Friday 1 December 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)
HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
Enrolments
Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the student numbers at further education colleges as measured by (a) full time enrolments (b) part time enrolments (c) gross student numbers and (d) net student numbers for each of the last five years.
(AQW 689/00)
The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): I attach tables detailing the numbers within the requested categories.
Students: Study in Great Britain
and Republic of Ireland
Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment how many students from Northern Ireland are currently registered at third level educational establishments in (a) England (b) Scotland (c) Wales and (d) Republic of Ireland.
(AQW 721/00)
Dr Farren: The following table identifies the number of NI domiciled students enrolled on higher education courses at third level institutions(1) in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, 1999/00, The Department does not collect statistics on students enrolled on Further Education courses outside Northern Ireland.
(A)
England (2,3) |
(B)
Scotland (3) |
(C)
Wales |
(D)
Republic of Ireland (4) |
7,810 |
5,747 |
499 |
1,008 |
(1) Both Higher Education institutions and FE colleges.(2) Excluding NI domiciled students enrolled on HE courses at the Open University.(3) The latest data available for enrolments on Higher Education courses at FE colleges (supplied by the various Education Departments) relates to 1998/99 and has been held constant.
(4) The latest data available relate to 1998/99 and has been held constant.
Journey of Reconciliation Trust
Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will confirm the refusal by accountants to sign off the annual accounts of the journey of reconciliation trust which is funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
(AQW 722/00)
Dr Farren: My Department has not funded the organisation titled "Journey of reconciliation trust". I am therefore unable to comment on the trust’s accounts and on any matters relating to their signing-off by accountants.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Residential Development
Mr McFarland asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will detail the proposed ratio of brownfield to greenfield site planning development and how this compares with present and proposed ratios in Great Britain.
(AQO 327/00)
The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): It is my intention that the regional development strategy, which is now nearing completion, will contain a regional target for residential development within existing urban areas. It is likely that the regional target for the towns will be to locate a minimum of 40% of future urban housing growth within the existing urban areas, reflecting the particular economic, demographic and geographic circumstances of Northern Ireland. This will apply over the period to 2015 and will be subject to regular monitoring and review. While the Department is committed to the promotion of a concerted housing drive, it recognises that there may have to be sensible adjustments to the targets defined through the area plan process in order to meet local circumstances.
The situation in England is contained in DETR’s ‘Planning Policy Guidance 3’, published in March 2000, which states that "the national target is that by 2008, 60% of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings". It should be noted that this is an aspirational working target, subject to review in the light of experience, rather than a mandatory figure, and it is recognised that not every region or town may be able to achieve the national figure for England.
In Scotland and Wales housing is encouraged on brownfield sites in preference to greenfield, but, unlike in England, there is no target for the percentage that must be accommodated on brownfield land.
The current situation regarding the ratio between greenfield and brownfield developments for Great Britain and for Northern Ireland is unclear, as all the regions are currently reviewing monitoring procedures to allow greater co-ordination and standardisation of data for regional and national use.
Regional Development Strategy
Mr Wells asked the Minister for Regional Development what progress has been made in the preparation of indicators to measure whether the regional development strategy will deliver sustainable development.
(AQW 671/00)
Mr Campbell: Sustainable development is at the heart of the regional development strategy; that strategy is due to be published next year. The preparation of indicators to measure progress towards a more sustainable pattern of development is linked to the process of preparing, and adopting, a regional policy on sustainable development. I understand that the Department of the Environment intends to publish a draft sustainable development strategy early in the new year, and that it will seek comments on a wide range of issues including the need for sustainable development indicators.
It will only be possible to decide on indicators after the regional development strategy has been settled and published. Nevertheless, my Department continues to liaise with colleagues in the Department of the Environment, and we are also monitoring developments elsewhere. My Department plans to take account of best practice in other regions in bringing forward suitable proposals for measuring the extent to which the regional development strategy contributes to a more sustainable pattern of development.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Fountain Court Flats
Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail when work will commence on the new public authority housing development to replace the Fountain Court flats in Downpatrick; and if he will make a statement.
(AQW 597/00)
The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): This project, which involves the construction of 28 new family homes, is being undertaken by Ulidia Housing Association. The detailed scheme proposals have been assessed and were approved by my Department on 31 October. The Housing Executive completed demolition of the former flats in August and is in the process of transferring the site into the ownership of Ulidia Housing Association.
Tenders have already been sought. The association plans to start building in February 2001, and the houses should be completed by August 2002. The total cost of the project is almost £2 million, of which £1·1 million is being funded by my Department, with the remaining £0·9 million being raised by the association itself.
House Sales Scheme
Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if he will outline the changes he intends to make to the house purchase scheme to ensure that potential purchasers will not be asked to pay for a site within their property where planning permission has not yet been granted.
