Friday 27 October 2000
Written Answers to Questions

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Sheep (Silent Valley)

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will confirm that officials from her Department reported that consultation had taken place with the Department for Regional Development at the meeting of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, on 29 September 2000, in relation to the movement of sheep from the Silent Valley area.

(AQW 345/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): The meeting to which you refer actually took place on 8 September. At that meeting, my officials reported that the Department was consulted about the initial ban on sheep grazing in the Silent Valley, which was introduced on 2 March 2000.

When my officials proceeded to refer to the decision by the Minister for Regional Development to extend the grazing ban to 2003, they were interrupted by a member of the Committee, who asked whether my Department had been consulted beforehand. My officials explained that no opportunity for consultation was provided by the Department for Regional Development.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will outline what action she plans to take to quantify the numbers of animals killed and injured by vermin in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 370/00)

Ms Rodgers: There are no plans to quantify the number of animals killed and injured by vermin in Northern Ireland.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when she will announce details of Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) funding for the fishing industry.

(AQW 372/00)

Ms Rodgers: I hope to be in a position to announce details of the FIFG funding to the fishing industry in either December 2000 or January 2001. This will be part of the wider Transitional Objective 1 package of measures and as the timing for this is not yet finalised I regret that I cannot be more specific.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will detail what action has been taken to rectify the absence of transparency in the scale of profits between the retailer and the producer in the agriculture industry.

(AQW 373/00)

Ms Rodgers: While I am concerned about allegations that the major multiple retailers are making excess profits at the expense of producers I am aware that the Competition Commission and the Assembly’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee have not found evidence to support them. Therefore a simple redistribution of profit, even if that could be brought about, would not solve the problem. My main focus to date has been to ensure that the major multiples increase the volume of their supplies from Northern Ireland sources. Officials in my Department and other Government agencies liaise closely with the retailers and have been working with suppliers to assist them to meet the demands of the retailers. I believe that through the development of an integrated food chain and enabling efficient local suppliers to demonstrate that they offer their customers quality, good value, safe and wholesome food on a consistent basis is the best means of ensuring a better return for all including producers.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make an announcement on Hill Livestock Payments for the period 2001 to 2004 to sheep farmers whose sheep graze the Inner Mournes.

(AQW 411/00)

Ms Rodgers: In 2001 all payments under the new Less Favoured Areas (LFA) Compensatory Allowances Scheme will be based on eligible forage land declared on 2000 IACS returns. The situation is, however, slightly different for farmers affected by the grazing ban placed on the Silent Valley area of the Mournes by the Water Service. Those farmers who responded to my Department’s letter explaining that exceptionally they could make use of force majeure provisions have been credited with the use of the land for the 2000 IACS. These farmers will therefore be able to receive 2001 LFA support payments, including the area thus credited.

Applications for LFA Compensatory Allowance for 2002 will be based on the 2001 IACS declarations of forage land (and so on each year thereafter). In these forward years only land which is available under IACS rules may be declared and hence not that covered by the recently extended ban on grazing. Thus the farmers concerned will be able to receive LFA support payments only on the eligible land they have.

While there is no more that can be done for these farmers under scheme rules, my Department is currently assessing the implications of the ban and the scope for other action to ease their difficulties.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will give a commitment that, before the final Vision Group report is published, full consultation with all interested parties, including the Assembly Agriculture Committee, the Ulster Farmers’ Union and Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association, will have taken place.

(AQW 418/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Steering Group charged with developing a Vision for the Future of the Northern Ireland Agri-food sector was set up to produce a report for the Minister. The Group is free to consult with others as necessary, and has, indeed, consulted widely. Further, the Assembly Agriculture Committee can ask to meet with the Group at any time and has already done so. However, the Group is charged with advising me and I am anxious that its report should reflect its views. Therefore, full consultation will not take place prior to publication. Once the report is published, however, I will consult extensively on it with all interested parties.

Mr Kane asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will outline her priorities for Research and Development in Agriculture.

(AQW 419/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Department has published its Research and Development Strategy covering the period 1996/97 to 1998/99. This is available in the Assembly Library. The Department has determined that this published strategy will remain operative until the outcome of the Department’s "Vision for the Future of the Agri-Food Industry Group" is known, when a revised strategy for R&D may evolve.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will outline why funds for agriculture are being targeted at re-skilling and computer training and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 429/00)

1. Re-skilling and computer training are two elements within a comprehensive measure being proposed by my Department for funding under PEACE II. The measure was drawn up in response to representations from MLAs, the farming unions and others for action to help farm families to improve their incomes. The Department has consulted the two farming unions, which are supportive.

