Friday 24 November 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Community Care: Funding Policy

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, pursuant to AQW 322/00, she will outline the measures she has put in place to overcome the different accountancy funding in relation to each client between community trusts and acute trusts.

(AQW 637/00)

Ms de Brún: Waiting list action plans submitted by the boards, which I am now considering, recognise the need to balance funds between acute and community care services to reduce delayed discharges from hospitals and to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. I shall be monitoring closely the effective implementation of those plans. I have also commissioned a review of the implementation of community care policy, to report in September 2001. One key element of that review will be an examination of the planning and funding of all aspects of community care here.

Aithnítear sna pleananna gníomhaíochta le haghaidh liostaí feithimh, atá mé a mheas faoi lathair, gur gá comhardú a dhéanamh maidir le maoiniú seirbhísí géarmhíochaine agus maoiniú seirbhísí cúraim phobail le líon na n-othar a chuirtear abhaile i ndiaidh moille a laghdú agus le cosc ar chur ar othair a ghlacadh isteach sna hospidéil gan ghá. Beidh mé ag déanamh géarfhaireacháin ar fheidhmiú éifeachtach na bpleananna seo. Tá mé i ndiaidh athbhreithniú a choimisiúnú fosta ar fheidhmiú polasaí cúraim phobail, agus tá an tuarascáil sin le bheith agam i Meán Fómhair 2001. Is é a bheas mar chuid thábhachtach amháin den athbhreithniú sin scrúdú ar phleanáil agus ar mhaoiniú maidir le gach gné de chúram pobail anseo.

Clinical Priorities

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail what changes to clinical priorities have been implemented as a consequence of the national plan for the Health Service.

(AQW 639/00)

Ms de Brún: The National Health Service Plan was developed for, and applies only to, England. I shall, however, be looking at the proposals in England and elsewhere to assess their relevance and value in relation to services here.

In July I set out a number of immediate priorities for the health and personal social services here and good progress has been made to date. Dr Maurice Hayes and his team have started their review of acute hospital services; a Children Matter task force has been set up and is currently examining how best to provide the additional residential care that we all agree is needed; health and social services boards have produced comprehensive action plans to deal with winter pressures; 21 additional intensive care and high dependency beds will be in place during this financial year; and the flu vaccination is now available for all those over 65.

I also intend to make early progress with the publication soon of a consultation document on a public health strategy. In addition, I will shortly be setting out proposals for consultation on the future of primary care, following the abolition of fundholding.

In the longer term I shall be focusing on the priorities set out in the Programme for Government and seeking to address the priority needs of those who require care and treatment across all the programmes of care.

Ceapadh Plean na Seirbhíse Náisiúnta Sláinte do Shasana agus baineann sé leis an tír sin amháin. Ach mar sin féin amharcfaidh mé ar na moltaí i Sasana agus in áiteanna eile lena fháil amach an bhfuil baint acu le seirbhísí anseo agus lena bhfiúntas a mheasúnú i leith sin.

I mí Iúil leag mé amach roinnt tosaíochtaí láithreacha i dtaca le seirbhísí sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta pearsanta anseo agus tá dul chun cinn maith déanta go dtí seo. Tá an Dr Maurice Hayes agus a fhoireann i ndiaidh tús a chur lena n-athbhreithniú ar sheirbhísí géarmhíochaine; bunaíodh tascfhórsa Tábhacht le Páistí agus tá scrúdú á dhéanamh aige faoi láthair ar an doigh is fearr leis an chúram cónaitheach, a bhfuilimid uile aontaithe faoin ghá atá leis, a sholáthar; tá na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta i ndiaidh pleananna gníomhaíochta cuimsitheacha a ullmhú le déileáil le brúnna an gheimhridh; beidh 21 leaba bhreise dhianchúraim agus ardspleáchais ar fáil i rith na bliana airgeadais seo; tá imdhíonadh in éadan fliú ar fáil anois do gach duine os cionn 65 bliana d’aois.

Ta rún agam fosta dul chun cinn a dhéanamh go luath le doiciméad ar straitéis sláinte poiblí a bheas á fhoilsiú ar ball. Ina theannta sin, leagfaidh mé moltaí amach gan mhoill le haghaidh comhairliúcháin maidir le cúram príomhúil sa todhchaí nuair a chuirfear deireadh le cisteshealbhaíocht.

