Friday 15 December 2000
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail what discussions took place with their special advisers prior to answering AQW 471/00 on 6 November.

(AQW 673/00)

Reply [holding answer 30 November 2000]: In preparing the answer to AQW 471/00 on 6 November, we satisfied ourselves that all those employed in the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister as Special Advisers had complied with their terms and conditions of employment. In accordance with normal practice, details of internal advice and discussions are not made available.

Mr Poots asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the steps being taken to ensure that commercially run-down areas are not disadvantaged by New TSN.

(AQW 757/00)

Reply: New TSN aims to tackle social need and social exclusion by targeting efforts and available resources on people, groups and areas objectively defined as being in greatest social need. New TSN targeting will benefit rather than disadvantage commercially run down areas.

The Department of the Environment’s New TSN Action Plan includes objectives to alleviate social, economic and environmental need in disadvantaged areas, including commercially run down areas. The Planning Service is committed to assessing the New TSN impact of development plans and to ensuring that new Development Plans reflect New TSN principles. The Planning Service is currently identifying built up areas where there is potential for development with the aim of promoting greater use of brownfield sites.

From a spatial planning policy point of view, the Department for Regional Development’s Regional Development Strategy seeks to achieve both targeting of social need and the renewal of commercially run-down areas.

The Department for Social Development’s Belfast, Londonderry and Regional Development Offices, through New TSN-compatible programmes, already target considerable resources on run-down commercial areas. In line with New TSN, the Department will bring forward new regeneration strategies for the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, including some run-down commercial areas

Mr Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to make a statement about Government programmes for the support of victims.

(AQW 767/00)

Reply: The draft Programme for Government recognises that meeting the needs of victims will require co-ordinated and concerted action across Departments. It contains a number of actions to achieve this aim, including a commitment to put in place, by April 2001, a cross-departmental strategy for ensuring that the needs of victims are met through effective, high quality help and services. This will be facilitated by an inter-departmental working group on victims chaired by the junior Ministers.

OFMDFM received an allocation of £200,000 for the Victims Unit in the year 2000/01 following the October expenditure monitoring round. Ministers will seek further in-year resources in the December monitoring round.

In addition, whilst details of the European Peace II Operational Programme have yet to be finalised, it is intended that projects to assist victims of violence will receive substantial resources under the programme.

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to advise on which government department will be taking responsibility for the recently announced Children’s Fund and to outline the mechanisms and criteria for fund allocation.

(AQW 879/00)

Reply: The Children’s Fund will provide support for children in need and young people at risk. The arrangements for the management and distribution of the fund are currently being considered.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when she last reviewed the costs of veterinary products available to farmers.

(AQW 809/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is conducting an investigation into certain aspects of the pricing of veterinary medicines in the UK. The OFT will consider whether there is any evidence of anti-competitive practices. In addition, as part of the Government’s strategy for agriculture, a review group has been established to consider the dispensing of prescription-only medicines by veterinary surgeons. The review group has been asked to submit a report to Ministers by 31 March 2001.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the set up and running costs of the Steering Committee on Cross Border Rural Development (SCCBRD).

(AQW 813/00)

Ms Rodgers: There are no set up costs for the steering committee. The committee has been in existence since 1991 and was reconstituted at the North/South Ministerial Conference in June 2000. The running costs will be minimal as the steering group is made up of officials who meet quarterly on an alternate North/South basis. My Department’s costs per annum are approximately £2,400 made up as follows:

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will recommend that the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee has access to the preliminary findings of the joint study of the pig industry.

(AQW 814/00)

Ms Rodgers: Given that the report is nearing completion and I will wish to consult the Committee on its final conclusions there would be little point in providing the Committee with draft preliminary findings at this stage.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) what progress has been made by the joint study of the pig industry (b) who are the officials appointed to this study and (c) when it will be completed.

(AQW 815/00)

Ms Rodgers: I am advised that good progress has been made by the consultants appointed to carry out the cross-border study of the pig industry. The consultants have been assisted in their task by a steering group composed of industry representatives and relevant Government officials from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Northern Ireland representatives have included officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and IDB. I am hopeful that the report will be finalised before the end of this month.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her policy for the future of the dairy industry with particular reference to milk quotas.

