Can the Minister confirm that the manager of the New York office of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board was reprimanded for credit card irregularities, despite his making a statement in the 'Belfast Telegraph' on 30 May in which he denied that his Department rebuked him?

That question is not relevant to the initial question that was asked. However, I will be happy to reply in writing to the Member in due course.

I remind Members that supplementary questions should be based on the questions on the Order Paper.

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4.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many small and medium-sized enterprises in West Tyrone have applied for ADSL Internet access under the pilot programme headed by Invest NI.

(AQO 1478/01)

The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) satellite broadband pilot programme has received eight applications for support from companies from West Tyrone, out of a total of 73 applications to date. Of the eight applications received, three have been rejected, two are under consideration and three have resulted in letters of offer.

I am disheartened that so few SMEs in West Tyrone have applied. Is the Minister confident that Invest Northern Ireland is doing everything practical to encourage SMEs in places such as West Tyrone to make full use of ADSL Internet access? Can he assure the House that there are no administrative or other impediments that discourage SMEs from adopting that IT facility?

Far from creating obstacles for SMEs, we are all doing all we can to give incentives to them. Financial support of up to 50% of set-up and first-year running costs up to a maximum of £1,500 is being offered. Five Invest Northern Ireland officials are going around businesses to point out the advantages of the technology and the concept of broadband. In addition, an e-solutions business centre is based at the former Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) offices in Lisburn with every conceivable form of technology on display. People can come in off the street, see that technology and get advice from officials.

The chairman of Invest Northern Ireland and I have made statements and speeches at every opportunity to draw the attention of the business community to the benefits that can be accrued by availing of those technologies. I assure the Member that our objective is to get at least 200 applications approved, and we have the resources to do that.

Furthermore, a second initiative is being launched to encourage the aggregation of demand in local areas. Thanks to resources from the Department of Trade and Industry, a further sum of money can be made available for, for example, the establishment of wireless networks in certain areas. That is important, and I encourage the Member to do anything that he can in his area to get as many people as possible to apply.

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Is the Minister considering the introduction of technologies such as those available in the e-solutions business centre? Will he consider the concept of teleworking between his Department and constituencies? In particular, does he intend to set up a regional office in the Foyle constituency?

Within Invest Northern Ireland, and its predecessor organisations, growing use has been made of hot-desking, and practices that allow employees to access e-mails and messages from external locations. I hope that such innovations will increase, because our Department has several e-government targets to meet. Clearly, the Department must set an example, and a major project is already well under way to achieve that.

I assure the Member that no stone will be left unturned in fulfilling our desire to ensure that maximum use of these systems is made. We do not specify or promote a particular technology, because one technology may suit one client, while another may suit somebody else. In built-up areas with a significant density of activity, ADSL Internet access can be provided. The exchange in Londonderry is being converted to make that provision available, and I welcome that, but in rural areas that technology is unaffordable, hence my response to Mr Byrne that a different type of technology may be suitable there. One of the key objectives of the Department and Invest Northern Ireland is to ensure competitiveness in businesses by encouraging them to take up the opportunities provided by those new technologies.

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5.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans he has to develop the high level of technical and research skills present in the workforce in the East Antrim constituency.

(AQO 1484/01)

There is a strong collaborative effort between my Department, Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for Employment and Learning in the development of workforce skills, not only in East Antrim, but also across Northern Ireland. However, Invest Northern Ireland has a particular remit for the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors, and aims to create a range of new and relevant programmes across the broad spectrum of business development and improvement.

I thank the Minister for his interesting answer. However, he is aware that the workforce in East Antrim possesses unique technical, research and development skills. Some of that number have been made redundant through the closure of local branches of multinational companies. What redeployment of that skilled workforce has occurred, particularly into new and locally based businesses? Will the Minister, in conjunction with his ministerial Colleagues, ensure that a range of alternative reskilling and training courses exists in order to position workers to benefit from any global upturn in the economy?

