Friday 16 June 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES
AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Hospital Laboratory Staff

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what assessment the Department has made of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining professional laboratory staff in hospitals and what policy she will pursue in relation to salaries for these staff, and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 512/99)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): There has been no formal assessment of difficulties in the recruitment and retention of professional laboratory staff. This issue is being looked at in the development of a human resources strategy for the health and personal social services (HPSS).

Professional laboratory staff in that area here receive the same rates of remuneration as their colleagues in the National Health Service. However, it is recognised that the rates of pay of certain laboratory staff is low.

My Department, in conjunction with its counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales, is currently engaged with trade unions in the development of a new pay system for NHS/HPSS staff. Such a system, if agreed, will provide an opportunity for the pay of laboratory staff to be examined to ensure that they are being rewarded fairly for the responsibilities they undertake.

Ní dhearnadh measúnú foirmiúil ar bith ar na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú agus le coinneáil foireann phroifisiúnta saotharlann. Seo ábhar atá á scrúdú mar chuid den straitéis acmhainní daonna atáthar a fhorbairt don PHSS.

Faigheann baill foirne sa PHSS anseo na rátaí céanna pá agus a fhaigheann a gcomhghleacaithe sa tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Shláinte. Mar sin féin, aithnítear go bhfuil rátaí pá ball foirne áirithe íseal.

Faoi láthair tá mo Roinnse, i gcomhar lena macasamhail i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, ag plé forbairt córas nua pá do bhaill foirne na SNS/SSPS leis na ceardchumainn. Tabharfaidh a leithéid de chóras, má tá comhaontú air, faill iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar phá bhall foirne saotharlann lena chinntiú go bhfuil siad ag fáil pá atá ag cur go cothrom leis na freagrachtaí atá orthu.

Cancer Services

Mr McCarthy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if her Department will implement, as a matter of urgency, the recommendations contained in the Ulster Cancer Foundation document ‘Invest Now’.

(AQW 526/99)

Ms de Brún: I am committed to the development of high-quality cancer services, in line with the Campbell Report ‘Cancer Services – Investing for the Future’. I fully empathise with the Ulster Cancer Foundation’s wish to see adequate resources allocated to take this work forward. This year a further £8 million has been provided for cancer services, on top of the additional £7 million allocated last year.

Funding is not the only factor in the development of our cancer services. The availability of key specialist staff will dictate how fast we can make improvements. It will take some time to have in place suitably qualified specialist staff, such as clinical oncologists and specialist nurses, particularly when these are in short supply in the NHS and elsewhere.

Tá mé tiomanta ar scoth seirbhísí ailse a fhorbairt ar aon dhul lena bhfuil leagtha amach i dTuarascáil Campbell, ‘Cancer Services – Investing in the Future’. Tuigim do Fhondúireacht Ailse Uladh agus í a iarraidh go mbeidh go leor acmhainní á solathar leis an obair seo a chur chun tosaigh. I mbliana cuireadh £8 milliún breise ar fáil do sheirbhísí ailse ar bharr an £7 milliún breise a tugadh anuraidh.

Ní hé an maoiniú an t-aon fhachtóir amháin i bhforbairt na seirbhísí ailse againn. Tá luas feabhsaithe na seirbhísí ag brath ar bhaill áirithe sainfhoirne a bheith ar fáil.

Bainfidh sé tamall asainn na baill sainfhoirne, mar oinceolaithe cliniciúla agus sainbhanaltraí a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cearta acu, a fháil – go háirithe nuair atá siad gann sa SSN agus i áiteanna eile.

HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

McCann Erickson: Department Contracts

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment 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 500/99)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): During the periods mentioned the Department awarded no such contracts.

Employment Action Zones

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail those areas which are earmarked to become employment action zones.

(AQW 484/99)

Dr Farren: The Training and Employment Agency (T and EA) has been the point of contact for Northern Ireland with the Department for Education and Employment in Great Britain, which has the responsibility for employment zones (EZs). Since 1998, when the first five prototype zones were initiated in Great Britain, T and EA has maintained contact with its counterparts about this policy initiative. Northern Ireland, like very many areas of England, Scotland and Wales, is not part of this testing phase because national policy had determined that locations where New Deal for 25-plus was introduced should not overlap in the trialing of the EZ concept. All of Northern Ireland is a 25-plus pilot area.

In April 2000 a further 12 employment zones were created in Great Britain, and T and EA will be closely monitoring their operation. Evaluations of the New Deal pilots and employment zones, in the context of the broader welfare reforms and modernization programme, will ultimately determine the future shape of welfare- to-work provision for the long-term unemployed. At this point in time there are no areas in Northern Ireland earmarked to become employment action zones.

Higher and Further Education:
College Governing Bodies

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment what plans the Department has to ensure that the governing bodies of higher and further education institutes are fully representative of the community.

(AQW 511/99)

Dr Farren: The constitution of each governing body is laid down in schedule 3 to the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. A minimum of 50% of members are drawn from the business, industry and professions category. Either one or two members are elected by the staff of the college, and one member is elected by the student body. Two members are nominated by the education and library board for the area in which the college is situated, and no more than two members may be co-opted by the other members of the governing body. The principal of the college has automatic membership of the governing body.

