Friday 20 October 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

New Deal

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will provide the data on New Deal participants which are used to assess the success of the programme in terms of participants’ future status in employment, further education or training.

(AQW 288/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): Information on post New Deal activity of participants is recorded by the Training and Employment Agency. However, due to a number of data management and data quality issues which came to light following the introduction of a new computer system earlier this year it is not possible to provide the detailed analysis you have requested.Work is progressing to resolve these issues as a matter of urgency and, as soon as they are resolved, I will provide you with the data you have requested.The future status of New Deal participants is the key measure of the success of the New Deal Programme. However, as many of the participants on New Deal are the very long term unemployed or individuals with severe barriers to employment all New Deal activities contain a substantial element of training aimed at improving the employability of participants.

Consequently my Department is undertaking a major programme of surveys to evaluate the impact of New Deal on improving the employability of participants through improving ‘soft’ skills (such as interview techniques) as well as ‘hard’ skills such as obtaining modules of NVQs and the use of information technology. Copies of the results of a survey of those who left the New Deal for 18-24 Year Olds and of Qualitative Research with Key New Deal Players are available in the Assembly Library. The results of other evaluations of New Deal, which are currently underway, will also be placed in the public domain as soon as they are available.

Job Vacancies

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will confirm the exclusion, since May 1999, of Northern Ireland job vacancy statistics from United Kingdom national statistics; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 341/00)

Dr Farren: Figures for Vacancies notified to the Training & Employment Agency are normally released via the monthly Labour Market Statistics Bulletin, published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The most recent published figures appeared in the April edition of the Bulletin (comprising March 1999 figures).In May 1999 the Vacancy statistics were seriously affected by problems initially associated with the introduction of a major new computer system within the T&EA. A decision was therefore taken to temporarily suspend publication of the statistics until the source of the problem could be identified and the reliability of vacancy information restored. Thorough checking of computer programs revealed a number of software ‘bugs’ mainly responsible for the initial problems with the statistics. These have been resolved. However, in the process of investigating the source of these problems a number of procedural difficulties also came to light. In the interests of the longer-term stability of the Vacancy Series, it is important to deal with all these issues prior to reinstatement of publication. During the period strenuous efforts have been made to identify necessary measures for longer-term improvement of the Vacancy System. This process is now well progressed and the Agency anticipates in the near future final resolution of the problems which caused the original suspension.

It is my intention to advise the Assembly when the problems are finally resolved and when Northern Ireland vacancy statistics will reappear in UK national statistics.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Childhood Cancer
(Electromagnetic Fields)

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister for Regional Development if he has read the United Kingdom Childhood Study published in the Lancet as "Exposure to Power Frequency Magnetic Fields and the risk of childhood cancer" and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 282/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): I have not read the article referred to, which I understand was published last December in the Lancet.I am, however, advised that the article concerns a study into exposure to electromagnetic fields associated with the distribution and use of electricity, and that it provides no evidence that such exposure increases risks for childhood cancer.

This is not a matter for which my Department has any responsibility.

Department:
Draft Equality Scheme

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps he took to address issues of religious and political discrimination in preparing the Department’s draft equality scheme and to list those consulted in preparing this aspect of the draft scheme.

(AQW 295/00)

Mr Campbell: The DRD draft equality scheme outlines the Department’s proposals to address the statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity between the nine categories set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This includes having due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious belief and political opinion.The draft departmental scheme was issued for comment on 7 April 2000 to over 400 organisations and individuals representative of all nine categories. Further copies were issued to those organisations and individuals that contacted the Department in response to the public advertisement.A revised draft scheme was submitted to the Equality Commission on 30 June 2000. Table C of that draft sets out the list of initial consultees and Annex B outlines those organisations from whom responses were received.

The consultees included all 108 MLAs, 16 MPs, 2 MEPs, 12 local political parties and 8 religious organisations.

Sewerage (Lower Ormeau Road)

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will ensure that equipment to regulate sewage drainage in the Lower Ormeau Road is regularly maintained by the Water Service.

(AQW 310/00)

Mr Campbell: The sewerage infrastructure in South Belfast includes a storm water relief pumping station located at River Terrace, Ormeau Road. Storm water conveyed to the station from the combined sewerage system is pumped into the adjacent Blackstaff River after screening to remove debris such as paper, plastic, etc. Foul sewage is conveyed onward through the main sewer to Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works for treatment.The River Terrace Pumping Station is designed to operate automatically but is visited daily by Water Service operatives who carry out checks to ensure that all plant and apparatus is functioning correctly. Technical Staff also visit the works, three times each week, to service the plant and carry out any maintenance required. During periods of heavy rainfall additional visits are made to ensure its proper operation.

The station is linked to Water Service’s Eastern Division Telemetry system. The system, which is a computer based remote monitoring system, collects signals from each station indicating the status of the plant and its alarms, and transmits these to a 24 hour manned emergency centre. This enables staff at the emergency centre to respond promptly in the event of an alarm being raised at the station

Traffic-Calming Measures

Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail the criteria used to determine the need for traffic calming measures.