I understand the Member's anxiety. His constituency has experienced several setbacks in the last 18 months with one or two large employers in the area. The Member knows that my Department and the Department for Employment and Learning provided significant back-up and went out of the way to establish tailor-made training programmes for certain companies. Significant amounts of money have been advanced through the Department for Employment and Learning and my Department's company development programme. There is no doubt, therefore, that the Government have shown their commitment to provide the companies with the skilled employees that they demanded.

Unfortunately, some people completed their training only to find that they had been made redundant. That was a deep psychological blow. From correspondence that I have received from the Member and other Colleagues, I know that it was felt widely throughout the constituency. I am pleased to be able to say, from anecdotal information that has been given to me, that several people have been redeployed. Once a skill has been learned, it will travel. Those who show the flexibility to leave one form of employment to be retrained and move into another are in demand in the economy, particularly if they have technical skills.

I assure the Member that we will continue to keep the provision of assistance in his constituency under review. It is frequently the case that, in letters of offer to new investors or to existing investors who are expanding, a training package is included.

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6.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline (a) the primary focal points of the new Invest NI agency; and (b) the ratio of client executive personnel to administrative personnel.

(AQO 1477/01)

Invest Northern Ireland's primary focal point is meeting client needs through a client team approach, integrated sector strategies in domestic and overseas markets, and strengthened local-office delivery. Staff with direct client-facing roles account for 49% of Invest Northern Ireland personnel. The remainder provide a mix of client support and administrative functions.

It is no secret to the Minister that the perception in the street and in large parts of the new agency is that the IDB has swallowed up the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) and LEDU.

Will the Minister reassure the House that his sterling efforts of the past - which have my full endorsement - and those of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the House will result in a new, dynamic, client-orientated, results-driven agency, and that those who are at the cutting edge will not be subverted or strangled by the bureaucracy that potentially exists there?

I do not agree that IDB has swallowed up IRTU and LEDU. I refute that, because the purpose of the changes resulting from the Industrial Development Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 was to achieve a quantum shift and change, as the Member said. He was one of the strongest supporters of the measure when it came before the Committee and the House.

The new board took office in April. Members will be aware that a new and dynamic chief executive has been recruited. He has come into Northern Ireland after many years' international experience, and he has set to work to create client teams. He is creating a new approach and aims to create teams of people who have certain skill sets so that they can be "client-facing". He intends that the team will deal with a client, rather than one person with one skill doing part of the job before bouncing the client off to someone who has another skill. That should mean that the client gets a more seamless service.

The chief executive is anxious to increase the percentage of client-facing staff. Inevitably, a certain amount of work will continue to be backroom or overseas work. However, I determine that all overseas work is client-facing - I have seen evidence of that in the past 48 hours.

There is a certain amount of administration that cannot be avoided, particularly when public moneys are being expended, when there are accountability issues, and when special expertise, such as land management, is required. As the months unfold, the advisability of this course of action will become apparent, and I assure the Member that there will be a single and new culture for Invest Northern Ireland. It will not inherit the culture of any one of the other organisations.

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8.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to ensure that Invest Northern Ireland will give recognition to the Derry City Council area by establishing a regional office in the city.

(AQO 1490/01)

Invest Northern Ireland has a local office in Shipquay Street in Londonderry. The board of Invest Northern Ireland is fully committed to using the local office network to deliver its services to businesses and economic development partners in the north-west.

I thank the Minister for his response, but having asked Leslie Morrison a similar question the other day, I expected that answer. Nevertheless, I am sure that once a direct focus is established on employment we will quickly recognise the changes that the new Invest Northern Ireland will bring.

Invest Northern Ireland has considered the matter at board level. I said during the passage of the Industrial Development Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 that there would be a significant regional dimension to Invest Northern Ireland's activities. The Invest Northern Ireland offices in Northern Ireland were formerly offices of LEDU. They dealt with one particular client base. The offices that Invest Northern Ireland will be operating must deal with a broader base. That means that the skills of the people in those offices will have to be added to and enhanced to provide a broader range of activity. I hope that the Member will shortly hear from Invest Northern Ireland on its proposals.