While the appointment of governors does not fall within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the Department complies with its guidance throughout the appointment process, including widespread advertisement of vacancies and use of independent panellists for the selection process.

Mr ONeill asked the Minister for Regional Development 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 499/99)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): Contracts awarded by my Department to McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd during the periods specified do not remain extant.

The Water Service awarded McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd a contract in January 2000 for the production of an awareness training video. The value of the contract was £14,526·53 (including VAT), but it is not currently extant.

If the implication is that those associated with McCann Erickson (Belfast) Ltd have expounded political views the Department wants to make clear that its criteria for awarding contracts, currently and in the future, are not and will not be influenced by whether those associated with a company have any or no political views.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans the Department has to provide a bypass around Cullybackey, and if he will detail the expenditure required for such a bypass and a proposed starting date.

(AQW 468/99)

Mr P Robinson: A scheme to provide a throughpass in Cullybackey has been proposed for some considerable time and is included in the current Ballymena area plan 1986-2001. The scheme is estimated to cost some £1·4 million, but, because of the level of funding available to the roads programme over the years and the relative low priority of the scheme, it remains a desirable long-term proposal. At present the scheme is included in the Roads Service six- to 15-year forward planning schedule, where it will have to compete for funding with many other worthwhile schemes across the country.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to increase the provision of rail services from Ballymoney to Belfast.

(AQW 469/99)

Mr P Robinson: There are currently no plans to increase the provision of rail services from Ballymoney to Belfast as resources are not available to meet the additional running cost subsidy that Northern Ireland Railways would need. In any case, Northern Ireland Railways does not have sufficient rolling stock available to increase services.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development what funding will be made available for financing the Toome bypass by toll charges.

(AQW 470/99)

Mr P Robinson: I have no plans to finance the proposed Toome bypass by toll charges.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development if he intends to introduce toll-charging on any roads in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 471/99)

Mr P Robinson: I have no immediate plans to introduce road tolls. Congestion charges and road tolls will, however, be among the options to be explored in the longer term to help in reducing the growth in car usage in town centres and in financing improvements to the road network and public transport.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide statistics for average daily traffic volumes during 1999 on: (a) the A26 southbound from Ballymoney to Antrim; (b) the A6 southbound from Dungiven to Toome; (c) the A6 from Toome to the M2.

(AQW 472/99)

Mr P Robinson: The latest available average daily traffic volumes on these routes are detailed in the table below.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister for Regional Development to explain the current allocation of capital for road schemes west of the River Bann and to detail what plans the Department has to ensure parity in budget allocations for future road schemes in all areas of Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 10/99)

Mr P Robinson: As this is a matter for the Department for Regional Development, I am replying.

The criteria for the allocation of resources in the roads budget for major capital schemes west of the Bann are those that apply throughout Northern Ireland. Schemes are assessed against a broad range of criteria, such as strategic planning policy, traffic flows, numbers of accidents, potential travel-time savings, environmental impact and value for money. As part of the Department’s action plan under the New Targeting Social Need initiative, consultants have been appointed to audit the framework for assessing major works.

The resources available for minor capital works (for example, accident remedial, traffic calming, street lighting, car parking) are apportioned to each of the four Roads Service divisions on a needs-based priority approach, using criteria which take account of the length of roads, road conditions, traffic flows, number of accidents, and so on. This ensures, so far as possible, an equitable distribution of resources across the country.

Mr Ford asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline the proposed timetable for the introduction of passenger services on the Bleach Green railway line.

(AQW 515/99)

Mr P Robinson: Translink has advised that the reinstatement of the Antrim to Bleach Green railway line is due for completion in November 2000. Once all the necessary tests and trials have been satisfactorily completed, scheduled passenger services could commence in early 2001.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development what assessment he has made of the contribution by poor roads to the problem of road congestion in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 548/99)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service is constantly assessing road provision, road capacity and traffic congestion in its endeavours to provide a high-quality service to road users. In the past the focus of capital investment in the roads programme has been on building new roads. However, it is acknowledged that new roads can lead to more traffic — adding to the congestion problem rather than reducing it — and that building more roads is not always the right answer.

In urban situations, where traffic congestion is a major problem, top priority is therefore being given to improving the maintenance and management of the existing network before any new roads are considered. Better use can be made of existing roads by investing in network control, traffic management and minor works schemes. Traffic calming and measures to reduce traffic are also being implemented. There are, of course, circumstances where a new road in an urban area can relieve congestion and take traffic out of residential areas.

In the inter-urban situation, improvements to the network are being targeted on key strategic routes with the provision of bypasses and the dualling of single carriageways. This approach is compatible with the draft regional strategic framework for Northern Ireland, ‘Shaping Our Future’. These improvements will further facilitate the movement of goods and people and will provide better access to the external gateways and major markets.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development if he can indicate how many people commute by bicycle and what steps the Department has taken to promote "Bike to Work" day on 20 June 2000.