(AQW 822/00)

Ms Rodgers: The dairy industry makes an important contribution to the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland. Although I await the recommendations of the Vision Group I can say that my aim will be to ensure that the dairy sector remains competitive and continues to bring benefit to the local economy, particularly in rural areas. A study of the operation of milk quotas in the UK is being commissioned. I will be interested to see the findings of that study, which will help to inform UK Ministers in advance of the EU review of the milk quota system in 2003. I will be working in full consultation with industry organisations for an outcome that is in the best long term interests of the local industry.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make a statement on tuberculosis in the bovine herd.

(AQW 823/00)

Ms Rodgers: Although there has been a tuberculosis (TB) eradication scheme in operation in Northern Ireland for some years, the disease remains a problem.

The number of reactor and negative in contact animals identified and slaughtered has risen from 3,424 in 1995-96 to 8,630 in 1999-2000. This represents an increase from 0·147% to 0·344% in disease incidence, that is reactors as a percentage of the number of animal tests carried out. The disease incidence has risen to 0·45% in the period April 2000 to September 2000 and the problem does not look like diminishing in the near future.

The increase in the disease has inevitably meant an increase in the amount of TB compensation, which has risen from £2·2 million in 1995/1996 to £5·8 million in 1999/2000. I am concerned at this continuing rise in the level of compensation.

The increase in TB here is similar to the situation in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. TB spread occurs through small farms with numerous neighbouring farms and farm units leading to high levels of cattle contact across boundaries. There is also evidence to suggest that badgers may play a more significant role in the spread of TB in cattle. In Great Britain a large-scale experiment is currently in place to evaluate the effectiveness of different badger control strategies. Although we are not conducting any badger cull here in Northern Ireland we will take account of any measures that emerge from the work in Great Britain.

Research work is also continuing on the development of a blood-sampling test as a replacement for the current TB skin test. Results to date indicate that we are still some way away from replacing the current TB skin test.

At this time we are making considerable efforts to eliminate infection in Northern Ireland and will intensify these in the incoming year. There is a TB policy review underway to look at all aspects of control measures to consider if further or different measures might be introduced.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she is taking to expand the current recreational use of forests without compromising their sustainability.

(AQW 843/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Forest Service manages 75,000 hectares of land. The service has operated an open access policy for many years and the public is encouraged to make use of the forest estate for a variety of recreational and educational activities. In most cases access is free, but in those areas where specific facilities are provided a charge is made to help recover costs.

This year I have set the Forest Service a target of achieving 440,000 paying visitors. In 1999/00 there were 405,000 paying visitors, out of an overall total of two million visits to forests. A marketing strategy is currently being prepared and this will help in the promotion of forest recreation throughout Northern Ireland next year.

A study is also underway to assess the quality and accessibility of existing recreation facilities and to assess whether public needs and expectations are being met. In particular, this seeks to identify potential user groups that are presently under-represented.

Earlier this year the Forest Service management of Northern Ireland’s forests was certified against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. This provides independent reassurance of sustainable forest management through third party auditing. The Forest Service has successfully met the requirements of this standard, which requires that access to forests is encouraged in a sustainable manner and vulnerable sites or species are not compromised.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what measures are in place to ensure that imported cattle embryos and semen do not present risk to the health of the Northern Ireland herd.

(AQW 849/00)

Ms Rodgers: Imports of cattle embryos and semen from EU Member States are governed by the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which require imports to be in accordance with EU Directives 89/556 and 88/407 respectively. These Directives lay down rules regarding the collection, processing and storage of embryos and semen and provide that all imports must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate confirming the disease status of the donor animal.

Imports of cattle embryos and semen from Great Britain are subject to licensing under the Artificial Reproduction of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 which ensures the material poses no disease risk to Northern Ireland.

Imports of cattle embryos and semen from outside the EU are subject to import licences under the Landing of Carcases Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 which ensure that the imports must comply with EU rules including controls on the collection, processing and storage of the genetic material.