2. The measure is designed to provide farming families with opportunities to secure additional income via the three main methods open to them:

• Achieve higher levels of performance in the farm business – both traditional and diversified enterprise;
• Create new income generating enterprise;
• Secure alternative off-farm employment.

3. Computer training is one of the elements primarily aimed at improving the performance of farm businesses. The Northern Ireland agri-food industry lags behind many of its competitors in exploiting the potential of Information and Communications Technology. Few farmers presently use computers for business purposes. As well as training it is intended that the measure should support the installation of suitable computers in farm businesses and their subsequent use for business management, supply chain linkages and personal development.

4. The re-skilling element will be open to farmers, their spouses and other family members who are totally or partially dependent on the farm for income. It will provide counselling, sign-posting to training opportunities, financial support towards the costs of training which are not covered from other sources, mentoring through the training process and assistance to secure employment.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will detail (a) what assessment she has made in relation to agri-monetary compensation (b) if she has been in contact with her counterparts in Great Britain on this issue and (c) the amount of unclaimed compensation by the United Kingdom.

(AQW 458/00)

Ms Rodgers: Agri-monetary compensation - both ‘transitional’ (for the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999) and ‘definitive’ (for the effects of currency appreciation since 1 January 1999) - can be paid in certain circumstances to offset the adverse impact on farm incomes of exchange rate movements between national currencies and the euro. Both types of compensation have been triggered in the United Kingdom under the rules laid down in the Council Regulations establishing the agri-monetary arrangements. As a consequence, compensation totalling £13.7 million has been, or will be, paid in Northern Ireland in 2000 and a further £2.8 million will be paid next year. Therefore, commitments have been made to pay £16.5 million of the £28.5 million potentially available at present.

I meet regularly with my ministerial colleagues in Great Britain and the issue of agri-monetary compensation is usually on the agenda. At the most recent meeting of Agriculture Ministers on 17 October, I asked Nick Brown to press the case with the Treasury for payment of agri-monetary compensation to the arable sector for this year. This would be worth around £0.7 million in Northern Ireland. However, I am not hopeful that Mr Brown will take this forward, due to the budgetary implications for his department. This compensation, of course, must be paid throughout the Member State, rather than just in one part.

The amount of unclaimed compensation currently available for 2000 in the UK is £91.6 million, all in respect of the arable sector; as I have just indicated, the Northern Ireland share of this is approximately £0.7 million. There is also the potential for further, optional, compensation to be paid in 2001 and 2002, although the amounts could be reduced or cancelled altogether if sterling were to weaken in the future. This compensation for the UK as a whole is presently estimated at £96.3 million for 2001 and £33.3 million for 2002. The corresponding Northern Ireland shares would be £8.5 million and £2.8 million respectively. There is no provision for agri-monetary compensation to be triggered for currency appreciations occurring after 31 December 2001.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will outline the steps he intends to take, and the associated implementation timetable, to enact the specification of the Irish Language under Part III of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

(AQW 397/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): In accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998 responsibility for signing the Charter rests with the United Kingdom. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the NI Assembly have written on behalf of the Executive Committee to the Foreign Secretary notifying him of those provisions relating to devolved matters which may be included in the instrument of ratification in respect of Irish.

The Northern Ireland Office has responsibility for taking forward work to ensure that the UK is in a position to ratify the Charter in relation to non-devolved matters. The Secretary of State will advise the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the provisions relating to these.

I understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently seeking to finalise the terms of the instrument of ratification with a view to lodging it with the Council of Europe Secretariat in the very near future.

My Department will chair a standing Interdepartmental Charter Group to co-ordinate an action plan for implementing the Charter. We would aim to publish this six months after ratification takes place.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the number of children suspended from school by each education and library board area for the current school year to date.