San fhadtéarma beidh mé ag díriú ar na tosaíochtaí atá leagtha amach sa Chlár Rialtais agus beidh mé ag iarraidh aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais tosaíochta na ndaoine a bhfuil cúram agus cóireáil uathu faoi gach clár cúraim.

Pensioners: Free Public Transport

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will accept equal responsibility with the Minister for Social Development for providing the funding to support the proposal to provide free transport for senior citizens.

(AQW 659/00)

Ms de Brún: The development of proposals to introduce free travel on public transport for older people — including the funding arrangements — does not fall within my area of responsibility.

Ní ormsa atá an fhreagracht moltaí a fhorbairt le saorthaisteal — lena n-áirítear socruithe maoinithe — a thabhairt isteach do dhaoine scothaosta ar an chóras iompair phoiblí.

HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

Consultancy Services

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if, for the period since devolution, he will detail (a) the number of contracts for consultancy services that did not have to go out to public tender that have been awarded by his Department, (b) to whom these contracts have been awarded, (c) the number of contracts awarded on the basis of such consultancy advice, and (d) to whom these contracts were awarded.

(AQW 571/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): During the period of devolution my Department has allocated three contracts on a single tender basis for consultancy services.

These contracts were awarded to KPMG Chartered Accountants, Grant Thornton and Ms S Nichol.

No further contracts have been awarded on the basis of advice received from these consultants.

Research Studentships

Mr McClelland asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the number of persons in receipt of research studentships and what plans he has to provide additional support.

(AQW 655/00)

Dr Farren: My Department is one of a number of funders of postgraduate research studentships tenable at the University of Ulster and the Queen’s University of Belfast. My reply therefore is limited to those research studentships that are funded by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE).

For the 2000-01 academic year, my Department made available 148 new postgraduate research studentships for study at the local universities. These new awards are additional to 183 research studentships that my Department continues to fund from previous years’ allocations. The total number of postgraduate research studentships being funded by DHFETE this year is therefore 331.

You may be aware that on 5 July 2000 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced, inter alia, a 23% increase, in real terms, in the level of science and engineering PhD students’ basic stipends over the next four years (2000-01 — 2003-04). You may also be aware that my Department has, to date, ensured that its award holders have retained parity with the levels of stipend being offered to their counterparts being funded by the research councils in Great Britain. This is a practice that I am determined to continue and, to make that possible, my Department has recently made bids for additional resources to the Department of Finance and Personnel. If successful, these additional resources will enable my Department to both retain this stipend parity and maintain the 2000-01 level of new awards for each of the next three years.

I can also inform you that over the last two years my Department has heavily skewed its postgraduate awards budget towards research studentships. This approach has been supported by the Department’s Postgraduate Awards Advisory Board and reflects my Department’s objective of investing available resources in those areas which are considered to be most important for sustaining and developing the Northern Ireland research base and, in turn, the local economy.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Lay-bys

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to introduce lay-bys on major roads so that tractors and slow moving vehicles may allow other traffic to pass.

(AQW 567/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): My Department’s Roads Service has previously investigated the use of lay-bys on major roads as a possible means of providing overtaking opportunities. As a result of these investigations, it was concluded that the use of "2+1" lane carriageway layouts is a safer and much more effective way of providing overtaking facilities. The "2+1" layout is where there are two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other direction. On steeper roads, the additional lane is known as a climbing lane.

A number of potential major works schemes to provide such overtaking opportunities have been identified by Roads Service. These schemes are being assessed for possible inclusion in the Department’s 10-year forward planning schedule, which is due to be published next year.

Water Pump Stations

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will ensure that all water pump stations are equipped with back-up generators in the event of a serious breakdown in electricity supply.

(AQW 569/00)

Mr Campbell: There are around 2,500 sites where pumping operations take place. The Water Service has permanently installed diesel engine generator sets at 49 sites of key strategic importance. These sites have been determined on the basis of the population served, the physical ability to supply alternative generation and the cost of such installation. The generator sets operate automatically whenever there is an interruption to the electricity supply. A recent review has identified the need to provide fixed sets at a further 18 key sites, and they are currently being installed at a cost of just over £1 million.