All imports of genetic material landing at Belfast port or airport from third countries are checked by the Department’s veterinary service, while random checks are carried out on imports from Member States. Once imported into Northern Ireland the genetic material must enter an approved main store where six-monthly checks are carried out by the Department’s veterinary service.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail how new initiatives to simplify the common agriculture policy are affecting the work of her Department and impacting on local farmers; and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 892/00)

Ms Rodgers: EU discussions relating to the possible simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy are still at a relatively early stage. The topic was raised at a meeting of the EU Agriculture Council on 23 October, where there was unanimous support for simplification and for the creation of an Ad Hoc Working Group to take this initiative forward. The group will consider matters such as:

• Greater flexibility regarding scheme penalties;
• A simplified system of payments for small farmers;
• Allowing field inspections to be done for several schemes simultaneously;
• Reviewing some of the arable aid rules;
• More radical options could also be considered, such as more delegation to Member States, or more decoupling of payments from production.

In principle, I welcome any proposals that would reduce the complexity and bureaucratic burden of the Common Agricultural Policy. However, I will wish to ensure that no disadvantage may accrue to Northern Ireland producers as a consequence, and I will be examining all proposals closely at the appropriate time.

At present, the possible simplification of the policy is having minimal effect on the work of my Department and none on local farmers, but this will alter as concrete proposals emerge and the detail of implementation needs to be considered.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the contractual arrangements of her Department that give exclusive rights of propagation and marketing for all new grass seed and potato varieties bred by the Loughgall Plant Breeding Station to commercial companies outside Northern Ireland and if she will detail the full financial commitment of her Department associated with these contracts.

(AQW 896/00)

Ms Rodgers: I confirm that the Department has contractual arrangements with Barenbrug Holdings with regard to grass seed varieties, and Agrolon Ltd with regard to potato varieties. These arrangements date back to 1991 and 1993 respectively and were entered into following an open tender procedure to identify a suitable commercial partner for the commercialisation and marketing of varieties bred at the Loughgall Plant Breeding Station. In both cases Northern Ireland interests were able to submit tenders, but those who did were considered to be less advantageous than the successful bidders. I would point out that the fact that the commercial partners in each case are based outside Northern Ireland does not disadvantage the Northern Ireland agricultural industry.

The financial details of the contracts are commercial in-confidence matters and it would not be appropriate to disclose these.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to comment on the plant health implications in respect of small ware potatoes being imported from Great Britain for planting, and if she will detail what steps she and her Great Britain counterpart are taking to stop this illegal trade in light of the brown rot findings in England and Scotland.

(AQW 898/00)

Ms Rodgers: Small ware potatoes illegally imported from Great Britain and planted in Northern Ireland would present a plant health risk on two counts as they may be infested with potato cyst nematode, as well as potentially carrying ralstonia solanacearum, the bacterium that causes brown rot.

We are not complacent on this matter but it is my assessment that the risk for the industry in this respect is very small as there is no evidence of significant trade in illegal seed potatoes.

Inspectors in my Department are extremely vigilant in checking for illegal imports and apply a very robust enforcement policy, which includes taking legal action where appropriate. Only two cases of illegally imported material were revealed last year. A consignment of English cc grade seed, which is not permitted to be planted in Northern Ireland, was found prior to planting and the importer was required to return it to its source in England. The other case involved an old variety of which no basic seed was available in the UK and a small amount was imported and planted. This was discovered by an inspector in the middle of the growing season and the Department took appropriate action.

With regard to preventative measures, UK Agriculture Departments fully comply with the EU rules on plant health and similar statutory checks on disease controls are undertaken throughout the UK. In Northern Ireland all seed and ware farms are inspected annually and inspectors check on seed being planted and the source of that seed. Other measures taken to maintain the good plant health status of local potato production include sample checking on imports and inspection of registered potato businesses including importers, processors and packers. Also, Department scientists test random samples of ware and seed potatoes in Northern Ireland, and water from rivers, to detect any signs of brown rot.

In June 2000, the Department issued a guidance note to the potato industry providing information on brown rot, how it spreads, and the measures put in place by the Department to prevent the spread of the disease in Northern Ireland. The guidance also outlined what the industry can do to help. It is vitally important that growers safeguard their industry by ensuring that all seed is obtained from reliable and safe sources.

I take this opportunity to stress that if anyone in the potato industry has information on illegal imports from Great Britain it should be passed to the Department so that action can be taken.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she is taking to reduce the risk of brown rot contamination of agricultural land by the spreading of sludge from water treatment works into which waste water from potato processing plants has been discharged.

