission have access to the House of Commons review of the payment of office rents? Secondly, is there reason to believe that what happened in Scotland may happen here, because it seems that there are no procedures to prevent it? Thirdly, in the light of Mr Fee's response, which suggested that there was no monitoring of the use of Assembly Members' offices for electoral purposes last year, should the Commission not be more proactive in monitoring? Merely reporting that 19 Members had declared the use of their offices is at least a step forward, but it does not go far enough to deal with the cynicism that exists.

The Commission does not have access to the material submitted to the House of Commons review and will not have access to it until the report has been published. I emphasise that before a Member can submit an invoice for rent, a valid rental agreement must be submitted to the Finance Office, and it is carefully checked.

The use of Assembly Members' constituency offices causes enormous difficulties because there are 108 Assembly Members, some of whom may have two or even three constituency offices. Barring asking Assembly staff to sit outside their offices every day taking note of who goes in and out and for what purpose, it would be very difficult to monitor the continuous use of offices. The Assembly Finance Office monitors the situation carefully, and a complaint drawn to its attention is investigated immediately.

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2.

asked the Assembly Commission to detail what provision it is making to subsidise community and voluntary groups using the facilities in Parliament Buildings.

(AQO 634/01)

The Assembly Commission is very conscious of its accountability and therefore does not provide subsidies to any group using the facilities in Parliament Buildings. The Commission believes that that would be a misuse of public moneys. Members may sponsor functions in Parliament Buildings. I am sure that Members want the Commission to ensure that all financial proprieties are observed in managing functions in Parliament Buildings.

If the Member is referring to the costs associated with the running of the various catering outlets in Parliament Buildings, I can advise her that all those fall into two categories: internal and external. Internal costs are those associated with the operation or function of Assembly business, for example, the basement dining room and the Members' dining room. In this case the Assembly Commission has, through a process of competitive tendering, put in place a cost plus contract, whereby all costs associated with the functioning of Assembly business are borne by the Assembly Commission.

External functions are not directly associated with the running of the Northern Ireland Assembly, therefore the direct labour element of the service provision, in addition to the cost of refreshments, is borne by the external organisation. However, I emphasise that no recurrent overhead costs such as heat, electricity, cost of room hire or security at weekends are borne by the external organisations. The Assembly Commission continually monitors all costs associated with the functioning of the Assembly to ensure that it achieves value for money. Where costs can be reduced without compromising accountability, the Commission will do so.

This Building should be accessible to everybody. Often the organisations that visit here can bear the catering cost; voluntary groups, however, may find that more difficult. I sponsored a voluntary group to visit Parliament Buildings at the beginning of November. It had to cancel, because it was asked to pay £80. I understand what the Member says about catering. However, is the Commission aware there were 100 people coming that day but that only 60 chairs were available in the Long Gallery? The organisation was going to have to bear the cost of hiring 40 chairs at £2·00 each. There was no crèche facility - all it was asking for was a room. What will the Commission do in future for such facilities?

The Member raises a valid point. The Assembly Commission is aware of that difficulty. At present, an external function that has anticipated more than 60 attendees cannot be catered for without additional seating: we have only 60 chairs. The Assembly must bear the cost of hiring extra chairs at approximately £2·35 a chair. That is added to the cost of the function, because the Assembly passes it on to the organiser. However, the Commission is aware of the problem and has asked the Office of the Keeper of the House to investigate the costs of purchasing additional chairs. It will report to the Commission on the matter, and the Commission will assess whether that option is cost-effective. If it proves to be so, additional chairs will be bought so that community groups, such as the one that the Member mentioned, will not be placed in that position.

Crèche facilities have not yet been considered, but I am sure that the Commission will want to take that on board. That is a very good point.

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