It would not be economically viable to provide and maintain generators at the remaining sites. However, the Water Service has some 200 mobile generators, held at key locations, which can be rapidly deployed in the event of power failure at these locations. Over 50% of water is provided via a pumped system. The cost of providing generators at all 2,500 sites would be significantly in excess of £100 million.

M1 Motorway: Extension Westward

Mrs Carson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline his plans to develop the M1 farther west.

(AQW 595/00)

Mr Campbell: Traffic volumes recorded on the A4 route between the end of the M1 motorway and Ballygawley roundabout do not, at current levels, justify the construction of a dual carriageway. For the foreseeable future, therefore, I have no plans to extend the M1 motorway further west. My Department’s Roads Service has, however, proposals to carry out major works schemes to improve both the A4 and A5 routes. Some of these schemes are included in the Roads Service major works preparation pool, and others are being considered for possible inclusion in its 10-year forward planning schedule.

Pedestrian Traffic Islands

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will consider removing metal lamp standards installed on pedestrian traffic islands as these are a major hazard, and either replace them with overhead lighting or poles that would collapse on impact.

(AQW 609/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service provides street furniture, including lighting on pedestrian traffic islands — pedestrian refuges — in accordance with the standards contained in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions’ ‘Traffic Signs Manual’. Where lighting is necessary, it may be provided by means of street lighting columns, refuge beacons mounted on posts or illuminated bollards/warning signs.

The columns or posts used are normally small and lightweight and should not present any more additional risk than striking a refuge. Refuges are normally only provided in built-up areas where traffic speeds are low, and Roads Service is not aware of any serious injury caused directly by striking such columns. When designing pedestrian refuges, Roads Service endeavours to use materials that will minimise personal injury on collision, while ensuring the primary safety of pedestrians using the refuges.

Westlink Roadworks

Mr McNamee asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail the costs and benefits to the people of the "Village" area and west Belfast of the proposed £46 million roadworks on the Westlink.

(AQW 619/00)

Mr Campbell: The £46 million package of proposed road improvements are for the M1 motorway (from Dunmurry to Broadway) and Westlink. The proposed improvements will provide a number of benefits and disbenefits to local communities in west Belfast and the Donegall Road or "Village" area. The benefits will include the following:

• a significant reduction in traffic volumes on parallel roads in south and west Belfast, especially during peak periods, and a substantial reduction in travel times on these roads as traffic is attracted by the additional capacity offered by the M1/Westlink improvements;
• the reduced traffic levels on parallel roads will bring associated environmental benefits in terms of modest improvements in road traffic noise, air quality and pedestrian environment;
• the reduced traffic levels on parallel roads will also assist in the introduction of additional transportation and traffic management measures such as quality bus corridors on those routes;
• the grade separation of through traffic from local traffic at the Broadway and Grosvenor Road junctions will help to improve pedestrian linkages between:
• the "Village" area and the Royal Group of Hospitals and the Park Shopping Centre; and
• local residential areas and the centre of Belfast.
• improved accessibility for local traffic wishing to join or leave the M1 motorway and Westlink at junctions between Dunmurry and Grosvenor Road; and
• the provision of a park-and-ride site at Blacks Road, Dunmurry and a priority busway from Stockman’s Lane to the Europa Buscentre, will enable the provision of more reliable bus services and provide the opportunity for the introduction of new express bus services serving west Belfast and Lisburn.

During construction there will be an inevitable short- term increase in pollution levels in the environment (noise, dust, et cetera) and disruption to traffic flows. These will, however, be kept to a minimum through the use of good working practices and traffic management measures. When the improvements are completed there will be a minor increase in local pollution levels for properties close to the route although, over a wider area, properties will experience a reduction in pollutant levels.

Portadown/Derry Railway Line

Mr McNamee asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail what proportion of the track bed of the Portadown/Dungannon/Omagh/Strabane/ Derry railway line is intact.

(AQW 620/00)

Mr Campbell: Translink has advised that there are no details currently available on the condition of the former Portadown/Dungannon/Omagh/Strabane/ Londonderry railway line. It is not therefore possible to give details of what proportion of the track bed is intact. A detailed survey would be required to obtain such information. Translink has no plans to undertake such a survey.

It is estimated that the line from Portadown to Londonderry ran for about 80 miles, but not all of it is in public ownership.