(AQW 899/00)

Ms Rodgers: Although the spreading of sludge from water treatment plants may seem a potential source for increased risk of disease spread, in reality very little sludge from public water treatment works in Northern Ireland is now spread on agricultural land, and none of this originates from potato processing plants. Only three potato processing plants discharge to treatment works here and none of the sludge from these plants goes for spreading. Sludge is incinerated or put in landfill sites, as spreading has never been popular amongst farmers.

Even were spreading to occur, the risk of spread of infection is considered to be very low as a recent study by scientists at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food showed that in the anaerobic sewage digestion process, the bacterium that causes brown rot survives no more than 24 hours. As it normally takes one to two weeks for sludge to pass through sewage processing there appears to be no risk of the bacterium surviving in sludge and contaminating land onto which the sludge might be spread.

Staff in my Department’s quality assurance and applied plant science divisions are currently assessing the plant health risks involved with disposal of waste from a potato processing plant, with a view to formulation of guidelines for safe disposal. As soon as this work is finalised detailed advice will be issued to the industry and growers.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what consultations she has had with officials from Scotland and England in relation to the recent flooding of potato growing lands adjacent to brown rot infected rivers in both countries and if she will detail the steps she intends to take in the 2001 growing season to stop seed and ware potatoes from such areas being imported to Northern Ireland.

(AQW 900/00)

Ms Rodgers: In view of the importance of this issue officials in my Department are in contact with their counterparts in Scotland and England about all aspects concerning brown rot disease on an ongoing basis. This liaison takes place both informally and through structured meetings so that there is continuous appraisal of disease risk factors.

In relation to flooding in potato-growing areas in England, an assessment has been made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the potential risk for disease spread. All the crops involved in the brown rot outbreaks had been irrigated with surface water contaminated by the bacterium. Some, but not all, of those crops had been flooded or waterlogged during the growing season. While flooding would potentially lead to increased contact between contaminated water and potato roots where infection occurs, the risk of infection would vary depending on timing and would be lower later in the growing season. Lower temperatures are less conducive to infection and symptom development in potato plants.

Given that the serious flooding took place in a cold period at the end of the growing season, and that scientific investigation has shown that the bacterium dies out in soil over winter, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food considers that there has been no significant impact on the risk of potato brown rot spread.

In Scotland no certified seed potato crops were irrigated from the contaminated river system in Perthshire, and laboratory testing has indicated that the bacterium has not spread to potatoes. Only one field of seed potatoes has been affected by flooding from this river system. Tubers from the flooded land will be disposed of under statutory notice.

With regard to next year’s growing season, EU rules prohibit putting restrictions on imports of potatoes as long as the EU plant health rules are observed. It is too early to say if any changes will be necessary to the measures currently being deployed to safeguard against the disease. As I stated above, the matter is kept under continuous review and any further actions considered justified will be taken.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of staff and the running costs to the Northern Ireland potato industry for each of the establishments at the plant breeding station, the plant testing station and the scientific laboratories at Newforge Lane.

(AQW 909/00)

Ms Rodgers:

There are no associated running costs to the Northern Ireland potato industry for this departmentally funded scientific work. However, the industry is charged an occasional fee of £118 plus VAT for brown rot testing — three to four instances per year.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the number of plant health check inspections performed on imported ware and seed potatoes (b) the percentage of total throughput checked (c) the number of consignments failing to meet European Community and Northern Ireland Plant Health Regulations and (d) the number of tuber samples sent for laboratory examination to confirm presence of brown rot from each to the European Community border control posts at Larne, Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint for the last 5 years.

(AQW 910/00)

Ms Rodgers: There have been no direct imports from non-EU countries in the past five years to any of the ports in the question or indeed to any other NI ports. Potatoes from outside the EU enter via other UK ports and are subject to the relevant controls there. It follows, having regard to the points raised in the question, that (a) there have been no inspections of such imports at any of these European Community border control posts; and therefore that (b), (c) and (d) do not arise.