I am confident that the proposals will meet the vast majority of Members' concerns: I am conscious that some areas of the Province do not have offices. While I am not in favour of widespread proliferation simply for the sake of it, there should be outreach in areas where there is economic activity or the potential for it. Potential clients should have access to the agency and its skills. I look forward to an early response from Invest Northern Ireland on that range of matters.

Will the Minister assure the Assembly that the offices will be proactive and that officials will not be sitting in those offices waiting for people to come to them? Will he assure us that the offices will be bases from which officials will go into the community, particularly the rural community, to pass on their skills and knowledge to other bodies?

I am pleased to give the Member that assurance. The intention of Invest Northern Ireland is to change the character of the area. As I said to Mr Byrne, five Invest Northern Ireland officials are concentrating on trying to promote the satellite broadband scheme in rural areas. They are meeting their client base and pointing out the benefits that can be achieved by using the technology. They are also pointing out the financial assistance that is available.

I recognise the thrust of the Member's question that it is no longer adequate for people to sit in an office waiting for someone to arrive. I assure him that that is neither the intention nor the desire of Invest Northern Ireland. I am assured that they intend to run their offices with evangelical zeal. They have to get out and do work that is similar to some of the better enterprise centres. People from such centres have been going into the local community and generating activity; they have not been waiting for people to come to them. If we achieve nothing else but that, it will have been worth the effort.

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10.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, pursuant to AQW 1628/01, whether he is planning to redesignate parts of East Antrim as New TSN areas in light of recent unemployment figures.

(AQO 1459/01)

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is working to finalise revised New TSN area maps that will be informed by the Noble Report, 'Measures of Deprivation in Northern Ireland'. Other relevant factors, such as unemployment levels, are also being taken into consideration. Details of the new maps will be published shortly.

Does the Minister acknowledge that there is a perception in parts of my constituency that TSN criteria are not being applied equally? Areas in the west of the Province with half the unemployment rate of areas in my constituency are currently being designated as eligible for TSN funding, while areas in my constituency are not.

I am aware of the Member's anxiety, and it has been expressed to me on several occasions. I said that we are working to finalise revised New TSN area maps. We are looking at a range of issues because the Noble measures of deprivation are a much more flexible instrument than the previous Robson index, although my Department uses the Robson index together with unemployment data. As an integral part of the revision, we are using the unemployment measures in addition to the Noble Report.

In some of the boroughs that the Member represents, the unemployment levels have been stubbornly and persistently high, and that will form part of our consideration prior to the publication of a revised map. The Noble index gives us the flexibility to add in and take out. If a particular area is currently in a map, it does not mean that it cannot subsequently come out. Likewise, areas that are currently not on the map can come in, so the Member will have to be patient for a little longer.

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11.

asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to what extent Northern Ireland pension funds are used for inward investment in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 1474/01)

The answer is that they are not used. However, I understand that Northern Ireland venture capital funds have invested in a small number of inward investment cases. The Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) has also invested in the new Viridian growth fund, which became operational in January this year.

The Minister is aware that when we visited Montréal last December, we were impressed by the large amounts of pension funds that were being invested in local economic regeneration. Does he agree that there is a need for greater investment of pension funds - not only local funds but also national and international funds - in economic development in Northern Ireland? Does his Department have any plans to try to attract more inward investment from pension funds?

I sympathise and largely agree with what the Member has said. In the United States, local pension funds are effectively obligated to invest up to 5% of their funds in local businesses, and that makes sense. We have at least made a breakthrough with the Viridian growth fund because NILGOSC, which is a well-financed pension scheme, has put resources into it. That money will be used to finance the growth and expansion of new or existing businesses, and I welcome that.

