Friday 6 October 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Undergraduates: Fees

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the number of undergraduates from Northern Ireland from both (a) manual and (b) non-manual headed households who undertook degree courses in the two academic years prior to and the years following the introduction of fees.

(AQW 124/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): The Department does not hold information in the form requested. Information on the social class of students on degree courses is drawn from the Universities and Colleges’ Admission Service (UCAS) and relates to NI-domiciled accepted applicants to degree courses through the UCAS system. It will, therefore, not include part-time undergraduates at university, undergraduates in further education colleges or students who apply directly to a university. This information is detailed below:

Ni-domiciled accepted applicants to degree courses through ucas by socio-economic group

Local Undergraduates

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if there is a difference in the percentage of local undergraduate students failing to graduate at local universities compared with Great Britain universities.

(AQW 130/00)

Dr Farren: It is not possible from existing data to compare the percentage of local undergraduate students failing to graduate at local universities compared to local undergraduate students failing to graduate at other United Kingdom universities.

Information Technology Skills

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment what action he has taken to promote skills/training related to the information technology industry.

(AQW 133/00)

Dr Farren: Since 1997 a series of specific initiatives for the IT sector has been implemented, including the Rapid Advancement Programme (graduate IT conversion training) and an e-commerce programme. Training for the IT industry has also been promoted within a number of the Department’s programmes, Modern Apprenticeship, Bridge to Employment, New Deal and Management Development Programmes.

The 1998 comprehensive spending review included provision for 1,600 additional higher education places at the two Northern Ireland universities to be phased in over the1999 to 2002 period. Over 500 places have been allocated in 1999/2000 and again in 2000/01. Of these, some 300 in each year have been allocated to IT-related courses, and it is expected that a further 300 will be allocated to such courses in 2001/02, to bring the total additional IT-related places to some 900.

Higher Education:
Student Drop-out Rates

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will confirm the drop-out rate for students in higher education for each of the last five academic years.

(AQW 135/00)

Dr Farren: Work on non-completion rates is at a development stage throughout the United Kingdom. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) published, in 1999, projected non-completion rates for full-time students starting first degree courses in higher education institutions throughout the UK for 1996/97 only. The values for the Queen’s University of Belfast are 10% and 17% for the University of Ulster. It should be noted that differences between institutions, such as subject mix or the qualifications on entry of students make comparisons between institutions unreliable.

Department and Agency Staff:
Salaries/Wage

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to identify the number of staff in his Department and its associated agencies currently receiving (a) the national minimum wage and (b) less than £5 an hour.

(AQW 214/00)

Dr Farren: I can confirm that in this Department no staff are paid the national minimum wage or less, and 239 staff receive less than £5 an hour.

As the 2000 pay awards have not been applied to individual records, the above figures are based on the 1999 rates of pay.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Vehicle Speed Limits

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he has any plans to introduce legislation to reduce the speed limit in residential areas to 20 miles an hour and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 102/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): As this is a matter for the Department for Regional Development, your question has been forwarded to me for reply.

The legislation permitting the introduction of 20 mph speed limits on roads in residential areas in Northern Ireland is already in place. Speed limits alone, however, have a limited effect on vehicle speeds, and my Department’s Roads Service has no plans to introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas without implementing supporting traffic-calming measures. Roads Service has already introduced eight 20 mph zones, each with self-enforcing traffic-calming measures and will continue to create such zones through its ongoing programme of traffic-calming measures aimed at reducing road traffic accidents.

Road Signs

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will undertake to have erected proper road signage to indicate clearly the confines of the borough of Newtownabbey.

(AQW 106/00)

Mr Campbell: Nameplate signs depicting district council boundaries are not prescribed as traffic signs in the Traffic Signs Regulations (NI) 1997, and, as such, their erection is not the responsibility of my Department’s Roads Service.

It is my understanding that most, if not all, of the existing nameplate signs identifying district council boundaries were erected by district councils after the reorganisation of local government in 1973. In each case the signs would have been erected following consultation with Roads Service regarding siting and safety issues.

There should be no objection to Newtownabbey Borough Council’s erecting such signs at appropriate locations, providing planning and safety needs are met. The council should therefore consult Roads Service Eastern Division regarding the position and nature of any signs that it proposes to erect to delineate the borough.

