Friday 15 December 2000
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Textiles and Clothing Sector

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to explain why the Strangford constituency area was omitted from the initial review of the textiles and clothing sector in the light of the recent large job losses in this industry.

(AQW 826/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The remit of the review, which I announced earlier this year, was to develop an effective strategy for the future development of the textiles and clothing sector throughout Northern Ireland. In undertaking the assignment the consultants covered a range of activities including interviews with selected companies that represented the key products and markets supplied by the sector and workshops to which all companies in the sector were invited. A number of companies located in the Strangford constituency participated in that process.

Ards, Down and Castlereagh:
Visits by Potential Investors

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the number of visits to Ards, Down and Castlereagh council areas by potential investors in the last two years and (b) how many investors relocated to other council areas.

(AQW 829/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The attached table provides details of visits by potential inward investors to Ards, Down and Castlereagh district council areas arranged by the IDB between April 1998 and March 2000. From the 29 recorded visits 2 companies to date have located in other council areas.

Aviation Industry

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the impact of the aviation industry in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 832/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The aviation industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy in Northern Ireland. Few sectors contribute more to wealth creation. The aerospace sector in Northern Ireland offers international standards of performance, an export focus, advanced technologies with close university linkages, durable and quality jobs and more business with local suppliers. Our companies supply products and expertise to virtually all the global aerospace leaders, including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, BAE Systems and TRW/ Lucas Aerospace.

Shipbuilding: Future

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the future of shipbuilding in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 833/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The shipbuilding industry in Northern Ireland is exemplified mainly by Harland and Wolff. The company has been facing considerable difficulty in recent months in securing new shipbuilding orders. A number of prospects, including the recently announced roll on/roll off vessels for the Ministry of Defence, are currently at various stages of negotiation and officials in my Department are working very closely with the company in this regard. The Harland and Wolff task force, established by the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister following the redundancy situation in October, is also maintaining close contact with the company to assess how support can best be given in a number of key areas. This includes alternative employment opportunities for redundant employees and developing sales/marketing prospects for Harland and Wolff as it seeks to position itself in new market sectors.

Employment Trends in Northern Ireland

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will make a statement on employment trends in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 835/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Estimates of the number of employee jobs in Northern Ireland are available from the quarterly employment survey (QES), and the latest available estimates relate to June 2000. At that date there were 625,740 employee jobs in Northern Ireland.

In the past five years Northern Ireland has experienced continued growth in the number of employee jobs, particularly in the service sector. Since June 1995 the number of employee jobs in NI has increased by 52,320 — +9·1%. This compares favourably with the rise in the UK as a whole — +8·3%.

Details of the employee jobs series for Northern Ireland and the UK can be found on the attached table.

Employee Jobs¹, NI & UK, 1995 – 2000

¹ NI figures are rounded to the nearest 10, UK figures to the nearest 100.
² Figures are at June of each year.

Essential Users Rebate

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will consider extending the essential users rebate for vehicle fuel tax across Northern Ireland.

(AQW 836/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer determines the application and variation of fuel duties. These are therefore deemed reserved matters and do not fall under the remit of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Strategy 2010

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) what the current position is regarding Strategy 2010 (b) what aspects of Strategy 2010 have been implemented and (c) what outstanding issues have yet to be resolved.

(AQW 857/00)

Sir Reg Empey:

(a) The Strategy 2010 report, published in March 1999, has since been considered in detail by the economic development forum, which has provided comment and advice to Ministers. It has also been the subject of extensive public debate. Most recently the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee has conducted an inquiry on Strategy 2010 and its report is expected shortly.

(b) Of the 62 recommendations in the Strategy 2010 report, progress has been made on 55, including six which have been implemented in full. No action has yet been taken on 7 recommendations. Examples of particular actions taken include the establishment of the economic development forum and the information age initiative, together with significant progress in relation to equality and the knowledge-based economy themes.

(c) The Strategy 2010 report was produced to inform the Assembly and to stimulate debate about future economic development policy options. The Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee’s report will provide a formal response to Strategy 2010 and inform debate on the Programme for Government and my Department’s corporate plan.

New Start Programmes: Delay in Funding

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps he is taking to address the delay in funding for new-start programmes issued by LEDU.

(AQW 863/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I understand Mr Shannon is referring to the business start programme, jointly funded by LEDU and district councils, utilising EU moneys. Due to a delay in securing EU money for this programme, LEDU is providing interim funding to ensure continuity of assistance to businesses whilst the issue is being resolved.