I would encourage and support further involvement. I accept that a pension fund, by definition, has to spread its assets widely and that its primary purpose is to protect the long-term interests of pensioners. However, that does not preclude wise investment in the local economy, which should, in turn, benefit the future pensioners of such a fund. I would support any measure that encouraged local companies to take a modest risk - and we would only expect a modest risk - in supporting local industry. That is entirely consistent. It works well in other countries, including the United States, and there is no reason why it cannot work here.

I do not see Mr McHugh or Rev Robert Coulter in the Chamber, so we cannot proceed at this stage. I ask Members to take their ease until 3 pm.

Employment and Learning

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I wish to inform Members that Questions 3, 12, 16, and 17, which stand in the names of Ms Lewsley, Mr McGrady, Mr Gallagher and Mr McHugh respectively, have been withdrawn. They will receive written answers.

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1.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what plans she has to increase funding for research and development in higher education.

(AQO 1504/01)

I can give no commitment to increase overall provision for research and development in 2002-03 because the Budget has already been agreed and adopted by the Assembly. With regard to 2003-04 and beyond, additional funding for university research is a key bid in my Department's submission to the spending review.

Given that the Minister is unable to increase the mainstream research funding available to universities in 2002-03, will she confirm whether her Department is making any other research funding available to them in the current financial year?

In addition to its mainstream research funding of £26·65 million in 2002-03, my Department will sustain its funding of the support programme for university research (SPUR) and will commence funding for the science research infrastructure fund. That amounts to around £7 million over the two-year period, 2002-04. Both those funding streams are designed to improve research and infrastructure at the universities and to build on research of international excellence. In addition, my Department has bid for Executive programme funds to secure funding for a second support programme for university research. The Department has also bid under the reinvestment and reform initiative that was launched recently for university research capital infrastructure funding.

Will the Minister liaise with her Colleague, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, to create opportunities to develop locally-based businesses from the research and development work that is carried out in institutions of higher education?

My Department already works with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on training and employment and will continue to do so.

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Does the Minister plan to address the current difficulties at Queen's University? Her Department's lack of funding has resulted in an announcement about the closure of the Irish studies department and two others.

Queen's University is an autonomous body, and it must decide how it spends its funding. The Department is aware of the "star rating" that was awarded to Queen's in a recent research exercise. As I have previously stated, the Department has bid for substantial additional resources.

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2.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to give an update on the consultation process for the essential skills strategy.

(AQO 1476/01)

The consultation process that commenced on 17 April 2002 is being managed by the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA). Several consultation seminars have been held across Northern Ireland and have been attended by a range of stakeholders. The 'Essential Skills for Living' strategy document contains many targets relating to curriculum, numbers of learners and timetables. The consultation process will finish on 21 June 2002, after which officials will review all responses and draw up an action plan. I shall establish an essential skills committee to drive the strategy forward, to ensure that key targets are achieved and, indeed, to ensure that literacy problems do not continue to be a huge factor in social exclusion.

I thank the Minister for her reply and acknowledge that the consultation process that commenced in the middle of May is an essential exercise that will upgrade the capacity of Northern Ireland's citizens and prepare them for work. How many seminars are being organised as part of the consultation, and where will they be held? Will they be so located as to ensure that the process is inclusive?

To date, 14 seminars have been held, and a further four are planned for the next few weeks. The seminars were planned to ensure widespread geographical coverage and to include representation from all key stakeholders in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. The closing date for responses is 21 June. The Educational Guidance Service for Adults will then provide a summary of the responses, which my departmental officials will analyse before producing an action plan to implement the strategy by September 2002.

Mr Kennedy, Mr John Kelly, Mr Fee and the Rev Robert Coulter are not in the Chamber. We shall therefore move to Question 8, which stands in the name of Mr Hamilton.

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8.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what action she is currently taking to resolve the financial difficulties being experienced by several further education colleges.