Water Sources:
Cryptosporidium Oocysts

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development if any of the 22 sources identified in 1999 by the Water Service as having a lower risk factor from the presence of cryptosporidium oocysts in source water are in the western division.

(AQW 132/00)

Mr Campbell: I explained in my 11 September 2000 statement to the Assembly that the assessment of the risk of cryptosporidium contamination of water sources in Northern Ireland is based on models used in England, Wales and Scotland. The methodology was developed in consultation with the Northern Ireland drinking water inspector and agreed with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Five of the 22 sources identified in 1999 as having a lower risk factor are in the Western Division. These are Derg, Killyhevlin, Lough Macrory, Newtownstewart and Stradreagh.

Roads (Newtownabbey)

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to cope with the increased demands placed upon roads infrastructure in Newtownabbey due to continued housing developments.

(AQW 147/00)

Mr Campbell: The need for additional roads infrastructure and other transportation measures in Newtownabbey will be addressed as part of the Belfast metropolitan area plan. The Department of the Environment’s Planning Service will take the lead in developing the plan, work on which is due to commence later this financial year. The plan will identify areas to be zoned for new housing and will take account of the additional traffic generated by these and other developments.

Water Quality (South and East Antrim)

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he is satisfied that current measures for testing and maintaining the quality of the public water supply in south and east Antrim conform with best practice and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 148/00)

Mr Campbell: The Water Quality Regulations (NI) 1994 fully incorporate the European Drinking Water Directive. The legislation specifies the water quality compliance standards at treatment works, service reservoirs and at the customers’ taps. The regulations also set out where samples should be taken, their frequency and analytical procedures.

The laboratories responsible for sampling and testing in the south and east Antrim areas are audited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) which assesses laboratory procedures. These laboratories are also audited by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) of the Department of the Environment. The Water Service also routinely takes part in UK-wide quality control exercises. Each year the DWI publishes a report on Water Service performance.

Against this background I can confirm that the current measures for sampling and testing, resulting in the maintenance of water quality in south and east Antrim, conform with best practice.

Park-and-Ride Facilities
(East and South Antrim)

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps will be taken to encourage "park-and-ride" facilities at commuter stations in east and south Antrim.

(AQW 149/00)

Mr Campbell: Translink have advised that they are keen to provide and encourage the use of park and ride facilities in the east and south Antrim area.

Plans are in hand to expand the number of parking spaces at Whitehead railway station from 20 to 30 to meet demand and, as part of the Antrim to Bleach Green railway line reinstatement, to provide about 50 spaces at Antrim station and to develop car parking facilities at Templepatrick and Mossley West stations. These facilities will be in addition to the 115, 19 and 13 spaces currently available at Carrickfergus railway station, Ballyclare bus station and Larne bus station respectively.

Translink have advised that they will continue to examine other potential sites for park and ride facilities, though any developments would be dependent on customer demand and the availability of resources, among other considerations.

Northern Corridor
(European Network Route)

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will undertake to liaise with his colleagues in Scotland and Westminster to promote the northern corridor route into Europe so that the benefits of improvements to the A8 Larne road might be fully realised.

(AQW 153/00)

Mr Campbell: I am content to give that undertaking. The importance of the northern corridor is already recognised through its designation as a trans european networks (TENs) route, and the matter has been raised with colleagues in the Scottish Office and in DETR. Indeed, I hope to meet the Scottish Minister for Transport soon and will take that opportunity to discuss strategic transport issues, including the importance of the northern corridor.

Water and Sewerage Systems
(Islandmagee)

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to prevent the water supply and sewage disposal systems in Islandmagee from becoming further stretched due to continued housing development.

(AQW 154/00)

Mr Campbell: In preparing proposals for the upgrading of water and sewerage services in Islandmagee the Water Service has taken account of proposed housing, commercial and industrial development.

Water infrastructure improvement proposals include

(a) the upgrading of the Woodburn Water Treatment Works. This is one of the works which supplies the Islandmagee area. The work is due to be completed in 2001 at a cost of £9 million; and

(b) the assessment of the condition and capacity of the water distribution mains in the area. This is being taken forward as part of the Water Service’s mains rehabilitation programme. The assessment will identify the pipeline upgrading work that is necessary, and this will be implemented as resources permit.

