Friday 23 June 2000
Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Agriculture and Rural Development
Education
Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Environment
Finance and Personnel
Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment
Regional Development
Social Development

OFFICE OF FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister how much money has been allocated by the Peace and Reconciliation Scheme to the Ex-Prisoners Information Centre and if it will initiate an inquiry into money allocated to this Centre in Ballymoney which has not yet been paid.

(AQW 577/99)

Reply: Under the Peace and Reconciliation Programme the Ex-Prisoners Interpretative Centre (EPIC) has been allocated funding of £700,000 for ex-prisoners projects. A joint investigation into the funding allocated to the EPIC North Ulster Group (Ballymoney) will be undertaken urgently by the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Northern Ireland Office and the European Commission.

Mr McGrady asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what discussions have taken place across Government Departments and with relevant public and private agencies concerning the development of a coherent and meaningful economic policy, and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 268/99)

Reply: The Executive Committee is taking forward the development of a programme for government, as is required by Strand 1 of the Belfast Agreement. This will outline the Executive’s strategic aims and objectives, including the aims and objectives of economic policy. In this way a coherent strategic approach to the development of this important policy can be developed, demonstrating the important linkages to other key policy areas. The programme will also incorporate an agreed budget linked to policies and programmes.

The preparation of the programme for government has been considered by the Executive Committee on two occasions, and the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister have met with a number of Ministers to discuss their initial ideas on their Departments’ priorities. The Executive Committee has now agreed how the initial drafting of the programme should be taken forward, and officials are proceeding with this work, reporting back regularly to Ministers.

Once initial material has been prepared, it is hoped to take the views of the Assembly Committees and others on the nature of the programme. This will help in the final drafting prior to the formal scrutiny role of the Committees and request for approval by the Assembly. This will take place in the autumn.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will confirm that current European Union proposals on the categorisation of beef will increase the cost of beef processing by approximately 8p per kg, and if she will make it her policy to oppose these proposals.

(AQW 552/99)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers) [holding answer 16 June 2000]: I am aware that the EU proposals on beef labelling will lead to increased costs for the industry and that some industry representatives have suggested that the extra cost could be as much as 8p per kg.

The main factor leading to extra cost is the requirement to categorise animals and beef derived from them. I am aware that MEPs throughout the UK have been lobbied by industry and officials to seek some easement in this requirement when the proposals are debated in the European Parliament. In addition, I can assure the Member that officials will seek to achieve some relaxation when the detailed implementing rules are being discussed in Brussels.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the spending of the £431,000 allocated to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC).

(AQW 571/99)

Ms Rodgers: This is the Estimates provision for 2000-01 and represents my Department’s contribution to the running costs of the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission during that period. Running costs include salaries (inclusive of pensions), insurance fees, legal fees, bank interest, vehicle expenses, computer expenses, travel, repairs and renewals and payments to board members.

The Commission deducts all income received from licence fees and other sources from its total needs, to establish the balancing of its needs, which are met by both my Department and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources in Dublin, which is a joint sponsor of FCILC.

The Estimates provision covers the Loughs Agency’s need to increase staffing resources to ensure that the agency is able to fulfil its extended functions and remit as detailed in the Implementation Bodies Order and the British/Irish Agreement. It will be appreciated that, in addition to acquiring responsibility for the Carlingford area, the agency is now responsible for aquaculture, promoting the development of both loughs and marine tourism in both loughs. This amounts to a considerable expansion in the agency’s workload.

The operation of the agency will be monitored by the sponsoring Departments to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to explain how the increase in resources to process and market listed in extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund (Northern Ireland Estimates 2000-01) will be allocated.

(AQW 575/99)

Ms Rodgers: The increase in receipts in 2000-01 compared with 1999-2000 relates to the draw-down of EU funds to support processing and marketing of agricultural produce. The additional money will be paid in the form of grant aid for capital investments in new or improved facilities. I am enclosing a copy of the press release which announced the last round of awards under the 1994-99 scheme and provides examples of the types of projects supported. Most of the increased funds in 2000-01 will be paid to recipients of awards prior to 31 December 1999. It is planned that a new scheme will be launched later this year.

Mr McCarthy asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will bring forward a Bill to regulate intertidal fisheries in Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to Strangford Lough special protection area/ special area of conservation, and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 613/99)

Ms Rodgers: A Fisheries Bill will be introduced in the Assembly on 26 June. It will include a power to enable the Department to regulate the fisheries in the intertidal zone. In my absence on that day Mr McGimpsey will make a statement introducing the Bill. If, as is likely, the Bill does not proceed through the other Assembly stages before the recess, a motion to carry it forward to the next session will be tabled.