(AQW 342/00)

Mr Campbell: In determining the need for traffic calming measures, my Department’s Roads Service takes into account a number of factors, including:

• the intended purpose of the road;the history of personal injury road accidents that have occurred there;whether any accidents involved injuries to the young or elderly;the volume and speed of traffic; and
• the road environment, i.e. the proximity to schools, playgrounds, shops, public buildings, hospitals, health centres, homes etc.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development if it is his policy to prioritise traffic calming schemes scheduled for introduction and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 393/00)

Mr Campbell: I can confirm that my Department’s Roads Service operates a scoring system to prioritise traffic calming schemes. Proposed schemes are prioritised because the demand for traffic calming measures exceeds the resources that are available for this type of work.Sites or areas that have been identified for possible traffic calming are awarded scores for each of the factors that are taken into account in determining the need for such schemes. These factors were listed in my answer of 20 October 2000 to your previous written Assembly Question (AQW 342/00) on this topic. The overall score awarded to each site or area determines its priority in future traffic calming programmes.

Roads Service is currently reviewing its method of prioritising traffic calming schemes.

Railways Task Force

Mr Close asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail how he will implement the findings of the Railways Task Force.

(AQO 164/00)

Mr Campbell: The Railways Task Force was charged with advising on options for the future of the rail network in Northern Ireland, with the object of informing and facilitating the decision making process on the future of the railway system. The report of the Task Force provides a sensible framework within which decisions can now be taken about the future of the railways. I am in favour of developing the railways but I recognise that this will require significant resources. I therefore welcome the support of the Regional Development Committee in my bid for resources to consolidate the network. I will also be using the information in the Task Force report as I seek an allocation for railways that will enable the network to be retained and to be developed in the future, in the context of the Regional Transportation Strategy. I trust that I will have the support of all forward thinking Assembly Members in this task.

Rail Service

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail his plans for the rail service in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 173/00)

Mr Campbell: I am in favour of developing the rail service in Northern Ireland. Ideally I would like to see the current network not only retained, but expanded, with modern trains providing a frequent service on upgraded track. I recognise, however, that such a vision requires significant additional resources. The limited enhancement option in the Railways Task Force report would cost an additional £175m over the next 3 years on top of the £66m available in the baselines for those years. It may be that any enhancement of the existing network will have to await consideration within the context of the Regional Transportation Strategy, which is due to be published next year. In the meantime I trust that I will have the support of Assembly Members as I seek a financial allocation that will enable the future of the railways to be safeguarded and consolidated pending decisions on future development.

Road Gritting

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he could outline what preparations have been put in place for road gritting during the winter of 2000/2001, and whether the programme will be applied uniformly throughout Northern Ireland.

(AQO 149/00)

Mr Campbell: Whilst my Department’s Roads Service has no statutory obligation to salt roads, it earmarks funds to provide a salting service to help traffic move safely and freely on main through routes in wintry conditions. To this end, Roads Service has in place measures that will cater for the salting of approximately 27% of the country’s road network, which carries some 80% of traffic.

I can confirm that the criteria used to determine the roads which are included in the salting schedule are applied consistently throughout Northern Ireland.

Port of Belfast

Mr Neeson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail what action he is taking to extend Trust powers to the Port of Belfast.

(AQO 153/00)

Mr Campbell: The Port of Belfast already enjoys trust port status. A decision on the future of the Port is due to be made before the end of November. If it is decided that it should remain in the public sector, I would intend to bring forward suitable legislative proposals aimed at extending the powers of Belfast Harbour and the other trust ports simultaneously. Work is already proceeding on this and I hope to be in a position to present our proposals to the Regional Development Committee, in outline, in the near future.

‘Shaping Our Future’

Mr McCarthy asked the Minister for Regional Development when the "Shaping Our Future" document will be published.

(AQO 168/00)

Mr Campbell: On 18 September, and in reply to an earlier question raised by the Member for North Down, Mr Alan McFarland, (AQO 6/00) I explained that I hoped to complete the political process for approval of the final Regional Development Strategy before the Christmas Recess in order to achieve publication early in 2001. I can confirm it remains my intention to adhere to this timetable.

Planning Policy

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will consider a review of Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5).

(AQO 144/00)

Mr Campbell: The existing retail planning policy has been in operation since June 1996. During this period there have been a high number of major retail planning applications in Northern Ireland, in what is a rapidly changing situation. The Department’s Regional Development Strategy is nearing completion and subject to agreement within the Assembly the next stage will be to implement the strategy. In view of this my Department has already included within its programme for this financial year, the preparation of regional planning policy statements on retailing, transport and housing in settlements.

I can confirm the intention to shortly commence the preparation of the regional planning policy statement (RPPS) on retailing and town centres.

Airports

Mr Ford asked the Minister for Regional Development to explain what he intends to do to assist Northern Ireland airports to attract international air routes.

(AQO 146/00)

Mr Campbell: Air services is a reserved matter which is the responsibility of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. Consequently, my Department does not have a specific statutory responsibility in this field. However, I stand ready to support local airport authorities in their efforts to attract additional international air traffic.