Water Service consultants are carrying out a comprehensive study of the sewerage infrastructure in Islandmagee. The study should be completed this autumn and will be carefully evaluated by Water Service and the Department of the Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service. It is, however, expected that the work on the required improvements to the sewerage system will commence in 2003 at a cost of £2·8 million

Department: Draft Equality Scheme

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline the consultation process carried out by him on the Department’s draft equality scheme; (a) how the consultation was carried out (b) who was consulted (c) how the responses received will be written into the final schemes to be submitted to the Equality Commission and (d) how the consultation process will be taken forward.

(AQW 169/00)

Mr Campbell: The draft departmental equality scheme issued on 7 April 2000 for written consultation with a closing date of 5 June 2000. The issue of the draft scheme was announced by public advertisement in the local newspapers, and a copy was posted on the Internet. In addition, the Equality Unit in OFM / DFM met with representatives of the voluntary and community sector covering the Section 75 groups to discuss general concerns on behalf of all Departments.

Over 400 copies of the draft departmental scheme issued to the organisations listed at table C in the scheme. Further copies were issued to those organisations and individuals that contacted the Department in response to the public advertisement. A copy of the draft scheme was also provided to the Assembly Regional Development Committee.

The 71 written responses received by the Department were fully taken into account in preparing the revised draft equality scheme. This was submitted to the Equality Commission for approval on 30 June 2000. Annex A of the revised draft scheme summarises the Department’s response to the issues raised during the consultation process. A copy of the revised equality scheme has been placed in the Department’s website.

The Equality Commission’s comments are awaited on the draft equality scheme. Consultation will be a major part of the equality impact assessments on new and existing policies required under the equality scheme. The Department proposes to liaise closely with the Equality Commission and representative organisations on the development of the most appropriate methods of consultation on such assessments. It proposes to work actively to remove barriers to communication with Section 75 groups. The Department is also committed to consulting further with the Equality Commission and major representative organisations on which policies should be subjected to equality impact assessment. The quality and effectiveness of consultation generally will be assessed in the Department’s annual review of progress on implementing the equality scheme.

Roads and Transport
(Rural Areas)

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Regional Development if, in the light of the approximately £180 million being sought for the railway service, he will outline the steps that will be taken to improve the rural roads and transport system.

(AQW 195/00)

Mr Campbell: It is clear that the levels of expenditure on Northern Ireland’s roads over recent years have been inadequate to maintain properly or improve the existing road network. I will therefore be considering, as part of the work currently under way to develop a long-term transport strategy, the scale of the infrastructure investment required on roads, including rural roads, and how such investment might be funded. This is an issue which I will also be pursuing in my input to the Programme for Government.

As regards rural transport, my Department administers the Rural Transport Fund for Northern Ireland which provides around £1·3 million annually to support community- based transport schemes, rural bus services and research on rural transport needs.

Personal Injury:
Compensation Payments

Mr Davis asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide details of the number, the average value and the total value of compensation payments made by the Department in respect of personal injury claims in each of the last five years.

(AQW 212/00)

Mr Campbell: The total value of all compensation payments made by the Department (including the former Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland) in respect of public liability personal injury claims in each of the last five years is as follows:

I regret that information on the number of claims that those payments relate to is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The average payment is therefore also not available.

Department and Agency Staff:
Salaries/Wages

Mr Adams asked the Minister for Regional Development to identify the number of staff in his Department and its associated agencies currently receiving (a) the national minimum wage and (b) less than £5 an hour.

(AQW 224/00)

Mr Campbell: No staff in the Department for Regional Development, including its agencies, are in receipt of the current national minimum wage figure (£3·70 an hour). All of the Department’s 4,888 staff receive an hourly rate in excess of this amount, with some 266 of these currently receiving less than £5 an hour. The forthcoming application of outstanding pay awards, effective from 1 April 2000, will result in a substantial increase in the number of the Department’s staff who are in receipt of an hourly rate of £5 or more.

The 266 individuals currently receiving less than £5 an hour mainly consist of recently-recruited staff in clerical, typing and support grades whose salary points are at the lower ends of their respective pay scales. A large proportion of these particular staff will, however, begin to receive £5 or more an hour once the current year’s outstanding pay awards, effective from 1 April 2000, are applied in October/November.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Urban Regeneration
(West Belfast)

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail the funding allocated to West Belfast for urban regeneration.