Ards, Down and Castlereagh:
Potential Investors

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of visits by potential investors, organised by the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland, to the Ards, Down and Castlereagh Council Areas in each of the last five years.

(AQW 864/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The attached table provides details of visits to Ards, Down and Castlereagh Council areas promoted by IDB over the past five years.

New TSN: Designated Areas

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to specify what regions are considered designated areas for inward investment by the IDB for Northern Ireland.

(AQW 885/00)

Sir Reg Empey: IDB markets the whole of Northern Ireland to potential investors. In doing so, IDB pays specific attention to those council areas and areas of Belfast designated within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s New TSN action plan as part of the Government’s New TSN initiative.

Within the action plan, the IDB will target at least 75% of first-time visits and new greenfield investments to New TSN areas.

This action plan together with all other departmental action plans will be published shortly by the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and will contain details of the areas designated for New TSN purposes.

New TSN: Designated Areas

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to confirm that the Strangford constituency is a designated area as defined by the IDB for Northern Ireland.

(AQW 886/00)

Sir Reg Empey: IDB does not ‘designate’ areas of Northern Ireland for its activities but rather pays special attention to those council areas and areas of Belfast designated within the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment’s New TSN action plan as part of the Government’s New TSN initiative. The Strangford constituency comprises parts of Down, Castlereagh and Ards council areas. These council areas do not exhibit overall high levels of disadvantage compared to other council areas, using either the Robson indices alone, or supplemented by data on the unemployed. Consequently they are not designated for New TSN purposes by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

However, the Department has acknowledged the specific issues faced by non-designated council areas that contain pockets of deprivation. It is committed to working with these councils and local enterprise development agencies to help identify how they can use economic development resources at their disposal to complement the activity of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.

LINK

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail how much Northern Ireland business has benefited from the British research and development support scheme, "LINK", and to make a statement on how he envisages Northern Ireland business benefiting from the EC’s approval of "LINK" continuance to 2004/05.

(AQW 893/00)

Sir Reg Empey: LINK is a UK-wide scheme for supporting research partnerships between industry and the research base.

Information on the geographical location of LINK participants has not been routinely collected. However, I am aware of the involvement of seven Northern Ireland- based companies, the two Northern Ireland universities and two other Northern Ireland bodies in 20 LINK projects worth a total of over £13 million. Of course, the real benefit to companies involved in LINK lies not in the amount of Government grant obtained but in the development of new technologies, which the companies can then use as the basis for developing new and improved products and processes.

Following EU approval Northern Ireland business and universities will continue to be eligible to participate in all LINK programmes that are open for new project proposals.

Textile and Clothing Trades: Deregulation

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the impact on local businesses through the adoption by the EU of measures to deregulate the textile and clothing trades.

(AQW 918/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The de-regulation proposals put forward by the World Trade Organisation contain a number of measures to open up global markets. It is expected that while this might bring more competition to commodity textile and clothing producers it will also bring new opportunities to local manufacturers by enabling entry to markets not previously accessible to them. The Department of Trade and Industry, which is the lead department in such matters, will continue to work closely with the industry representative bodies and the European Commission to promote the interests of indigenous manufacturers.

The impact of the changes will depend on the preparedness of manufacturers. IDB through its strategy of ‘Competing Globally’ has been assisting textile and clothing companies prepare by encouraging them to invest in the development of their businesses. IDB has also encouraged them to form close relationships with customers and commodity suppliers so that they can offer a competitively priced portfolio of products consisting of home produced high value niche-market products, technology-based customer services, good design, rapid response and sourced goods.

I am confident that, provided the industry uses the resources made available to it and responds positively to the changes, new opportunities will arise.

Consumer Protection: Regulation

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline his plans to provide stronger consumer protection by way of regulation.

(AQW 949/00)

Sir Reg Empey: My overall objective is to ensure that the level of protection afforded to consumers in Northern Ireland is at least on a par with that afforded to their counterparts in Great Britain.

My immediate plans are to consider the adequacy of consumer protection in areas such as home-working, rogue trading and price marking.

An assessment of the level of risk, the costs involved and alternative ways of achieving the desired result, such as voluntary codes of practice, will always be considered before embarking on regulation. I will however provide for legislation in those areas where adequate levels of consumer protection cannot be achieved by other means.