(AQW 649/00)
Mr Morrow: The design of the house sales scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The chief executive has advised me that, in order to secure value for money, the Housing Executive has asked valuers to assess if a property has development potential. If it is assessed that development potential exists, then its value is taken into account in determining the sale price. If an applicant feels that the development potential does not exist, then there is a right of appeal to the Valuation and Lands Agency. In these circumstances, the Housing Executive will formally check the development potential through the local planning office, and if it is confirmed that development potential does not exist, then the dwelling will be offered on the basis of no development potential.
Pensioner Poverty
Ms McWilliams asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail the extent of pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland (where poverty is defined as the proportion of pensioners living below the family budget poverty line as used in the ‘Select Committee on Social Security Seventh Report - Pensioner Poverty 26 July 2000’).
(AQW 666/00)
Mr Morrow: A number of definitions of pensioner poverty were considered by the Select Committee. The levels suggested by the family budget unit (£90 per week for a single person or £135 per week for a couple plus rent and council tax) were arrived at through a consideration of circumstances in Great Britain and are not necessarily applicable in Northern Ireland. The measures used by the Department of Social Security to estimate pensioner poverty are dependent on analysis of data derived from the family resources survey, which is not yet carried out in Northern Ireland. An analysis of Social Security Agency data suggests that in Northern Ireland at May 2000, 29·5% of people of pensionable age benefited from income support, either as a claimant or the partner of a claimant.
In April 1999, the minimum income guarantee (MIG), delivered through income support, was introduced for pensioners. A take-up campaign to encourage more pensioners to claim MIG commenced in May 2000. Approximately 40,000 pensioners identified in Northern Ireland have been contacted by way of a mailshot. To date, over 6,000 have contacted the national freephone claim line number of their local social security office to obtain a claim form.
The MIG capital limit will increase from April 2001 as part of the commitment to improving help to pensioners and to better reward savers. The rate of MIG will also increase at the same time to £92.15 a week for single pensioners and £140.55 a week for couples, and to at least £100 for single pensioners and £154 for pensioner couples by 2003.
Replacement Grant (Comber)
Mr Taylor asked the Minister for Social Development if he will confirm (a) on what date an application was received for a replacement grant at 70 Ballydrain Road, Comber BT23 5ST, (b) when this application was approved and (c) when work can commence on site; and if he will make a statement.
(AQW 675/00)
Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that a formal application was completed on 18 October 2000. Until such time as a test of the applicant’s resources has been carried out, formal approval cannot be given. Work cannot commence until after formal approval. I will ask the chief executive to keep the Member informed of progress.
URBAN II Criteria
Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Social Development if he will clarify whether Larne and Carrickfergus are included under the current criteria for URBAN II.
(AQW 683/00)
Mr Morrow: Northern Ireland has been awarded 10m euro (£6·5 million) for URBAN II for 2000-2006. Given the level of resources and EU Guidance, only one urban area can be funded. Member states are required to carry out an ex ante evaluation to support the development of proposals to ensure that they meet with the strict guidelines that have been established by the European Commission. The primary criteria set down under URBAN II require that the urban area should be a coherent geographic area of at least 20,000 population presenting a single problem to be addressed. Minimum spend per head of population criteria and the level of funding available also means that the target area has a finite size. Furthermore, the designated area must display high levels of multiple deprivation.
The characteristics of neither Larne nor Carrickfergus matched these EU Guidelines on URBAN II. The inner north Belfast area has been identified as the area that best matches the criteria. A proposal document for inner north Belfast has been approved by the Northern Ireland Executive Committee on 16 November and has been submitted to the European Commission.
Provision for Carers
Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he is taking to improve provision for carers.
(AQW 715/00)
Mr Morrow: Several new measures, which will improve the provision for carers, are planned. These measures are:
i. an increase of £10 a week, on top of next year’s inflation up-rating, on the carer premium paid with income-related benefits;
ii. an increase, from £50 per week to the level of the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions, currently £67 per week, in the invalid care allowance earnings limit;
iii. extending the right to claim invalid care allowance to carers over the age of 65; and
iv. continuing to pay invalid care allowance for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for.
These changes will be introduced, at the same time as corresponding changes for carers in Great Britain, as soon as the legislative timetable permits.
Disability Benefits
Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail how many persons have had disability benefits cancelled in the last twelve month period for which figures are available.
(AQW 716/00)
Mr Morrow: Customers may be awarded or disallowed benefit depending on whether they meet the criteria from the particular benefit.
In the case of disability living allowance, a claim would be disallowed if there is no entitlement to any rate of the benefit. Claims can be disallowed at the new claim or renewal stage. In the past year, the agency received a total of 42,137 new claims and renewals for disability living allowance, of which 13,647 were disallowed.