Asbestos

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will confirm that a proportion of the infrastructure currently being used by the Water Service contains asbestos.

(AQO 143/00)

Mr Campbell: There are approximately 15,000 miles of public watermains in the Province. Approximately 10 per cent of those watermains are made of asbestos cement.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Draft Equality Scheme

Dr Dara O'Hagan asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he took to address issues of religious and political discrimination in preparing the Department's draft equality scheme and to list those consulted in preparing this aspect of the draft scheme.

(AQW 315/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): The purpose of the Equality Scheme is to show how the Department proposes to fulfil the duties imposed by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in having due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between people of different religious belief and political opinion. There are 7 other categories to which the equality of opportunity obligation also applies.

There is no hierarchy of categories and all nine are to be treated similarly. Therefore, no specific steps were taken to address issues of religious and political discrimination over and above the other categories.

My Department issued its draft Equality Scheme to around 300 groups and individuals. In addition, an advertisement was placed in the local press advising the public that the consultation was under way and that copies of the scheme could be obtained from a given source. The scheme was also placed on the Internet

Those consulted by my Department were as follows:

Active Community Unit, Home Office
Advice Services Alliance
Age Concern
Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
Armagh Travellers Support Group
Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Organisations
Association of Independent Advice Centres

Baha'i Office for Northern Ireland
Barnardos
Barnardos Tuar Ceatha Project
Belfast Butterfly Club
Belfast Hebrew Congregation
Belfast Partnership Boards
Belfast Traveller Education and Development Group
The Blind Centre NI
British Deaf Association
Bryson House
Business in the Community

Carafriend
Carers National Association NI
Centre for Voluntary Action Studies, University of Ulster
"Challenge"
Chartered Institute of Housing
Child Care Northern Ireland
Child Poverty Action Group
Children's Law Centre
Chinese Welfare Association
Chrysalis Women's Centre
Coiste na n-iarchimi
Clerk to the Committee of the Centre
Coalition on Sexual Orientation
Committee on the Administration of Justice
Community Development and Child Health
The Community Relations Council
Community Relations Training/Learning Consortium
Confederation of British Industry
Co-operation Ireland
Council for the Homeless (Northern Ireland)
Counteract
Craigavon Standing Conference of Women's Organisations
Cruse Bereavement Care (NI)

Departmental Solicitor's Office
Derry Well Woman
Disability Action
District Councils
Down's Syndrome Association

East Belfast Community Development Agency
Education and Library Boards
Employers' Forum on Disability
Equality Commission
Equality Forum NI
The Equality Unit

Falls Community Council
Falls Women's Centre
Family Planning Association NI
Fermanagh Women's Network
First Division Association
Foyle Friend
Foyle Women's Information Network
Foyle Women's Network

Gay and Lesbian Youth NI
General Consumer Council
Gingerbread
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Health and Social Services Boards
Help the Aged
Housing Rights Service

Indian Community Centre
Industrial Development Board
Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
International Fund for Ireland

Laganside Corporation
The Law Centre (NI)
The Law Society
LEDU
Lesbian Line
Library, Parliament Buildings
The Local Government Staff Commission for NI

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Mencap (Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults)
Methodist Church in Ireland
Mid-Ulster Women's Network
Multi-Cultural Resource Centre

National Association of Pension Funds
Newry and Mourne Senior Citizen's Consortium
Newry and Mourne Women
Newtownabbey Senior Citizen's Forum
NIACRO
NIC/ICTU
Northern Ireland African Cultural Centre
Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network

Northern Ireland Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux
Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health
Northern Ireland Council on Disability
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Equality
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations
Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association
Northern Ireland Government Departments
Northern Ireland Housing Council
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Islamic Centre
Northern Ireland MPs and MEPs
Northern Ireland Partnership Board
Northern Ireland Political Parties
Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance
Northern Ireland Spokespersons in House of Lords and House of Commons Northern Ireland
Statistics and Research Agency
Northern Ireland Tenants Action Project
Northern Ireland Volunteer Development Agency
Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation BR> Northern Ireland Women's European Platform
North West Community Network
North West Forum of People with Disabilities (Derry)
North West Forum of People with Disabilities (Enniskillen)
NSPCC
NUS/USI Northern Ireland Student Centre

OFREG
Omagh Women's Area Network

Parents Advice Centre
Parents and Professional and Autism
POBAL
Post Office Counters Ltd
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Putting Children First

Queer Space

The Rainbow Project
Relate
Rent Officer for Northern Ireland
Royal National Institute for the Blind
Royal National Institute for the Deaf
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Rural Community Network
Rural Development Council

Save the Children
Sense NI
Shelter (Northern Ireland)
Sikh Cultural Centre
Simon Community (Northern Ireland)
Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens' Consortium
Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

Traveller Movement Northern Ireland

Ulster Architectural Heritage Society
Ulster Scots Heritage Council
ULTACH
UNISON

The Most Reverend Bishop Walsh
West Belfast Economic Forum
The Women's Centre
Women's Forum
Women's Information Group
Women's Resource and Development Agency
Women's Support Network
Women Together for Peace

Youth Council for NI

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