Since the Bill proposes to confer a regulatory power on the Department, further subordinate legislation defining the areas and types of harvesting to be regulated will be made by the Department. Work is under way in preparing this.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the purpose, extent and cost of the use of Irish in departmental papers and forms, and whether the public are given a choice of language, and to state the legal authority for this policy.

(AQW 479/99)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): I believe that it is entirely appropriate that departmental documents are available in the Irish language for those who wish to read and communicate in Irish. Several publications for the attention of parents of children and governors of Irish-medium schools have been published by the Department’s education and training inspectorate, having been translated at no extra cost by the specialist inspector of Irish. One advertisement to invite tenders for a research project was also published in Irish, at an additional cost of £1,249. Departmental press releases are also provided to seven specific media outlets in Irish and are available generally on request, and additional translation costs since devolution began have been £712. The printing of new notepaper, et cetera, which is also bilingual, cost £1,351.

The authority for the use of Irish is derived from the Belfast Agreement.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if he has made an assessment of the impact of the allocation of £2·7million to fund premature retirement of teachers on funding available for retraining of teachers, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 576/99)

Mr M McGuinness: I am satisfied that there is a need to provide funding for the employing authorities to meet the costs of the premature retirement of teachers on redundancy and other grounds. This has no direct impact on the resources available for the training and development of teachers.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans he has to ensure the availability of energy resources for the West Tyrone rural constituency; if he intends to introduce any measures to compensate for disadvantage due to rurality in this area; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 579/99)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) has a statutory duty to make available an electricity supply and, on request, will provide a potential customer, anywhere in Northern Ireland, with a cost estimate for a connection, based on charges approved by the independent regulator. NIE is unaware of any specific problems with the provision of electricity supplies in the West Tyrone rural constituency.

The availability of other forms of energy resources is also primarily a matter for the private sector and will be determined by the commercial viability of individual projects.

Mr Byrne asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what action has been taken to assist Northern Ireland’s textile industry, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 597/99)

Sir Reg Empey: While international market forces present formidable challenges to the textile industry in Northern Ireland, there are positive signs that a number of companies are responding well to the new growth opportunities in the knowledge-based areas of the industry, such as design, branding and marketing. My Department offers a range of incentive schemes to assist companies to become more competitive, diversify into higher-value and growth areas, and address innovation and new technologies. It also works closely with industrial bodies to help the industry to adapt and meet the global changes in the sector.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what action will be taken to promote the retention of a textile industry in Northern Ireland; whether the Minister is aware that closure of the Courtaulds factory in Plumbridge would result in the loss of 120 jobs; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 628/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The textile and clothing industry in Northern Ireland is continuing to face significant competitive pressures, and my Department and its agencies are liaising with the main sectoral bodies on responses to these pressures. Government support for the sector is being directed towards necessary restructuring away from commodity production to value-added and knowledge-based activities.

The loss of the 120 jobs at the Courtaulds factory in Plumbridge and the other closures and redundancies announced recently are very regrettable but were as a result of commercial decisions taken by the companies involved.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the cost to date of the Economic Development Forum; (b) how often it has met; and (c) what record of its deliberations is publicly available.

(AQW 632/99)

(a) The Forum has incurred expenditure of £5,022 on members’ fees, expenses and the costs of meetings.

(b) The Forum has met on four occasions. The next meeting will be on 28 June 2000.

(c) Economic Development Forum meetings are conducted in private. Press releases have been issued on each occasion.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the amount of grant aid from the Industrial Development Board and LEDU to companies in the Foyle constituency and in each of the other 17 constituencies for each of the last five years.

(AQW 657/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The grant aid offered by the Industrial Development Board is provided in the attached annex A.

The grant aid offered by the Local Enterprise Development Unit is provided in the attached annex B.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail funding allocated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to each of the 18 constituencies over the past six years.

(AQW 658/99)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board administers a number of schemes on behalf of the European Union, the International Fund for Ireland, and central government. From 1994 to1999 the Northern Ireland Tourist Board has provided selective financial assistance totalling £65·9 million to tourism projects through these schemes. A breakdown of this figure by parliamentary constituency is contained in the attached annex. £5·3 million has also been provided for the marketing of key tourism products throughout Northern Ireland. The marketing budget is not broken down by parliamentary constituency.