If customers are unhappy with decisions, they can ask for a review and, ultimately, can take their case to appeal.
Tribunals: Appointment of Panel Members
Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he is taking to ensure tribunals which lie within his Department’s responsibility meet the requirements for independence laid down in the Human Rights Act 1998.
(AQW 717/00)
Mr Morrow: The Lord Chancellor appoints the panel members who sit on unified appeal tribunals within the appeals service. The Lord Chancellor introduced new administrative arrangements for judicial appointments, including part-time panel members, from 12 April 2000.
The Lord Chancellor considers that these arrangements put beyond reasonable doubt the safeguards guaranteeing the independence of judicial appointments.
Social Fund: Budgeting Loan Scheme
Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development if he will outline the operation of the social fund’s budgeting loan scheme.
(AQW 718/00)
Mr Morrow: The budgeting loan scheme is designed to help people on income support or jobseeker’s allowance with expenses that are difficult to meet from their regular income. It was introduced in 1988, but changes were made in April 1999 to simplify the scheme and to ensure that applicants were treated equally irrespective of where they lived. It is cash limited, and the social fund loan budget for Northern Ireland in 2000/2001 is £35·79 million.
Applications for budgeting loans are decided by local decision-makers and while it is a discretionary scheme, there are regulations that must be followed when deciding if customers are entitled and how much they should get. Customers who are unhappy with a decision can ask for a review by a social fund inspector who is independent from the Social Security Agency.
Minimum Income Guarantee: Applications
Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail how many people have applied for the minimum income guarantee this year.
(AQW 719/00)
Mr Morrow: So far this year, just over 6,000 pensioners have applied for the minimum income guarantee. Of these claims, over 2,700 have been successful. It has resulted in an extra £2 million in the hands of elderly people, with an average extra payment of £25 a week.
As part of its targeting social need programme, the Social Security Agency, in partnership with groups in the voluntary sector who represent pensioner interest, has undertaken a number of initiatives designed to actively encourage uptake of the minimum income guarantee among elderly people. Work will continue in this area to ensure that pensioners claim and receive all the help they are entitled to.
Child Poverty
Ms McWilliams asked the Minister for Social Development if he will detail the number of children in Northern Ireland who are living in poverty, (where poverty is defined as the number living in households with less than half the average household income) both before and after housing costs.
(AQO 348/00)
Mr Morrow: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The only available data source is the family expenditure survey. The standard definitions of "household income" and "housing costs" used in that survey would yield misleading answers. Re-analysis of the data using different definitions would be required.
Homeless People: Christmas Arrangements
Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development if he will outline his plans to address the needs of homeless people over the Christmas period.
(AQW 732/00)
Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose chief executive has advised me that the organisation has specific arrangements for dealing with the homeless during out of hours, weekends and public holidays, including Christmas. These include:
1. advertisement of out of hours contact numbers across Northern Ireland (on behalf of the Housing Executive, social services arrange temporary accommodation through the Housing Executive bed bureau for anyone presenting as homeless outside of normal hours)
2. establishment of a contact rota of Housing Executive staff at district, area and HQ level, for use in the event of an exceptional emergency.
In addition, the Lee Hestia organisation provides an emergency shelter in Belfast for street homeless all year round, including the Christmas period. It is anticipated that Lee Hestia, with the Housing Executive’s support, will provide a day centre over the Christmas and New Year period providing access to food, washing facilities, clothes, health care, counselling and leisure services.
ASSEMBLY COMMISSION
Questions for Written Answer
Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Assembly Commission to detail the number of written questions asked since devolution; give a breakdown of the Members who have asked questions and the number of questions each has asked.
(AQW 670/00)
The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mrs E Bell): I am responding to you on behalf of the Assembly Commission.
The attached tables detail the number of written questions asked during 1999 and 2000 respectively. The tables also indicate a breakdown of the total number of questions asked by each Member during those periods.