(AQW 355/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): Under current legislation pupils are excluded from school because they have been expelled or have been suspended. The position for the period 1 September 2000 to 13 October 2000, as notified by Education and Library Boards, is as follows:

When a pupil has been expelled, education and library boards may make arrangements for home tuition while application is made for admission to another school or other provision is put in place. Depending on the circumstances of the expulsion, the age of the pupil and the wishes of the parents and pupil, a placement can be made in a Pupil Referral Unit or on an alternative education programme. Alternative education programmes have recently been surveyed by the Education and Training Inspectorate and the report giving full details will be published at the end of November. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Assembly Library.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the number of children excluded from school by each education and library board area for this current school year.

(AQW 356/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Under current legislation pupils are excluded from school because they have been expelled or have been suspended. The position for the period 1 September 2000 to 13 October 2000, as notified by Education and Library Boards, is as follows:

When a pupil has been expelled, education and library boards may make arrangements for home tuition while application is made for admission to another school or other provision is put in place. Depending on the circumstances of the expulsion, the age of the pupil and the wishes of the parents and pupil, a placement can be made in a Pupil Referral Unit or on an alternative education programme. Alternative education programmes have recently been surveyed by the Education and Training Inspectorate and the report giving full details will be published at the end of November. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Assembly Library.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education if he will detail what facilities are provided for children excluded from school by each education and library board area.

(AQW 363/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Under current legislation pupils are excluded from school because they have been expelled or have been suspended. The position for the period 1 September 2000 to 13 October 2000, as notified by Education and Library Boards, is as follows :

When a pupil has been expelled, education and library boards may make arrangements for home tuition while application is made for admission to another school or other provision is put in place. Depending on the circumstances of the expulsion, the age of the pupil and the wishes of the parents and pupil, a placement can be made in a Pupil Referral Unit or on an alternative education programme. Alternative education programmes have recently been surveyed by the Education and Training Inspectorate and the report giving full details will be published at the end of November. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Assembly Library.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the number of schools in each of the Controlled and Maintained Sectors that have had temporary mobile classrooms for 10 years or more and what steps are being taken to replace them with permanent buildings.

(AQW 399/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost. It is estimated that there are about 2,600 temporary classrooms in controlled and maintained schools. My Department is committed to improving accommodation across the schools estate and, whilst it is governed by the resources available, the replacement of temporary classrooms has a high priority within its capital programme.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education if he will detail (a) the average class size in primary schools; (b) the pupil to teacher ratio; (c) how this compares with similar figures for Great Britain; and (d) what policy he is pursuing in relation to class sizes.

(AQW 412/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is as follows:

d. the policy to limit class sizes to a maximum of 30 pupils other than in specified circumstances, applies to all classes in Key Stage 1 ie P1 to P4 in primary schools.

Mr Taylor asked the Minister of Education if, pursuant to his reply (AQW 333/00) on 18/10/2000, he will detail the enrolment figures at Saintfield Primary School for each of the last five years.

(AQW 459/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The enrolment figures at Academy Primary School, Saintfield over the past 5 years are:

1995/96 - 315
1996/97 - 329
1997/98 - 325
1998/99 - 336
1999/2000 - 328

Mr Leslie asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the funding of community centre based pre-school facilities.

(AQO 204/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Through the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, the Department of Education has been able for the first time to fund pre-school education places in existing voluntary and private settings - which include community facilities - as well as establishing new statutory nursery provision. The Programme is being taken forward through a partnership approach, with the overall objective of the additional places being shared equally between the statutory and the voluntary or private sectors.

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Education if he will set out his policy on mainstreaming children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 186/00)

Mr M McGuinness: My policy is that wherever possible children with special educational needs should be educated in mainstream schools. I also acknowledge that some parents prefer their children to attend special schools and that some children’s special educational needs are so severe that their needs could not easily be met outside special schools. This policy is contained in Article 7 of the 1996 Education Order, and I have no plans to change it.

Mr ONeill asked the Minister of Education if he will confirm that he is supportive of co-education and the amalgamation of schools to achieve this aim.

(AQO 211/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Schools are essentially social entities and there is ample evidence that a co-educational environment has a significantly beneficial effect and improves the range of experiences available to both boys and girls. However, when examining specific proposals to amalgamate single sex schools I must also take into account other factors such as the level of support in the area for co-educational provision and the accommodation arrangements for the new school.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education if he will outline the measures he uses to indicate deprivation in schools.

(AQO 201/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The measure which my Department uses to indicate deprivation in schools is the number of pupils who have an entitlement to free school meals. This indicator is pupil-specific and highly correlated with low educational achievement.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the amount paid in respect of consultancy fees prior to the announcement of St Genevieve’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.

