Friday 16 June 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education how many (a) Protestants and (b) Roman Catholics are enrolled at each of the integrated primary schools and at each of the integrated secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 476/99)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): The figures in the 1999-2000 school census are as follows:

Some pupils in these schools may be classified as neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if he will make it his policy to carry out an assessment of all school buildings to ensure accessibility for wheel-chair users.

(AQW 477/99)

Mr M McGuinness: All new school buildings provide access for disabled people, and school authorities are taking steps to improve access to existing buildings within existing resources. My Department is considering what further action needs to be taken to improve access and facilities for disabled people in schools.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken to implement the provision of free milk for all school children.

(AQW 478/99)

Mr M McGuinness: I am currently considering the recent report on this subject. I should point out that the cost of providing free milk to all pupils would be some £8 million per annum, and provision only for those entitled to free school meals would cost about £2 million per annum. There already are various schemes in operation to provide milk to specific groups of pupils, including those at pre-schools and special schools, and current arrangements for free school meals ensure that children from disadvantaged circumstances receive a nutritionally balanced meal each day. If the policy were to be changed, I would want to be satisfied that this would represent the best use of resources in the face of the many competing priorities within the education budget.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education what measures he has taken to ensure that all school records which contain security-sensitive details of the children of members of the security forces are subject to appropriate security arrangements.

(AQW 481/99)

Mr M McGuinness: Schools are prevented by legislation from disclosing information about the name, address or occupation of a pupil’s parent except to the pupil or his or her parent. The physical security of the records which a school holds about its pupils is a matter for the board of governors and the principal of the school.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if he will make a commitment to the future of the rural school kitchens and the provision of school meals in rural areas.

(AQW 482/99)

Mr M McGuinness: I am fully committed to the provision of school meals in rural areas. All pupils have access to nutritionally balanced school meals regardless of where they live.

Education and library boards are responsible for the operation of the meals service at controlled and maintained schools in accordance with the policy laid down by my Department. It is for boards to determine the most effective and efficient means of provision, including decisions as to whether to use on-site kitchens or to have meals transported from a neighbouring school or central kitchen.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement about the proposed closure of Academy Preparatory School in Ballymena.

(AQW 483/99)

Mr M McGuinness: The closure of the preparatory department is a matter for the board of governors of Ballymena Academy in the first instance. The procedure is that the governors would ask the North-Eastern Education and Library Board to publish a development proposal if they should decide to close the prep dept. My Department would give careful consideration to such a proposal before taking a decision.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 1 April 1999 to 2 December 1999 and currently extant; (b) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 2 December 1999 to 11 February 2000 and currently extant; (c) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 11 February 2000 to 30 May 2000 and currently extant; and (d) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department which are still extant; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 505/99)

Mr M McGuinness: Nil return.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education to state how many full-time youth workers are employed by each of the education and library boards, detailing whether they are employed in administration, formal settings or informal work with unattached young people.

(AQW 513/99)

Mr M McGuinness: The information provided by the education and library boards on the employment of full-time youth workers is as follows:

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if he will confirm whether the Department penalised school children who protested against his appointment as Minister, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 545/99)

Mr M McGuinness: The management of absences from school and behaviour within school is the responsibility of the board of governors and principal of the school.

There is no role for the Department in such cases, so the question of departmental penalty does not arise.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to confirm that the Department authorised the North Eastern Education and Library Board to call on the RUC to deal with children protesting at his appointment as Minister.

(AQW 546/99)

Mr M McGuinness: As I explained in my response to AQW 545, responsibility for the management of absences from school and behaviour within school rests with the board of governors and principal of the school. The Department has no role in such cases.

I understand, however, that, following discussions between some school principals and board officials, the North Eastern Education and Library Board issued guidance in February 2000 to Principals on managing pupil protests, which included reference to the role of the police in public order issues. The Department is not involved in the issue of such guidance by the Board.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail how many grants have been allocated by LEDU and IDB to the North Antrim constituency compared with the other 17 Northern Ireland constituencies during each of the last three years.

(AQW 444/99)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): I attach details of the number of grants allocated by LEDU (Table A) and IDB (Table B) to each of the 18 parliamentary constituencies during each of the past three financial years.