However, in line with the relevant EU Council Directive potatoes arriving in Northern Ireland from within the EU are subject to a system of official plant health checks and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspectors undertake random checks in compliance with these provisions. These arrangements, however. exclude specific controls at borders between Member States because the Directive places the primary responsibility for plant health inspection on the authorities in the EU country of origin. Provided that the EU plant health rules are observed, there must be no hindrance to the movement of potatoes within the Community.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) how the recently announced £150,000 counselling fund will be administered (b) what criteria will be used for its allocation and (c) how much will be allocated to each constituency.

(AQW 915/00)

Ms Rodgers: My officials have consulted with industry representatives and health personnel working in this topic area and are currently finalising our proposals.

A number of organisations are already involved in projects to help farmers and their families and I envisage that a main strand of this additional funding will be to build on and expand these initiatives while encouraging new initiatives from other local groups in Northern Ireland. Allocation will be by assessment of the bids for funds from these groups against set criteria such as how their proposal will help those needing support in the farming community.

Funds will also be allocated to the provision of general information on stress and coping with change including sources of help in local areas.

Allocation will not be by constituency. The programme will be aiming to cover all of Northern Ireland through local group initiatives and distribution of general information.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of staff and the running costs to the Northern Ireland potato industry in respect of policy division, the technology and business, supply chain and quality assurance divisions of the agrifood development service.

(AQW 916/00)

Ms Rodgers: No staff costs or other running costs are passed on directly to the potato industry for any of the areas of work referred to in the question. Thirty- eight staff — 28 in the agrifood development service (AFDS) and 10 in farm policy division — are involved in these areas but this figure is not meaningful as potato industry work is combined with other activities relating to different sectors of agriculture.

However, certain statutory fees must be charged to the industry for potato inspections undertaken by the quality assurance division and for the administration of health "passports". In the financial year 1999/2000 the fees for this work totaled £121,914 but £62,958 was rebated in respect of potatoes exported. The rebate figure is not a directly comparable figure as rebates may be made in respect of the previous year whilst other rebates due in-year may not be made until the following year.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to confirm the number of potato processors and pre-packers who have sought approval for waste disposal facilities and been approved by her Department in the last five years and if she will detail what steps she is taking to ensure all such premises importing potatoes from brown rot infected regions in Great Britain meet the required standards to stop brown rot contamination of rivers and arable land in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 917/00)

Ms Rodgers: Only one potato processor has applied for approval for waste disposal facilities and the Department, after inspection, refused to grant approval because the necessary conditions could not be fulfilled. Processing of potatoes from Egypt and regions of the EU known to be affected by brown rot can only be approved when certain conditions have been met. The solid waste from processing must be disposed at an approved landfill site, heat treated to 70ºC for 30 minutes or incinerated. Likewise the liquid waste from processing should be treated to 70ºC for 30 minutes or discharged into an estuary or tidal water. At present no potato processor or packer in Northern Ireland can meet these conditions.

The handling and disposal of potatoes from brown rot demarcation zones in Great Britain must satisfy the relevant EC Directive and it is the responsibility of the competent authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to implement the Directive in full. The Directive stipulates that these potatoes must only be processed at a site with approved facilities so that there is no risk of brown rot spreading. As no processor in Northern Ireland can satisfy these requirements we have been assured by our counterparts in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that none of this high risk material has been imported into Northern Ireland. This is borne out by the fact that none of the imported material sampled by inspectors at processing plants has shown any signs of brown rot on visual inspection or by laboratory test.

I am satisfied that the checks undertaken by inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are proving to be effective.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what percentage of his Department’s budget has been allocated specifically for Irish language projects and groups and what percentage has been allocated to other language and cultural groups.

(AQW 873/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): My Department funds the North/South Language Body which through its two agencies, Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch, may promote and support activity related to language and culture.

Foras na Gaeilge’s specific functions include promotion of the Irish language.

Indicative funding of £7·2 million is available to Foras na Gaeilge in the start-up year of operation. My Department will provide £1·8 million of that. This represents 2·8% of the Department’s budget this year. Indicative funding for Foras na Gaeilge in 2001/2002 is £10·12 million, of which my Department will provide £2·53 million. This represents 3·53% of the draft budget.

Indicative funding of £667,000 is available to Tha Boord of Ulster-Scotch in the start-up year of operation and my Department will provide £500,000 of that. This represents 0·8% of the Department’s budget this year. Indicative funding for Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch in 2001/2002 is £1·29 million, of which my Department will provide £970,000. This represents 1·35% of the draft Budget.