(AQO 191/00)

Mr M McGuinness: £623,963 was paid in respect of consultancy fees for the St. Genevieve’s Public Private Partnership Scheme.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Education what action he is taking to reduce the large number of pupils who are leaving secondary school without a formal qualification.

(AQO 190/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The latest available figures show that 2.7% of school leavers have no formal qualifications. It is my objective that all young people should achieve their full potential irrespective of their background and circumstances and that no young person should leave school without qualifications. Work being taken forward under the School Improvement Programme and a range of other initiatives is seeking to achieve this.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education if he will outline the procedures used in assessing applications for (a) new Integrated Schools and (b) Irish language medium schools; and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 196/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The criteria for assessing grant-aid applications include intake and enrolment viability, religious balance (in the case of integrated school proposals), availability of alternative provision, impact on other schools and the condition of the school premises. On the issue of viability criteria I have recently announced that I intend to consult on proposals for changes to the current arrangements and I will decide on the criteria to be used in future in the light of the outcome of that consultation.

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Education if he has any plans to introduce corporal punishment as a means of punishment in schools.

(AQO 205/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Corporal punishment is banned by law in all grant-aided schools. Corporal punishment, subject to certain restrictions, is still permitted by law in schools which are not grant-aided. Legislation to ban corporal punishment in all schools will be introduced at the next available opportunity.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Education if he will take cognisance of the areas identified by the Planning Service as future residential growth areas and if he will introduce a strategy to provide adequate accommodation to meet the requirements of pre-school and primary school pupils in these areas.

(AQO 195/00)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department already works closely with the Planning Service and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to ensure that the future accommodation needs of primary pupils are met as far as is practical. The demands arising from residential growth areas are considered along with enrolment trends and the current level of accommodation provision to ensure that pupils’ requirements are adequately met in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Similar principles are applied to the pre-school sector where the 5 Pre-School Advisory Groups allocate places to the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister of Education if he will outline the next stages of the consultation process in the review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.

(AQO 214/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Phase 2 of the Review has just started, and the first stage of this will consist of drawing together the feedback received during the Phase 1 consultation, into a consultation report which will be sent to schools later in the Autumn Term. In light of the views expressed during that consultation, the Phase 1 proposals will be refined, to produce revised draft Programmes of Study at each Key Stage. The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) will be setting up working groups, made up mainly of practising teachers, to assist with this work.

Mr Benson asked the Minister of Education if he will indicate when the temporary classrooms that have been re-sited at Loughries Primary School, Newtownards will be replaced by permanent school buildings; and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 193/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Responsibility for the accommodation needs of Loughries Primary School lies with the South-Eastern Education and Library Board. The Board, under its minor works programme, is planning to provide a 3-classroom permanent extension for the school. The scheme is currently at tender stage.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the measures he proposes to introduce in line with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to bring equality of opportunity for all to the pre-school nursery enrolment and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 178/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I am satisfied that the effect of the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme itself is to provide an equalising of opportunity for pre-school education and that it is a positive measure in the context of the Equality legislation, which means that no additional measures require to be taken.

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the number of projects that form part of the 2001/02 Capital Building Programme and confirm the level of funding he intends to allocate to the Programme.

(AQO 189/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Next year’s capital programme and the level of funding to be devoted to it has still to be determined.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the Review of the Local Management of Schools funding formulae.

(AQO 200/00)

Mr M McGuinness: It is my intention to issue a consultation document inviting views on proposals for an equitable common funding formula for all schools before the end of this year.

ENTERPRISE, TRADE
AND INVESTMENT

Bankruptcy

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will detail the number of businesses that have been declared bankrupt in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 390/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): Bankruptcy Orders are made by the High Court against individuals (including business proprietors) in their own names, not against businesses as such. On this basis the number of individuals who were engaged in business and who have been declared bankrupt in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 361
1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 359
1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 329

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will detail (a) how many new regulations were introduced for businesses each year for the last three years and (b) what steps have been taken to reduce paper work for small businesses.

(AQW 391/00)

Sir Reg Empey: In the last three years the number of new regulations introduced for businesses in Northern Ireland is as follows:

In 1998 NI Departments carried out a review of forms which issued to business. Of the 123 forms reviewed, 29 were redesigned and 1 was abolished. In 1999 the remaining 320 forms which issued to business were reviewed, 8 were redesigned and 52 were abolished.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in view of the pending return of organphosphate sheep dips, what proposals he has to issue health warning notices and what level of advice he will introduce to make sheep farmers aware of the dangers associated with the use of organophosphates.