(AQW 158/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): The funding allocated to West Belfast for urban regeneration for the period 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 totalled £65,017,000. This figure reflects actual expenditure in West Belfast.

Department: Draft Equality Scheme

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister for Social Development if he will outline the consultation process carried out by him on the Department’s draft equality scheme; (a) how the consultation was carried out (b) who was consulted (c) how the responses received will be written into the final schemes to be submitted to the Equality Commission and (d) how the consultation process will be taken forward.

(AQW 168/00)

Mr Morrow: My Department issued its draft equality scheme on 7 April 2000 for an eight-week consultation period accepting responses up to and including 15 June. Whilst the Department engaged in a written consultation process, the Equality Unit of OFM/DFM held a number of face-to face meetings and one seminar on behalf of all Departments in order to reduce the pressure on individual groups having to meet with Departments separately.

The draft scheme was issued to around 300 groups and individuals. These were identified by the Department as being organisations/individuals who would normally be consulted, as well as others whom the Department knew would have an interest in their business. The list was further extended taking account of information provided by the Equality Unit and from the Equality Commission’s guide. A further 12 organisations were added to the list during the consultation process. A full list of consultees is included in the Department’s draft equality scheme.

The availability of the draft Equality Scheme was publicised widely both in the press and on the Internet. The scheme was available in formats to cater for people with visual impairment and in Cantonese on request.

Forty seven organisations provided responses by the extended closing date. Many of the comments were taken on board, and the main comments were highlighted in appendix 8 of the revised draft scheme that was sent to the Equality Commission. Comments were written into the revised draft in so far as it was possible to take these on board, taking account of the diverse range of comments which were received.

The Department’s revised draft equality scheme, which incorporates its arrangements for consulting, is currently with the Equality Commission for approval. The Department is committed to undertaking equality impact assessments of specific policies listed in the draft equality scheme, and, in accordance with the Section 75 duty, full consultation will be an integral part of the process. As new policies are brought forward, they will also be screened for impact on equality of opportunity. In consulting, the Department will either write to relevant bodies or, in appropriate circumstances, consult through meetings, standing or ad-hoc consultative forums and consultative panels et cetera.

Consultation will also take place shortly on policies, which, after screening, were not included for equality impact assessment in the Department’s draft equality scheme.

Housing Excutive Allocations:
A1 Priority Status

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if he will undertake to review the manner in which the Northern Ireland Housing Executive allocates A1 priority status in cases where separation forces two tenants to vacate their property, with a view to conferring A1 priority status on both individuals.

(AQW 183/00)

Mr Morrow: Following a fundamental review of the allocation schemes used by the Housing Executive and registered Housing Associations, a Common Selection Scheme (CSS), covering future allocations of all social housing, is to be introduced in November 2000. Details have been widely circulated to tenants who are to be reassessed under the scheme and to public representatives. A review of the workings of all aspects of the CSS is planned, including the relative priorities allocated to A1 and other applicants, when the scheme has been in operation for a year.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to review the allocation of A1 priority status to parents who are forced, through separation, to leave the family home.

(AQW 184/00)

Mr Morrow: Following a fundamental review of the allocation schemes used by the Housing Executive and registered Housing Associations, a Common Selection Scheme (CSS), covering future allocations of all social housing, is to be introduced in November 2000. Details have been widely circulated to tenants who are to be reassessed under the scheme and to public representatives. A review of the workings of all aspects of the CSS is planned, including the relative priorities allocated to A1 and other applicants, when the scheme has been in operation for a year.

Energy Efficiency

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development to outline (a) the current schemes available in relation to energy conservation in the home, (b) how successful these schemes have been and (c) whether he has plans to improve how this issue is addressed.

(AQW 196/00)

Mr Morrow:

(a) The current schemes available in relation to energy conservation in the home are:

(i) Department for Social Development partnership initiatives:

The Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (DEES)

Beechmount (West Belfast) Energy Efficiency Pilot Project

Willowfield/Bloomfield (East Belfast) Energy Efficiency Pilot Project

Foyle (Londonderry) Energy Efficiency Pilot Project

Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation Scheme in Housing Association properties.