Questions for Written Answer 1999
by Tabling Member Name
Total Questions Tabled
Mr Adams |
4 |
Dr Adamson |
4 |
Mr Armstrong |
4 |
Mr Attwood |
3 |
Mr Beggs |
9 |
Mr B Bell |
2 |
Ms E Bell |
10 |
Mr Benson |
7 |
Mr Berry |
12 |
Dr Birnie |
9 |
Mr Bradley |
18 |
Mr Byrne |
8 |
Mr Carrick |
2 |
Mrs Carson |
20 |
Mr Close |
7 |
Mr Clyde |
3 |
Mr Dallat |
5 |
Mr Dalton |
1 |
Mr Davis |
2 |
Mr A Doherty |
5 |
Mr P Doherty |
2 |
Mr Douglas |
1 |
Mr Fee |
2 |
Mr Ford |
49 |
Mr Gallagher |
1 |
Mr Gibson |
28 |
Mr Hussey |
4 |
Mr B Hutchinson |
2 |
Mr R Hutchinson |
2 |
Mr Kane |
3 |
Mr Kennedy |
9 |
Mr Leslie |
13 |
Ms Lewsley |
7 |
Mr A Maginness |
1 |
Mr Maskey |
1 |
Mr McCarthy |
8 |
Mr McCartney |
1 |
Mr McClelland |
3 |
Dr McDonnell |
3 |
Mr McElduff |
6 |
Mr McFarland |
4 |
Mr McGrady |
51 |
Mr McHugh |
3 |
Mr McLaughlin |
1 |
Mr McMenamin |
1 |
Ms McWilliams |
4 |
Mr Molloy |
2 |
Ms Morrice |
1 |
Mr Morrow |
6 |
Mr C Murphy |
3 |
Mr MMurphy |
8 |
Mr Neeson |
7 |
Mrs Nelis |
10 |
Mr O’Connor |
5 |
Mr ONeill |
6 |
Rev Dr Ian Paisley |
4 |
Mr Paisley Jnr |
171 |
Mr Poots |
13 |
Ms Ramsey |
20 |
Mrs I Robinson |
38 |
Mr K Robinson |
28 |
Mr Savage |
3 |
Mr Shannon |
78 |
Mr Taylor |
17 |
Mr Tierney |
1 |
Mr Watson |
3 |
Mr Weir |
20 |
Mr J Wilson |
16 |
Mr S Wilson |
1 |
Total |
806 |
Questions for Written Answer 2000
by Tabling Member Name
Total Questions Tabled
Mr Adams |
27 |
Dr Adamson |
1 |
Ms Armitage |
3 |
Mr Armstrong |
6 |
Mr Attwood |
1 |
Mr Beggs |
35 |
Mr B Bell |
2 |
Ms E Bell |
12 |
Mr Benson |
2 |
Mr Berry |
6 |
Dr Birnie |
9 |
Mr Bradley |
11 |
Mr Byrne |
6 |
Mr Carrick |
3 |
Mrs Carson |
31 |
Mr Close |
8 |
Rev Robert Coulter |
2 |
Mr Dallat |
17 |
Mr Davis |
4 |
Mr Dodds |
9 |
Mr A Doherty |
3 |
Mr P Doherty |
4 |
Mr Fee |
4 |
Mr Ford |
32 |
Mr Gallagher |
2 |
Mr Gibson |
64 |
Ms Hanna |
1 |
Mr Hay |
2 |
Mr Hussey |
12 |
Mr B Hutchinson |
1 |
Mr Kane |
5 |
Mr Kelly |
2 |
Mr Kennedy |
4 |
Mr Leslie |
6 |
Ms Lewsley |
13 |
Mr A Maginness |
4 |
Mr Maskey |
3 |
Mr McCarthy |
8 |
Mr McClarty |
11 |
Mr McClelland |
6 |
Dr McDonnell |
2 |
Mr McFarland |
4 |
Mr McGrady |
41 |
Mr McHugh |
7 |
Mr McMenamin |
16 |
Mr McNamee |
3 |
Ms McWilliams |
15 |
Ms Morrice |
7 |
Mr C Murphy |
2 |
Mr M Murphy |
20 |
Mr Neeson |
7 |
Mrs Nelis |
12 |
Mr O’Connor |
9 |
Dr O’Hagan |
34 |
Mr ONeill |
5 |
Rev Dr Ian Paisley |
2 |
Mr Paisley Jnr |
75 |
Mr Poots |
8 |
Ms Ramsey |
4 |
Mrs I Robinson |
132 |
Mr K Robinson |
40 |
Mr P Robinson |
1 |
Mr Savage |
5 |
Mr Shannon |
105 |
Mr Taylor |
12 |
Mr Tierney |
1 |
Mr Watson |
1 |
Mr Wells |
11 |
Mr J Wilson |
12 |
Mr S Wilson |
4 |
Total |
979 |
War On Want: Fairtrade Campaign
Mr Shannon asked the Assembly Commission what plans it has to introduce the War on Want Fairtrade campaign within Parliament Buildings or to encourage Members and staff to lend support to the campaign.
(AQW 696/00)
Mrs E Bell: The Commission has just received a report from the Catering and Functions Committee on the future delivery arrangements for catering services in Parliament Buildings. As part of the implementation of the review recommendations the Catering and Functions Committee, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, will ask Mount Charles to develop proposals promoting the War on Want Fairtrade campaign with regard to the purchasing of products sold in Parliament Buildings. You may be interested to know that Mount Charles currently source all products sold in Parliament Buildings from Northern Ireland suppliers, 65% of which is estimated to be produced locally.
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