(AQW 446/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), an independent expert committee with responsibility for advising the Government on matters relating to the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines, has recommended the re-introduction of sheep dips containing organophosphates (OPs) to the market.

This recommendation for the re-introduction of OP dips is conditional upon marketing authorisation holders implementing a number of measures which aim to minimise the risk of operator exposure to organophosphates and in particular to the concentrate.

Product labels will be required to emphasise the added risks to health which arise if there is exposure to the concentrate and safety warnings on containers will be required to be clearer and more prominent. Concentrate containers are required to be fitted with a vented dispensing tap, to reduce the risk of splashing. In addition, authorised merchants are required, at the time of sale of sheep dip, to provide purchasers with a laminated sheet describing safe handling methods and two pairs of gloves of the recommended standard.

Two marketing authorisation holders have addressed the outstanding issues to the satisfaction of the VPC and have, in the meantime, been permitted to re-launch their products.

At the start of the dipping season it is intended to remind farmers of the need to adopt safe working practices when using sheep dip and to advise them of the risks to health which may ensue if exposure occurs. It is proposed that this advice will be issued jointly by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment when he expects to publish the bilateral Concordat between his Department and the Department of Trade and Industry.

(AQW 467/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have today agreed the text of the Concordat between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Trade and Industry. Copies of the Concordat have been placed in the Assembly Library.

Mr Leslie asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will detail the number of prosecutions which have been brought against developers contravening the Health and Safety regulations for site work in each of the last three years.

(AQW 469/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The number of prosecutions initiated for breach of health and safety at work legislation on construction sites during the last three calendar years was as follows:

1997 2 prosecutions involving 7 separate charges
1998 7 prosecutions involving 15 separate charges
1999 5 prosecutions involving 9 separate charges.

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment if it is his intention to reinstate the pre-1985 measures for the controlled burning of heather on moors during the month of August.

(AQW 394/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The Game Law Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 1951 section 7E made it unlawful to burn or destroy heather on uncultivated land between 15 March and 15 July. The purpose was to protect nesting game birds.

This period was amended by the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 to between 15 April and 31 August. This change improved the protection afforded to other species of moorland bird with a longer breeding season.

I have no proposals for changing these arrangements.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of the Environment if he will provide a list of those appointed as Special Advisers within his Department, detailing in each case (a) the date appointment was offered, (b) the date employment commenced, (c) the gender of the appointee, (d) whether or not the appointee is disabled, (e) whether or not the appointment was as a result of open competition, and (f) whether the appointee hold membership of any political party on the date appointment was offered.

(AQW 443/00)

Mr Foster: There have been no appointments to the post of Special Adviser within DOE.

Mr Close asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will provide details of the level of absenteeism in each Government Department and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 358/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): The information sought is only readily available for non-industrial civil servants. The table below reflects the percentage rate of absence for non-industrial civil servants in terms of available working days lost for the calendar year 1999. To take account of the reorganisation of Departments the figures represent the absence records according to the Northern Ireland Department in which the staff were employed at the end of the 1999/2000 financial year (31 March 2000). Comparable statistics for industrial civil servants are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Northern Ireland Civil Service acknowledges that the current level of absence is a matter of concern. Departments are continually striving to reduce these levels. To this end absenteeism is monitored regularly both at the corporate and departmental level. A number of initiatives have been undertaken aimed at ensuring that the NICS not only complies with best practice in this area but also that it continues to devise practical steps to reduce the level of absenteeism. In addition, my officials will be bringing forward proposals based on this work for targets for a reduction across the service over an agreed timescale.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what assessment he has made in relation to the Barnett Formula and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 384/00)

Mr Durkan: Strict application of the Barnett Formula will result in convergence in per capita spending between Northern Ireland and England. Clearly this makes it progressively more difficult to sustain some local spending programmes that traditionally have had a higher per capita spend than comparable programmes in England.

However, there have been some positive changes to the application of the Barnett Formula in SR2000 in response to representations that the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and I made to Treasury Ministers, and I will continue to press for expenditure allocations which reflect the higher levels of need within Northern Ireland.

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