Flooding (West Tyrone)

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps have been taken to address the recent flooding in West Tyrone and if he will ensure that consultation with local district councils takes place on this matter.

(AQW 622/00)

Mr Campbell: The exceptionally heavy rainfall in the West Tyrone area over the past couple of months resulted in flooding at a number of locations. Water Service and Roads Service staff responded promptly and took all possible measures to relieve the flooding.

Water Service is carrying out a detailed programme of area drainage studies across Northern Ireland to determine the improvements required to the sewerage network to reduce the risk of flooding and to meet environmental objectives. In the Strabane and Omagh district council areas these studies embrace Strabane town, Omagh town, Fintona, Castlederg, Sion Mills and Newtownstewart.

Arising from these studies and other investment needs, Water Service intends to invest £6 million over the next 10 years on upgrading sewerage systems in the Strabane and Omagh district council areas. Pending the completion of these capital works, Water Service is implementing a number of operational measures, such as desilting sewers, aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in the most vulnerable areas.

Roads Service is also reviewing the locations where roads were flooded in order to establish the cause and the nature of any remedial work that may be required. In some instances flooding was due to the spillage of water and debris running onto the roads from adjoining land. In these cases Roads Service has reminded the relevant landowners of their responsibilities to maintain their private drainage systems.

I can assure you that both councils will be fully consulted, in the normal way, about the scope and timing of these improvement proposals.

Coastal Erosion

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline his plans to address the problem of coastal erosion.

(AQW 651/00)

Mr Campbell: While responsibility for coastal management rests with the Department of the Environment, I can confirm that the forthcoming regional development strategy will reaffirm the need for an integrated approach to tackling coastal erosion. Roads Service and Water Service will continue to take such practical measures as are feasible and economic to protect the infrastructure for which my Department has responsibility.

Flooding (Warrenpoint)

Mr Bradley asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will sanction the action required to prevent flooding on the roadway in the vicinity of Clontifleece Primary School (Warrenpoint).

(AQW 657/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service intends to replace a culvert on Lurgancanty Road, Warrenpoint, in order to alleviate the potential for flooding in the vicinity of Clontifleece Primary School. It is hoped that this work will be completed next month.

Water Service: Underinvestment

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Regional Development if, in view of the statement in the draft Programme for Government that there has been major underinvestment in water and sewerage services over the last decades, he will outline what steps he will take to address such deficiencies.

(AQO 307/00)

Mr Campbell: Over the next 20 years Water Service needs to spend an estimated £3 billion to meet EU standards for drinking water and waste water, replace ageing infrastructure and meet increasing demand from new developments. Following devolution, my predecessor indicated that the Water Service would not be privatised and would remain as an agency within the Department for Regional Development. He also launched the "Water Service - Moving Forward" process to enhance the service’s performance as part of the public sector. Part of that review includes an examination of how best to address the service’s huge investment needs.

The draft Programme for Government includes, at page 65, commitments to review by 2002 the opportunities for the use of private finance in all major public service provisions, consider by spring 2002 the practicality of introducing new charges and complete by March 2002 a review of rating policy.

Water Service Infrastructure:
Weather Damage

Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline the impact of the recent inclement weather on the Water Service infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 337/00)

Mr Campbell: Over the past four months there have been exceptionally heavy levels of rainfall, and on a number of occasions this was simply too much for the sewerage infrastructure to cope with. This resulted in flooding, with the most severe incidents occurring in the Belfast area on 28 July and 21 August and across counties Antrim and Down on 9 October.

Many of these incidents are attributable to a legacy of underinvestment in the sewerage infrastructure. Water Service is carrying out 105 area drainage studies to determine the improvements required to reduce the risk of flooding and to meet environmental objectives. These studies are due to be completed in 2003. It is likely that they will identify a capital investment requirement in excess of £300 million. Given current funding levels, it is unlikely that the entire programme of improvements will be completed this decade.

M1/Westlink : Traffic Volumes

Dr Birnie asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail the current percentage annual growth in traffic volumes on the M1/Westlink, and what is his forecast for the percentage increase in traffic on this route between 2000 and 2015.

(AQO 336/00)

Mr Campbell: Traffic growth varies on the different sections of the M1/Westlink corridor. For illustrative purposes, traffic growth on the section between Stockman’s Lane and Broadway over the five-year period 1988-93 was in the region of 7% per annum. The growth rate over the last five years has fallen to under 2% per annum, as traffic has diverted onto less suitable parallel routes due to increasing congestion along the corridor. The current traffic volume on this section of the M1 is 64,000 vehicles per day.