Quarrying Industry

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people employed in the quarrying/extraction industry in Northern Ireland by consituency.

(AQW 970/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Estimates of the number of employee jobs below Northern Ireland level are only available from the census of employment and the most up to date figures relate to September 1997. Employee jobs estimates for mining and quarrying at this date for each constituency area within Northern Ireland can be found in the following table.

NI Employee Jobs in Mining and Quarrying by Parliamentary Constituency Areas (PCA’s)

* Not Shown Due To Either No Employees Or Confidentiality Constraints.

Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many companies the IDB for Northern Ireland have brought to view the Knockmore site.

(AQO 452/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Between April 1996 and March 2000 the IDB arranged 13 visits by potential inward investor companies to Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate.

Economic Development Agencies

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if, in reviewing the role of the Economic Development Agencies, he will ensure that consideration is given to examining the contribution from the local enterprise development companies and agencies and how they may continue their role in the future.

(AQO 484/00)

Sir Reg Empey: As part of my review of economic development structures I hope to implement an organising framework for the totality of enterprise and small business policy in Northern Ireland. This will provide the opportunity for the local enterprise agency network to deliver quality business services and to play a key strategic role in small business development at the local level.

Northern Ireland Business
Venture Capital Fund

Mr Byrne asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will undertake to create a Northern Ireland business venture capital fund to further economic development in the region and if he will make a statement.

(AQO 482/00)

Sir Reg Empey: There are already two business venture capital funds – crescent capital and enterprise equity – which are active in Northern Ireland. These funds service in the main medium to larger-sized investments, and I am actively seeking to introduce a new fund to cater for lower level of investment funding. In addition, IDB has commissioned new fundamental research into sources of private sector funding available in Northern Ireland to assist the growth of small to medium sized companies.

North/South Gas Pipeline

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the provisions he is making for the extension of the North/South gas pipeline to the south-east of Northern Ireland.

(AQO 447/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I refer the Member to my response to his earlier question (AQW 280/00) on this matter. I am still keen for the natural gas industry to be extended to the south-east of Northern Ireland, however it is for the private sector to put forward commercially viable proposals.

Angling: Tourist Attraction

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps he is taking to encourage and develop angling as a tourist attraction.

(AQO 445/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board markets and promotes the angling product through a variety of channels employing publications, exhibitions, advertising, media, tour operators and specialised events. The establishment of an angling product marketing group ensures representation of angling interests from throughout Northern Ireland and creates increased opportunities for marketing.

North/South Tourist Company

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, given the strategic importance of the new publicly owned North/South tourist company, to confirm that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is equipped to represent the best interests of Northern Ireland.

(AQO 450/00)

Sir Reg Empey: As co-owner of the new company, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) will be involved in the company’s strategic all-Ireland marketing remit and also will be responsible for regional marketing initiatives for Northern Ireland which will be delivered normally through the company. The NITB will continue to be resourced to meet these and its other statutory requirements effectively.

North/South Gas Pipeline

Mr Dalton asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give a report on progress towards establishing a North/South gas pipeline.

(AQO 473/00)

Sir Reg Empey: It is for the private sector to put forward commercially viable proposals to construct a North/South gas pipeline. Two companies have expressed an interest in constructing a North/South pipeline but have also indicated that before they would be able to proceed it will be necessary to sign up large gas users in the Republic of Ireland in order to make a pipeline economically viable. At present there are a number of difficulties working against a North/South gas interconnector project.

Broadband Accessibility

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to make a statement on the importance of broadband accessibility to future economic growth in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 480/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Future economic growth in Northern Ireland will depend on a wide range of disparate factors. In order to compete effectively in the global economy, local businesses need access to a modern telecommunications infrastructure and access to broadband telecommunications services will be important to the progressive development of knowledge intensive businesses.

ENVIRONMENT

Areas of Special Scientific Interest

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to indicate how legislation similar to the Countryside and Rights of Ways (CROW) Bill at Westminster would help increase the status of the Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) designation here.

(AQW 816/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): My officials have been considering whether additional measures — including legislation similar to some parts of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act — are required here to ensure that Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) are effectively protected and managed. I expect them to bring forward proposals shortly on possible means of strengthening the existing legislation. I will consult widely on any such proposals.

Wildlife Protection Laws

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to outline his proposals to amend wildlife protection laws.