(AQW 549/99)

Mr P Robinson: Information is not available on the number of people who commute by bicycle.

Steps taken by the Department to promote "Bike to Work" day are as follows.

On 7 April 2000 the Department, in conjunction with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, officially launched "Bike to Work" day at the city hall.

Employers and employees throughout Northern Ireland were encouraged to organise or participate in events on the day and also during national bike week (19-23 June 2000).

In Londonderry, the Mayor officially launched Pedal Power’s cycling festival for the city on 13 April 2000, the main event being "Bike to Work" day. The events organised for the festival are being supported by the Department.

In Belfast, the Department is working in partnership with the Belfast City Council and the Health Promotion Agency to promote the initiative. On 20 June 2000 free secure cycle parking will be available at the front of the City Hall, with an offer of a free healthy breakfast at the Cecil Ward Building, Linenhall Street, for everyone who participates. Also, a free prize draw for bikes and cycling equipment, supplied by local cycle suppliers supporting this initiative, will be carried out by the Lord Mayor. One local cycle supplier will carry out free safety bike checks at the City Hall.

Government offices and businesses throughout Northern Ireland have been encouraged to take part. Posters/leaflets promoting this initiative have been widely distributed.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development what percentages of passengers in Northern Ireland travelled (a) by private vehicle and (b) by public transport in each of the last five years.

(AQW 555/99)

Mr P Robinson: Information on the number of passenger journeys travelled in private vehicles is not currently available. The Northern Ireland travel survey has been designed to capture this information, and results will be available in 2002.

Information on the number of passenger journeys made by public transport in each of the last five years is given in the table below.

Mr Byrne asked the Minister for Regional Development if the Department intends to approve the proposals for the construction of a new sewage treatment works for Omagh on an out-of-town site, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 559/99)

Mr P Robinson: The Water Service commissioned consultants to conduct an environmental and economic appraisal of the siting of the proposed Omagh waste water treatment works.

The consultants’ recommendations have been received and are currently being assessed. I wish to consider all the issues very carefully as I am aware of the concerns expressed by public representatives about the siting of the proposed works. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development whether housing associations will be considered as public authorities for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQW 527/99)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): At present registered housing associations are not public authorities for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, consideration is being given to adding them to schedule 2 of the Commissioner of Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. This will have the effect of bringing them within the remit of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development how many people have applied for money from the social fund at each social security office in South Down, and how much money was issued in loans through the social fund offices in each of the last three years.

(AQW 528/99)

Mr Dodds: Figures of individual applications to the social fund are not kept for each office. It is therefore not possible to supply figures of applications for each of the offices in South Down.

However, it is possible to give the total number of applications made to the social fund in the east and south Down districts for each of the last three years.

East Down

South Down

Loans Expenditure

Again, it is not possible to supply expenditure figures for each individual office; the loans expenditure for east Down and south districts for each of the last three years was as follows:-

East Down

South Down

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development if he will establish an independent review of the workings of the appeals system against the refusal and downgrading of disability living allowance applications; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 529/99)

Mr Dodds: The legislation relating to appeals in Northern Ireland is identical to that in Great Britain.

A full evaluation exercise is currently being carried out by the Department of Social Security in Great Britain following the changes to the decision-making and appeals procedures introduced last year. All areas affected by the changes are being monitored, and if, as a result, any further changes are to be made in the appeals system, corresponding changes will be introduced in Northern Ireland.

The Social Security Agency is experiencing some problems in dealing with appeals on disability living allowance, and these are being addressed separately.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development what is the membership of each of the registered and unregistered housing associations in Northern Ireland, how they are appointed, and what is the duration of each appointment.

(AQW 530/99)

Mr Dodds: All the housing associations registered with and regulated by my Department have shareholding members and committees or boards of management.

Committee members, apart from a few who are co-opted, are not appointed but are elected from the shareholding membership.

One third of committee members are required to retire each year.

The total number of members of the 40 housing associations registered with the Department at 31 March 2000 was 1904. The total number of committee members at the same date was 433.

My Department does not hold information on unregistered Housing Associations.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development (a) how many pensioners in Northern Ireland are estimated to have income below the guaranteed minimum level; (b) how many pensioners in Northern Ireland have responded to the Government’s campaign to encourage take-up of the guaranteed minimum income; (c) what further steps will be taken to make pensioners aware of the minimum income level; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 547/99)

Mr Dodds: There are no reliable estimates of the number of pensioners in Northern Ireland who have an income below the guaranteed minimum level.

At 9 June 2000 a total of 1,609 pensioners in Northern Ireland had contacted the national Freephone claim line number or their local social security offices to obtain a claim form for the minimum income guarantee.

The Social Security Agency is writing to 40,000 pensioners inviting a claim to minimum income guarantee. The issue of these mailshots will be in three stages, commencing on 29 May 2000, with the second stage in July 2000 and third stage in September 2000.

In addition, a national TV advertising campaign (including Northern Ireland) began on 30 May 2000 and will run in conjunction with the mailshots. The Social Security Agency is also working closely with voluntary groups such as Age Concern and Help the Aged to ensure the maximum take-up of the minimum income guarantee.

<< Prev