(AQO 1489/01)

I am pleased to announce that the 2002-03 overall percentage increase in the main recurrent grants to colleges amounts to 10·2% over the 2001-02 grant.

Before continuing, I shall check whether I have responded to the correct question, because Mr Hamilton looked at me rather quizzically.

If a college gets into financial difficulty, it is required to engage in a clearly defined process, including the development of a financial recovery plan with the assistance of external financial advisers, the purpose of which is to restore it to financial health within an agreed period.

I assure the Minister that I always look quizzical - at least my wife says that I do.

Does the Minister not believe that it is time to review the funding of further education institutions and colleges with a view to ending the unreal situation whereby colleges must earn such a high proportion of their funding? That situation is more relevant to the south-east of England than to Northern Ireland.

Colleges are aware of the importance of operating within their budgets. The Department has set out the principles to which they must adhere and has written to the newly appointed governing bodies. However, the Department is carrying out a review of further education, which will consider the funding issue also.

Neither Mr Savage nor Mr Foster is in the Chamber. We shall move to Question 11. Minister, you have established quite a reputation for getting through questions, but today you may qualify for 'The Guinness Book of Records'.

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11.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail her policy on upper age limits for the provision of financial assistance to those in further education.

(AQO 1471/01)

There are no upper age limits on any departmental initiative to financially assist students in further education colleges. However, trainees and learners taking part in vocational initiatives such as Jobskills and learndirect may be subject to age limits and differentiation.

I thank the Minister for her response, although I am surprised that she did not explain why age limits might apply to certain courses. Undoubtedly, many would believe that age limits are a form of age discrimination from which we should be moving away.

Many older people continue to make a contribution, through employment and voluntary activities. We have also been told of the need for people to continue in employment for potentially longer than they did in the recent past. Given those factors, is it not important that her Department ensure that grants continue to be available to people over 60 years of age?

My Department is committed to lifelong learning, but we must continue to aim assistance at those who need it most. There is no upper age limit for access to learndirect centres. However, people who are disadvantaged and want to get back into the labour market should receive the maximum support. Courses are free of charge to all, but the Department encourages 18- to 60-year-olds and those who need to obtain employment to get back into work and onto further education courses.

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13.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what action she will take to improve co-ordination between sixth forms in schools and local further education colleagues regarding the provision of courses.

(AQO 1469/01)

Responsibility for provision for 16- to 19-year-olds is divided between my Department and the Department of Education. Local colleges and schools are responsible for co-ordinating the courses on the ground. The improvement of the current arrangements will be a subject for discussion between the two Departments in the light of the post-primary education review. That highlights the need for a coherent strategy between the two Departments, and it is essential that they co-operate and collaborate.

I welcome the fact that the Department for Employment and Learning will discuss the issue with the Minister of Education. Does the Minister accept that too many courses are chasing too few students in some areas, which is perhaps a waste of public money?

I agree with the Member's remarks. Officials from my Department have already met with Department of Education officials, and I met with the Minister of Education recently to discuss the Burns review. We agreed that it was time for our Departments to broaden the review to include 14- to 19-year olds. The Member is correct to say that there is unhealthy competition for students between schools and colleges of further education. My Department must work closely with the Department of Education to address those issues of competition and duplication to ensure that we have integrated planning, funding and management of the policies for that 16- to 19-year-old group. A review of the provision for that group will be included in the reconsideration of the strategy for further education that I am undertaking.

Given that the Burns Report suggested that the so-called collegiates should take on several roles currently exercised by further education colleges, such as careers advice and business to education linkage, does the Minister not think that it is regrettable that the report suggested that further education colleges should not be part of the collegiates?

The Burns Report is out for consultation, so no decision has been taken on collegiates yet. My Department has met with the Department of Education to ensure that there is an integrated approach to 16- to 19-year-old provision, because there must be strong co-operation and collaboration, whether or not the institutions are part of the collegiate system.