(AQW 817/00)

Mr Foster: My officials have been considering whether additional measures are required to ensure that wildlife and habitats are effectively protected and managed. I expect them to bring forward proposals shortly on possible means of strengthening the existing legislation. I will consult widely on any such proposals.

Countryside and Rights of Way Bill

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment if he will confirm that the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill at Westminster will not apply to Northern Ireland and indicate the steps he is taking to implement similar measures within Northern Ireland.

(AQW 818/00)

Mr Foster: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.

My officials have been considering whether additional measures — including legislation similar to some parts of the CROW Act — are required here to ensure that Areas of Special Scientific Interest are effectively protected and managed. I expect them to bring forward proposals shortly on possible means of strengthening the existing legislation. I will consult widely on any such proposals.

Conservation Areas

Mr Dodds asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the conservation areas and areas of townscape character in Belfast and to outline the criteria for the designation of such areas.

(AQW 846/00)

Mr Foster: There are now 13 conservation areas and 19 areas of townscape character in Belfast and these are set out in the attached schedule.

The Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 included proposals to protect the built heritage of the city by the designation of conservation areas and the identification of areas of townscape character.

Conservation areas are designated under article 50 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. This provides that the Department, after consultation with the Historic Buildings Council and the local district council, may designate as conservation areas, areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. The Order further provides that within designated conservation areas, buildings cannot be demolished without the consent of the Department.

The Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 provided for the protection of areas of townscape character – areas of fine townscape not regarded at the time as priority contenders for conservation area designation. Policy C3 of the Belfast Urban Area Plan provides that the Department may prepare supplementary guidance for the control of development within areas of townscape character. There is no control over demolition in these areas.

The identification of conservation areas and areas of townscape character in Belfast emerged from a study by Queen’s University that was commissioned by the Department in preparation for the urban area plan. While all areas identified were regarded as contenders for conservation area status, not all areas were seen to be of the same sensitivity and they varied in the extent to which they were exposed to development pressure. The programme of conservation area designation proposed in the Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001 concentrated on the most important areas. The position is kept under review.

With the growing threat in recent years to the built heritage in Belfast’s Victorian and Edwardian suburbs, the Department has acted to designate as conservation areas a number of areas previously identified as areas of townscape character. The five new conservation areas are Malone, Cyprus Avenue, Knockdene, Kings Road and Somerton. The most significant change resulting from this designation is to bring demolition of existing property under planning control.

Areas of Townscape Character

• Cherryvalley area of townscape character
• Circular Road area of townscape character
• Cliftonville area of townscape character
• Cregagh area of townscape character
• Donegall Park Avenue area of townscape character
• Hampton Park area of townscape character
• Hazelbank/Abbeylands area of townscape character
• Holyland area of townscape character
• Lenamore area of townscape character
• Lenamore (extension) area of townscape character
• North/South Parade and Park Road area of townscape character
• Rosetta area of townscape character
• Rugby Road area of townscape character
• Rushpark area of townscape character
• Sunningdale area of townscape character
• Thiepval area of townscape character
• Twaddell area of townscape character
• Upper Malone area of townscape character
• Wandsworth area of townscape character

Road Accidents

Mr Adams asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of child pedestrians killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents per 100,000 of the population in Northern Ireland and Great Britain in each of the last three years.

(AQW 860/00)

Mr Foster: The information currently available on the number of child pedestrians (under 16 years of age) killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents per 100,000 of the population is as follows:

Information for Northern Ireland for 1999 is not yet available.

The collection of road casualty statistics in Northern Ireland is carried out by the RUC. As policing is a reserved matter, my Department accesses this information through the Police Division of the Northern Ireland Office. It has not been possible to obtain the information for 1999 in the time available. I will write to the Member as soon as my Department receives these figures.

Lack of Play Facilities

Mr Adams asked the Minister of the Environment if the lack of accessible play facilities is a contributing factor to child pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in road traffic accidents and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 861/00)

Mr Foster: It is not possible from the available statistics to determine the extent to which the availability of accessible play facilities may be a contributing factor to child pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in road traffic accidents.

Road casualty statistics are collected by the RUC who have advised me that information on the availability of play facilities in the vicinity of child pedestrian road traffic accidents is not recorded.

Hares: Rathlin Island

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent the capture and transfer of hares from Rathlin Island.

(AQW 865/00)

Mr Foster: Permits to take hares from the wild for coursing are issued by the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department.