Funding to promote cultural activity generally is made available through a range of programmes for which my Department is responsible.

The Department’s funding in support of the arts in Northern Ireland is largely channelled through the Arts Council, which has considerable independence in determining the allocation of resources in line with its artistic judgement. The level of expenditure by the council on Irish language and Ulster-Scots arts activities has risen significantly in recent years. In the last year for which current figures are available 1999/2000, approximately £102,000 has been provided for Irish language arts and £15,000 for Ulster-Scots language arts — this means arts projects or organisations with an important Irish language or Ulster-Scots dimension.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has, through its cultural diversity panel, sought to give recognition to the work of ethnic minority voluntary groups. Ongoing project funding has assisted the development of festivals, events, and other cultural projects organised by and for ethnic minority groups.

The Department does not allocate any of its arts budget specifically for Irish language projects and groups or other language and cultural groups.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to address incidents of bullying within the integrated education sector.

(AQW 828/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): Every school is required to have a written discipline policy, which must promote self-discipline among the pupils, good behaviour and respect for others. Parents get a free copy of that policy statement. My Department has advised schools in its booklet ‘Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection’, issued under cover of circular 1999/10, that they should have a clear, whole-school anti-bullying policy statement within their pastoral care and discipline policies. This should set out what measures the school will take to prevent bullying, and how they will tackle it when it happens. My Department also issues, on a regular basis, guidance on bullying produced by other statutory and voluntary agencies such as the NSPCC.

All guidance issued goes to all grant-aided schools, including integrated schools.

I intend to strengthen this by taking the next available legislative opportunity to make it a mandatory requirement upon every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place.

My Department is also preparing substantial guidance to schools on the promotion of good behaviour. This guidance will have a major section on combating bullying, and practical advice on how to deal with bullies and victims. A major piece of research into bullying in Northern Ireland has also been commissioned from the University of Ulster. The report is due next summer. Among other things it will be reporting on good practice and suggesting practical strategies which schools can use to tackle bullying.

My Department is also working with a consortium of voluntary and statutory agencies to develop a strategy for promoting an anti-bullying culture in schools.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of incidents of bullying in the integrated education sector in the Strangford and South Down areas in each of the last three years.

(AQW 830/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is not available. Data on incidents of bullying are not collected by my Department or the education and library boards.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Education if he or his Department have (a) been involved at any stage in the proposed amalgamation of the Boys’ Academy and Girls’ Academy in Dungannon in order to obtain new buildings, (b) given any undertaking to the board of trustees of the two schools that new buildings will only be provided if an amalgamation takes place, and (c) been made aware of the serious concerns parents from both schools have about the proposed amalgamation.

(AQW 831/00)

Mr M McGuinness: At the request of the trustees my Department carried out an economic appraisal to determine how best to provide for the educational needs of the pupils in St Patrick’s Boys’ and Girls’ academies. The recommended option in the appraisal is to provide a new co-educational school to replace the two existing schools. My Department accepts that the accommodation deficiencies at the two schools must be addressed regardless of whether or not the amalgamation proceeds. The school trustees have embarked on a consultation process with parents and other interested parties and my Department is aware that concerns have been expressed during this process. If the trustees decide to proceed with the amalgamation a statutory development proposal will be required. This provides for a two-month period during which representations may be made to my Department. At the end of that period a decision on the proposal will be taken having regard to the views expressed, including representations from the parents of pupils at the two schools.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to detail the amounts paid to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) for 1999/2000 under each of paragraphs 11, 13, 14 and 15 of schedule 8 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

(AQW 877/00)

Mr M McGuinness: All grant aid from the Department of Education to the CCMS is payable under paragraph 15 of schedule 8 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

The amounts paid in the financial year 1999/2000 in respect of expenditure by the council on (i) staff salaries and (ii) members emoluments, and in respect of (iii) total recurrent expenditure and (iv) total capital expenditure were as follows:

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education how many full-time non-teaching posts are provided for in the budget of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

(AQW 878/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I am advised by the council that it currently has 55 full-time non-teaching staff, divided between council headquarters and diocesan education officers.