The Minister has referred to a strategy on several occasions. What progress has been, or will be, made on that strategy, given that vocational education deserves equality with academic education?

I agree that vocational education deserves parity of esteem. My Department and the Department of Education have already met to discuss their respective policies and to ensure that an integrated approach is taken to provision for 16- to 19-year-olds. It is too early to report on the Department for Employment and Learning's further education review.

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14.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether she has any plans to alter the current method of governance of further education colleges.

(AQO 1488/01)

I intend to review the governance arrangements during the new term of the governing bodies of further education colleges, which began in April 2002.

I thank the Minister for her rather brief answer. I welcome her intention to review college governance. Given that colleges use many public resources, will the Minister further assure me that she will consider increasing the professional input to the appointments procedure for lecturers in further education colleges as part of the general review?

The general review will comprise all aspects of provision. The arrangements for the governance of further education colleges, as set out in schedule 3 to the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, specify that 50% or more of the members of a board of governors should be business representatives or professionals. Other members are the principal, one or two elected staff, an elected student and two persons nominated by the local education and library board. Up to two people can be co-opted. Those arrangements came into effect in 1998. A major review of the further education strategy will include governance arrangements.

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15.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, pursuant to AQO 1088/01, to give an update on the work of the task force on employability and long-term unemployment.

(AQO 1483/01)

Sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker, I have lost it.

Minister?

I am very sorry but I seem to have lost the Member's question. It is grouped with No 6; I do beg your pardon. Fortunately we have plenty of time, and I can answer it now.

I understand the reason for the confusion, Minister; it should have been taken along with question No 6.

The task force considers carefully how it will deal with the areas of Northern Ireland that have the highest incidence of long-term unemployment. Its action plan is being rigorously drafted, and the final draft will be issued to the Committee for Employment and Learning and, subsequently, to the Executive before the summer recess. Targeted initiatives are certainly being considered.

I welcome the Minister's answer, given that unemployment is increasing in the boroughs of Larne and Carrickfergus in East Antrim, the constituency that I represent. Moreover, the incidence of long-term unemployment has increased in those boroughs. Will the Minister consider introducing pilot schemes to rectify that problem?

I shall consider that option. However, the action plan is nearing completion, and I would prefer to report on it to the Committee first.

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18.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether she has any plans to introduce regional alternatives to the New Deal programme that would reflect local experience.

(AQO 1502/01)

Although New Deal is a national initiative, enhancements have been introduced to meet the needs of Northern Ireland participants more effectively. An enhanced New Deal programme, titled 25 plus, which comprises features that are unique to Northern Ireland, was introduced in April 2001. A review of the New Deal programme for 18- to 24-year-olds has just been completed, and enhancements, including Northern Ireland variations, will be introduced in 2002-03.

In addition, Focus for Work, which was introduced last year and is unique to Northern Ireland, provides services to unemployed clients.

I appreciate that the New Deal initiative is being reviewed. The latest report from UU states that New Deal is failing the unemployed, especially those who face multiple barriers to employment. Does the Minister accept that it may be time to examine some of the alternatives to New Deal, such as the excellent proposal from the Lenadoon Community Forum, which the voluntary and community sectors have suggested?

The evaluation studies found that perceptions of New Deal were positive and that there was evidence that participants considered it to have had a beneficial effect on their job prospects. However, the Member is correct to say that weaknesses were identified. If there were other barriers to employment, the New Deal programme did not work as well. That is one of the main issues that the task force on employability and long-term employment will consider. It will identify new and innovative ways to tackle unemployment.

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19.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to give an assessment of the success of the widening access policy.

(AQO 1501/01)

Widening access to, and increasing participation in, higher and further education is a key priority for my Department. Between 1999-2000 and 2000-01, the number of mature student enrolments at further education colleges increased by more than 8%; the number of disabled student enrolments increased by 11%; and adult basic education enrolments increased by 4%. The percentage of Northern Ireland applicants from lower socio-economic groups who are accepted on degree courses is the highest in the four UK jurisdictions.