The permits have not hitherto specified the locations within Northern Ireland from which the hares may be taken.

I have asked the service to attach a condition to future permits to preclude capture of hares on islands so as to protect small populations.

Northern Ireland Biodiversity Convention

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to (a) confirm the establishment of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (b) detail each member appointed and the date appointed and (c) outline his assessment of the Biodiversity Convention.

(AQW 872/00)

Mr Foster: The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) was established in late 1996.

The membership of NIBG is as follows:

In 1994 The UK Government ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity and produced the UK biodiversity action plan based on the principles of the convention. Northern Ireland continues to contribute to the implementation of the UK biodiversity action plan. I intend to publish a biodiversity strategy for Northern Ireland during 2001.

Northern Ireland Biodiversity Convention

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what policies are contained within the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Convention with regard to priority species and if the granting of licenses to capture hares is compatible with the Convention.

(AQW 880/00)

Mr Foster: Recommendations for a Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy were submitted to my Department on 4 October 2000 by the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group. These recommendations are currently being considered by Departments. Their purpose is to enable Northern Ireland to fulfil its responsibilities as a part of the UK, which is a signatory to the international Convention on Biological Diversity.

The recommendations propose that action plans should be put in place and implemented for some 36 wild species, one of which is the Irish Hare.

An action plan for the Irish Hare was published by the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department, also on 4 October 2000. This plan identifies the main threats to the survival of the Irish Hare. The capture of hares for coursing purposes is not identified as one of these main threats, largely because under Irish Coursing Club rules the hares are rarely killed in coursing and are released back into the wild.

The granting of a limited number of licences to capture hares, with appropriate conditions, is therefore compatible with the Biodiversity Group’s recommendations. However, I will wish to keep this and other aspects of biodiversity under review as work on the Strategy and on implementation of the plan proceeds.

Telecommunications

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of planning controls on telecommunications masts.

(AQW 902/00)

Mr Foster: On 10 November 2000 I issued a consultation paper on proposals to amend planning legislation relating to telecommunications development and on a draft Planning Policy Statement. The closing date for responses to the consultation paper is 15 January 2001.

Until such times as changes are made to the legislation and policy, my Department will process applications for telecommunications development in accordance with existing law and policy.

Assisting Local Authorities

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of the Environment to outline the action he is taking to assist local authorities to deal with illegal dumping and abandoned animal carcasses.

(AQW 906/00)

Mr Foster: Under the Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, district councils have powers to require landowners to remove illegally deposited waste or to remove it themselves and recover their costs.

To assist local authorities a guidance document on tackling fly tipping was published in March 1999 by my Department’s Environment and Heritage Service. Regulations under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 recently introduced requirements for waste carriers to be registered. I also plan to consult early in 2001 on new provisions to impose a duty of care on waste producers. These requirements should combine to further limit illegal activities.

Fallen animals are classified as agricultural waste and district councils have the necessary powers under the 1978 Order to remove them.

Planning Enforcement Notices

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail how many planning enforcement notices have been served for breach of planning regulations and how many have been enforced in the current financial year.

(AQW 921/00)

Mr Foster: Since 1 April 2000 my Department has served 36 enforcement notices in respect of breaches of planning control. During the same period, 16 enforcement cases have resulted in formal court action for non- compliance with enforcement notices previously served.

Regional Shopping Centres

Mr Poots asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the criteria that regional shopping centres need to meet, and to list the centres that currently meet these criteria.

(AQO 510/00)

Mr Foster: From a retail planning perspective, a regional shopping centre should occupy a location and comprise a type and scale of provision such as to serve a wide catchment area in a regional context.

As identified within Planning Policy Statement 5 entitled ‘Retailing and Town Centres’, Northern Ireland currently has three such regional shopping centres. These are Belfast city centre, the city centre of Londonderry, which serves the north-west region, and one purpose- built, out-of-town centre at Sprucefield.

Sewage Pollution: Glenavy River

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of occasions there have been reports of sewage pollution in the Glenavy River.

(AQO 494/00)

Mr Foster: Since 1995 there have been 14 reports made to Environment and Heritage Service regarding sewage in the Glenavy River. Eight of the incidents were attributable to the Water Service, five were from domestic sources such as private sewage works, septic tanks and cesspools, and one was from an industrial site. The table below shows the distribution of incidents by year and source.

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