Future traffic growth on the M1/Westlink will continue to be constrained by this congestion. However, if the current proposed improvements to the M1/Westlink are implemented, traffic is likely to grow in the region of 3% per annum up to 2020, thus relieving the pressure on the parallel routes.

Traffic Congestion
(Sandyknowes Roundabout)

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline his plans to reduce congestion at Sandyknowes Roundabout, Mallusk.

(AQO 338/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has commissioned consultants to assist in carrying out a detailed study of the Sandyknowes interchange with a view to implementing traffic management improvements to help reduce congestion at this location. An initial report has been received and is currently being considered by Roads Service.

In addition, the transport research laboratory is investigating the site in order to produce a traffic model that will permit Roads Service to test any proposed measures and to evaluate their effects.

Bus Lanes

Mr Ford asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will give his assessment of the effectiveness of bus lanes in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain.

(AQO 321/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has not yet carried out any formal studies to compare the effectiveness of bus lanes in Northern Ireland with those in Great Britain. Such a comparison would be difficult to measure, as the effectiveness of bus lanes varies from day to day and is dependent on the location, number of side roads, pedestrian facilities and the number and proximity of signal-controlled junctions along the route. Roads Service is, however, preparing to undertake a benchmark study that will assess its overall strategy on bus priority, including bus lanes, and other public transport enhancement measures against the performance of comparable cities and regions in the UK and Europe. That will allow Roads Service to gather data on how bus lanes operate elsewhere.

Pensioners: Free Public Transport

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail his plans to introduce free travel on public transport for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 320/00)

Mr Campbell: The speedy introduction of a free travel scheme for older people remains a top priority for my Department. The importance of this initiative has been recognised by its inclusion in the draft Programme for Government. Unfortunately my Department was not able to secure the finance needed to implement the scheme in the recently announced draft Budget.

Two rounds of consultation that have been undertaken with councils have indicated that there is widespread support for a free travel scheme for older people and that a number of councils are prepared to use district rate resources to co-finance a scheme in their areas in conjunction with funding from my Department. My officials are currently working on a draft Bill that I hope to introduce to the Assembly this session to enable district councils so to do. If all councils agree to take part in a free travel scheme for the elderly, the cost to ratepayers across Northern Ireland could be around £5·5 million at current fare levels.

Public Inquiries: Assistance for Lay People

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will outline what support he would provide to assist lay people involved in a public inquiry.

(AQO 331/00)

Mr Campbell: The Department for Regional Development provides interested parties with full details of departmental proposals and the reasons why it is considered necessary to convene a public inquiry. Departmental officials will also explain the structure and procedure of a public inquiry, when requested.

There is currently no provision for Departments to provide financial assistance to lay people. The issue of legal aid for non-Government participants in a public inquiry is a reserved matter falling to the Lord Chancellor’s Department.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Town Centre Reinvigoration Study

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development if he will undertake a town centre reinvigoration study of those towns not included in the 1999-00 town centre reinvigoration study and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 562/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): The town centre reinvigoration study was based on a sample of eight towns, which were chosen because together they exhibit the good and not-so-good features of our town centres. The intention was to learn lessons that could be applicable to all town centres. Since the report of the study was received, my Department has consulted widely with district councils and others and held a conference in October. In these circumstances, and for reasons of practicability, no further town centre reinvigoration studies will be undertaken, but rather, the lessons learnt can be applied in all the town centres in Northern Ireland. I hope to issue a policy statement on the way ahead by early 2001.

Town Centre Management

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development if he will make a statement on town centre management.

(AQW 563/00)

Mr Morrow: Town centre management is about the development of town centres to ensure that they are safe, attractive and vibrant and includes their promotion and marketing. My Department believes that town centre management can play an important part in improving town centres throughout Northern Ireland and is supportive of the concept.

My Department is exploring the possibility of bidding for funding for town centre management in the next tranche of European Union funding, and I will let the Member know the outcome of this.

Low-Income Homeowners

Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail the steps he is taking to assist Northern Ireland Housing Executive low-income homeowners to maintain and improve their homes through grants.