(ii) Northern Ireland Housing Executive private sector partnership initiatives as Home Energy Conservation Authority:

Cavity Wall Insulation Cashback Scheme

Cavity Wall Insulation Scheme for people with disabilities

Heating Controls Cashback

No Age to Golden Age Scheme

Solar water Heating Project

Heatsmart – advice service

Private Landlords Heating Scheme

The Devenish Community Project in Enniskillen.

(iii) Northern Ireland Housing Executive work to its own housing stock:

Cyclical Maintenance Schemes – installation of cavity wall insulation and loft insulation

Roomheater Replacement Schemes — installation of properly controlled natural gas and oil central heating.

(iv) Northern Ireland Electricity Schemes:

Power for Low Income Families

Energy Efficiency for Care Register Customers

Key Pad Meters

No Age to Golden Age

DEES Plus Schemes

Fridgesavers.

(v) The Energy Saving Trust:

Warmth Programme

Condensing Boilers Cashback Scheme.

There are a number of other, smaller schemes, including combined heat and power projects, schools education programmes, Housing Executive and Housing Association staff training programmes and National Energy Action’s (NEA) Warm Homes for Families. Energy conservation advice is available from the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres in Belfast, Enniskillen and Londonderry. Since opening, the three centres have advised over 90,000 customers.

The schemes listed have all been developed under an energy conservation banner, with the objective of ensuring they are practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvements in the energy efficiency of the housing stock.

The success of these schemes, even though a number are still in their infancy, may be measured by the Housing Executive’s 1999 Home Energy Conservation Report, which has indicated a 5% improvement in the energy efficiency of the housing stock across all sectors. The Housing Executive, as home energy conservation authority, is working to achieve a 34% improvement by 2011, in order to meet its responsibilities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995. Achievements can also be measured by the success of the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (DEES). Since its inception in 1995, nearly 100,000 homes have received insulation measures under the scheme, which has created energy efficiency savings of some £7m for the participating households.

Further energy efficiency improvements will be measured by the results of the house condition survey in 2001.

As home energy conservation authority, the Housing Executive is continually reviewing, in association with my Department, how the energy conservation message can be improved. For example, the Housing Executive recently held a conference for district council staff, to encourage the development of council based initiatives for the residents of the district council areas. Shortly, the Housing Executive will be touring all 26 district council areas, using the mobile energy efficiency unit to deliver the energy message at a local level.

In addition, the existing Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (DEES) is being revised to address the issue of fuel poverty. This will have consequential benefits in terms of energy conservation, with the expansion of the scheme to include, for the first time, cavity wall insulation and properly controlled heating systems. An important requirement of the new scheme will be the provision and delivery of understandable energy advice to DEES clients in order to maximise the benefits of energy conservation.

Child Poverty

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development if, given the United Kingdom Government’s aim to eliminate child poverty within 20 years, he will confirm that (a) this target is applicable to Northern Ireland, (b) what current strategies are in place to meet this aim and (c) what progress has been made to date.

(AQW 198/00)

Mr Morrow: The target of eliminating child poverty within 20 years, and halving it within 10 years is applicable to the United Kingdom as a whole.

I am committed to achieving this target in Northern Ireland and attach a high priority to measures aimed at eradicating child poverty.

In order to ensure that all children get the best start in life improvements will have to be made in a number of areas. To eradicate child poverty, we need to improve family income through tax and benefit reforms, through increasing opportunities for parents to work and through reducing child health and educational inequalities.

Progress so far has been encouraging. There has been a fall in the proportion of children living in workless households brought about by tax and benefit reform. Further details can be found in the second annual report on tackling poverty and social exclusion, ‘Opportunity for All – One Year On: Making a Difference’ (Cm 4865 September 2000).

Department and Agency Staff:
Salaries/Wages

Mr Adams asked the Minister for Social Development to identify the number of staff in his Department and its associated agencies currently receiving (a) the national minimum wage and (b) less than £5 an hour.

(AQW 223/00)

Mr Morrow: As at 28 September 2000 my Department and its associated agencies had 7,600 staff; of these, none are receiving the national minimum wage. A total of 2,192 staff are receiving less than £5 an hour.

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