Will the Minister confirm whether additional resources have been made available to fund the widening access policy? Or, is the widening access policy being resourced from existing funds, thus placing increased pressure on the funding available for third-level education?

The widening access policy is aimed at increasing and facilitating the participation of those groups that are under-represented in the higher education sector. It is especially aimed at students from disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities and students with learning difficulties. The Department is addressing the issue of widening access to higher education through several broad policies and a range of specific target actions. The strategy of promoting lifelong learning overcomes barriers to increased participation in education by traditional non-learners through the provision of access to good information and advice. Northern Ireland is piloting foundation degrees, which are a new vocational higher education qualification. The Department has introduced a widening participation premium for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and it is providing a widening access premium for students with disabilities. It has allocated special funding for projects for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. To make access to higher education available to under-represented groups, it provides special project funding to allow universities to test their strategies and approaches. The Department also supports projects aimed at developing partnerships between universities and those schools that traditionally have low levels of higher education participation.

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20.

asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether she has any plans to revise the Gateway component of New Deal.

(AQO 1467/01)

My Department proposes to enhance the Gateway component of the New Deal programme by providing more support to clients who face complex and multiple barriers to employability.

The principal enhancements will include extended time on Gateway for clients with specialist needs and additional training for specialist personal advisers to support those clients.

A couple of months ago, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that Gateway would now be piloted in Great Britain for people aged 25 and over. Will the Minister consider a similar pilot scheme here? I congratulate the Minister for answering all her questions.

I thank the Member. Following the review of the New Deal 25 plus provision in the spring of 2001, the Gateway component was extended from 13 weeks to 16 weeks to bring it into line with New Deal for 18- to 24-year-olds. It is proposed that the enhancements will apply to both programmes.

There being no further questions to the Minister, I ask Members to be at your ease until 3.30 pm.

Social Development

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I wish to inform Members that question 3, in the name of Mr Ken Robinson, has been withdrawn and does not require a written answer. Questions 2 and 12, in the names of Ms Lewsley and Mr McGrady respectively, have also been withdrawn and will receive written answers.

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1.

asked the Minister for Social Development if the Housing Executive will review its policy on the sale of its commercial properties to tenants.

(AQO 1468/01)

A review carried out in late 1998 concluded that the Housing Executive should not sell any commercial properties unless there were good reasons for doing so. There are no plans for a further review.

I thank the Minister for his brief and concise reply. It looks as though he may equal the previous Minister's achievement in answering questions quickly. Where commercial tenants are willing to invest in the development of properties owned by the Housing Executive, public funds would benefit if those tenants were allowed to buy those properties and develop them as normal commercial enterprises. Now that we have a new Minister, the matter merits reconsideration; a different policy might be devised in the Executive.

I compliment the Member for the concise wording of his question. Most commercial properties owned by the Housing Executive are shops or garages that it has built or inherited. Some are derelict buildings acquired under the special purchase of evacuated dwellings (SPED) scheme. The current policy is to sell only if it makes good economic sense to do so, and providing that there would be no detrimental effect on tenants. The rationale for the retention of such properties is that, when the last review was carried out, it was thought desirable for the Housing Executive to retain control over the nature of the outlets. This is to ensure, first, that a mixture of shops is maintained; secondly, that the residents benefit from local shopping facilities - these properties are mainly in or near housing estates; and, thirdly, that the risk of problems associated with particular types of outlets is minimised. In addition, rent from such outlets contributes to Housing Executive income over a longer time.

Once such properties are sold, covenants governing the use of the shops are valid for only three years, after which time, market forces dictate use. That is not necessarily in the interest of the community. However, I note the Member's remarks and am happy to give the matter further consideration.

I do not see Mr Gerry Kelly in the Chamber, so we will move to the next question.

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