(AQW 578/00)

Mr Morrow: The Housing (NI) Order 1992, in common with housing legislation operating in the rest of the UK, provides for a grants scheme to tackle unfitness in the private sector. This scheme is administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which has a mandatory duty to provide grant aid where the dwelling does not meet the statutory fitness standard. The grant scheme is primarily designed to assist the poorer strata of homeowners and employs a means test to determine what contribution, if any, they can make to the cost of work involved. This ensures that help is directed only towards those who need it.

I can also tell the Member that Housing Executive tenants who apply to buy their houses are provided with a booklet called ‘A Tenants Guide to House Purchase’. The booklet advises prospective purchasers that, among other things, they will be responsible for future repairs/ improvements and that they should ensure that any outstanding repairs are carried out before they buy.

Social Security Agency: Mislaid Mail

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail the reasons for complaints from claimants whose correspondence has been lost or mislaid when contacting social security agencies.

(AQW 605/00)

Mr Morrow: The Social Security Agency deals with, on average, five million pieces of post every year and, while the vast majority are dealt with satisfactorily, some do go astray. The need to improve in this area is acknowledged and plans are being developed to introduce IT solutions, such as document imaging, in the next 15 months. That will bring about a dramatic improvement. In the meantime steps have been taken to insure that instances of this nature are kept to a minimum.

Social Security Agency: Processing of Claims

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he is taking to reduce delays in the settlement of claims by social security agencies.

(AQW 606/00)

Mr Morrow: Year-to-date performance figures show that the Social Security Agency is meeting its targets for processing claims for most benefits. Some delays are being experienced with incapacity benefit, disability living allowance and attendance allowance. In those branches new staff are being recruited and trained and overtime is being made available. Although this figure gives an indication of the level of service provided, the agency recognises that some customers experience delays in their claims and that, for them, the agency’s targets fall short of expectations. The agency continuously strives to meet and improve on its targets. It has embarked on a major programme to improve the service provided to its customers.

All Work Test

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister for Social Development if he will give his assurance that the all work test is fair and that those taking the test are aware of its consequences.

(AQW 607/00)

Mr Morrow: From 3 April 2000 the all work test was replaced by the personal capability assessment as the main test of entitlement to incapacity benefit. A personal capability assessment is carried out on each claimant who has been in receipt of incapacity benefit for 28 weeks. The assessment is generally regarded as effective in determining continuing entitlement to the benefit.

A questionnaire issued by the Social Security Agency gives each claimant an opportunity to detail his condition and his ability to perform a series of prescribed activities. An explanatory letter that accompanies the questionnaire informs the claimant of the reasons for the assessment.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive:
High Court Appeal

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if he will confirm that the High Court is currently considering an appeal against the Housing Executive in connection with a house sale.

(AQW 644/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that he is not aware of any such case.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive:
Irish Language

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if he will confirm that the Housing Executive is considering spending funds on translating some of its guidance notes and information into the Irish language.

(AQW 645/00)

Mr Morrow: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has no immediate plans to translate its guidance notes and information into the Irish language.

The executive is, however, committed to making sure that a language barrier hinders none of the people it serves. Since 1994 facilities have been in place for Housing Executive customers who wish to conduct their business in Irish, but it has not been Housing Executive practice to provide Irish-language material for people who have the use of English and for whom Irish is the language of choice.

The Housing Executive will be closely examining any future guidance issued on this subject and will adapt its policy accordingly.

Pensioners: Free Public Transport

Mr Bradley asked the Minister for Social Development if he will accept equal responsibility with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for providing the funding to support the proposal to provide free transport for senior citizens.

(AQW 658/00)

Mr Morrow: I do not have any responsibility for this issue. This matter lies entirely within the remit of Gregory Campbell MLA, as Minister for Regional Development.

Social Fund Commissioner

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail his plans to appoint a new Social Fund Commissioner; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 754/00)

Mr Morrow: I am pleased to announce that Sir Richard Tilt has been appointed to serve as Social Fund Commissioner for Northern Ireland for a period of three years from 1 December 2000. I am confident that he will ably continue the important work undertaken by his predecessor, John Scampion, who resigns on 30 November to take up his new post as Immigration Services Commissioner. I would also take this opportunity to thank Mr Scampion for all his efforts in his time as commissioner.

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