1. Total project locations exceed total projects as some projects are located in more than one constituency.

2. Companies have still to determine the precise location of one project secured during 1998-99 and two projects secured during 1999-2000. Consequently these three projects are omitted from the above table.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what assessment he has made of the Northern Ireland Economic Council’s Report 133 on publicly funded research and development and economic development in Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 445/99)

Sir Reg Empey: A joint and detailed assessment by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment of the Economic Council report is nearing completion. It is being prepared in consultation with other interested Departments and in the context of relevant national and EU policies. On receipt of the assessment, Dr Farren and I will, as agreed, put a joint report to the Executive Committee.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what measures he has taken to ensure that there is adequate funding to finance research and development links between business and the universities in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 446/99)

Sir Reg Empey: Through IRTU, my Department provides an extensive range of funding measures to promote collaborative research and development and technology transfer between industry and academia. These include the Start Programme, the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS), the Technology Development Programme and, between 1992 and 1996, funding from the IFI Science and Technology Programme. In addition to 18 centres of international excellence, funding has been provided for a number of university incubator facilities. Since IRTU’s establishment in 1992, a total of £45 million has been provided for such activities. In addition, £10 million has been committed for the establishment of a science park for Northern Ireland.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will give a breakdown of the budget in his Department for promoting tourism in each constituency area.

(AQW 447/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board budget for promoting tourism is not broken down by parliamentary constituency.

The board has offered overall marketing support, through ERDF, of £1,080,502 for 2000-01. A regional breakdown of this figure is attached.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what steps he is taking, in the light of recent job losses in the textile industry, to address the issue of competition from the Republic of Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 448/99)

Sir Reg Empey: There is no evidence to indicate that the recent job losses at a number of textile and clothing companies are a result of competition from similar companies operating in the Republic of Ireland. The main drivers for the present situation are increased competition from imports from lower-cost economies, the continuing strength of sterling and pricing pressures from customers.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give a breakdown, by constituency, of those employed in the tourism industry and what assessment he has made of the risk to these jobs if cross-border co-operation on tourism progresses.

(AQW 449/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s latest estimates indicate that in 1998 there were 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs directly sustained by tourism. The data cannot be analysed at constituency level. However, a breakdown by local authority area is given in the table below.

Cross-border co-operation on tourism issues has been continuing for a number of years, with no evidence of a detrimental effect on visitor numbers and therefore on employment in tourism in Northern Ireland. The total number of visitors to Northern Ireland increased from 1.294 million in 1994 to 1.655 million in 1999. It is anticipated that ongoing co-operation will bring tangible benefits in terms of increased tourism visitor numbers and revenue, leading to enhanced employment opportunities for all areas.

Dr McDonnell asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 1 April 1999 to 2 December 1999 and currently extant; (b) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 2 December 1999 to 11 February 2000 and currently extant; (c) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department from 11 February 2000 to 30 May 2000 and currently extant; and (d) the number and value of contracts awarded to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd by the Department which are still extant; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 504/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has not awarded any contracts to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd which are currently extant.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether the Industrial Development Board will be considered as a public authority for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQW 531/99)

Sir Reg Empey: No. The Industrial Development Board is an integral part of my Department, which is itself designated as a public authority for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The statutory equality obligations falling to the Department and the commitment made in its draft Equality Scheme, currently the subject of public consultation, apply fully to IDB.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what is the current position in regard to the textile industry in Northern Ireland, what steps will be taken to encourage industries to locate in those areas most likely to be affected by a decline of this industry, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 591/99)

Sir Reg Empey: During the 1990s the textile and clothing sector in Northern Ireland faced increasing competitive pressures from low-cost countries. This has resulted in a considerable loss of employment as companies seek to restructure to focus on value-added activities. There are currently approximately 18,000 people employed in the sector, which has a turnover in excess of £1 billion.

The Industrial Development Board (IDB) focuses on attracting new, first-time inward investment to Northern Ireland that will lead to further economic growth as well as additional opportunities for sustainable employment and enhanced job quality

IDB’s research suggests that the majority of areas affected by the decline in the textile and clothing sector are those which have been designated as having greatest social need. IDB is committed to achieving a target of 75% of first-time visits by potential investors to these disadvantaged areas and at least 75% of new inward investment locating in or adjacent to disadvantaged areas.

IDB is committed to working with local councils and community representatives, including those in areas which have been particularly affected by the decline in the textile and clothing sector, to understand local issues and to co-operate on how best to market and promote their areas as investment locations.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps he is taking to ensure equality of opportunity for all energy users in the south-east of Northern Ireland and, in particular, what measures he proposes to ensure an equitable distribution of natural gas throughout Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 304/99)

Sir Reg Empey: This subject falls within the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

I am keen for all energy users in Northern Ireland, not just those in the south-east, to be given the opportunity to avail of economic sources of energy, including natural gas. It is, however, a matter for the private sector to put forward viable economic projects which will allow this to happen.

At present the director-general of gas supply for Northern Ireland, who is responsible for regulating the gas industry, is considering several applications for gas licences to take supplies to the north and north-west and to the south-east.

I was pleased to note that Premier Transmission has recently announced its intention to take forward the next stage in its plans for the development of a north-south pipeline. This could be an encouraging development for the south-east.

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