Friday 5 January 2001
Written Answers to Questions

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND THE DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Government Services: Electronic Access

Mr Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to outline what progress has been made in achieving Government targets for electronic access to Government services.

(AQW 946/00)

Reply: In March 2000 the Prime Minister announced revised targets for the electronic delivery of Government services. Twenty-five per cent of all services are to be capable of being delivered electronically by 2002 and 100% by 2005. The Prime Minister’s targets apply to all Whitehall Departments, but each of the devolved Administrations has the latitude to develop its own targets for electronic service delivery.

In the draft Programme for Government, the Executive have given an undertaking to set local targets for electronic service delivery and to monitor progress. Our officials, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Departments, have been considering how appropriate the Whitehall targets are to Northern Ireland. In the new year, the Executive will discuss local targets and a proposed monitoring regime.

We are committed to the principle that public services in Northern Ireland should progress no less speedily than other parts of the UK in delivering Government services electronically.

Mr Davis asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the economic policy in place to attract increased mobile investment.

(AQO 519/00)

Reply: The key aim of our inward investment policy must be to attract high quality inward investment which provides not only good quality jobs but also brings benefits to the wider economy. It can do that through introducing new technologies, bringing in other skills and developing markets for local suppliers.

The IDB is directly responsible for the attraction of inward investment. It does this by marketing Northern Ireland and offering a wide range of financial incentives. Its work will be examined as part of the wider review that Sir Reg Empey is undertaking in light of what has been agreed within the Programme for Government and the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee’s findings from its inquiry on ‘Strategy 2010’.

It is recognised increasingly that the wider economic environment plays an important role in attracting inward investment. This includes the provision of a well-educated and flexible workforce; a solid research and development base; positive attitudes to risk and innovation; efficient planning procedures, and a good physical infrastructure. The need to create these wider conditions for economic growth is a key element in the draft Programme for Government. Many Departments play an important role in this work, and it is essential that they work together within an agreed strategy.

Mr Armstrong asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister if any reports from the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety were received on the Executive Committee’s drugs strategy.

(AQO 516/00)

Reply: The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has submitted a report setting out the current position on the implementation of the Northern Ireland drugs strategy and proposals for taking forward co-operation on drugs issues within the context of the British-Irish Council.

Mr McGrady asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister when the most recent liaison meeting took place between the chairman and officials of the IFI and the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, and what issues were discussed.

(AQO 489/00)

Reply: The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister has not as yet had a formal liaison meeting with the chairman and officials of the IFI.

Arrangements were made for a meeting. However, due to diary pressures it had to be postponed.

We have met the chairman, Willie McCarter, on a number of occasions, involving the public announcement of fund assisted projects, many of which have been assisted in partnership with Government. The most recent occasion was on 17 October 2000 at the launch of a community-led project to regenerate the village of Moygashel.

Mr Neeson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister if there are plans to amend the fair employment monitoring criteria to reflect the wider range of identities in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 509/00)

Reply: There are no plans at present to amend the fair employment monitoring criteria. These derive from the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and the Fair Employment (Monitoring) Regulations made under that Order, which makes provision for recording the community background of employees. The issue of whether other characteristics of the workforce should be monitored is likely to be addressed in the consultation on the single equality Bill, which will be initiated next spring.

Mr Poots asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what action is being taken in relation to human rights abuses by paramilitary organisations.

(AQO 496/00)

Reply: We condemn all so-called punishment attacks, which, as recent research has shown, are still all too prevalent, at a terrible cost to individuals, families and communities.

There is no place for punishment attacks in a civilised society. There is no acceptable alternative to an accountable police service and a criminal justice system which have the support and confidence of everyone they serve.

While the issues of criminal justice and policing are currently reserved matters, this Administration will do all it can to tackle the underlying social problems that can contribute to crime and to ensure that the needs of victims of violence are met through high-quality, effective services. Many organisations are involved on the ground in attempting to address these issues, and the Executive’s commitment to victims is outlined in the draft Programme for Government.

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail progress on a Freedom of Information Act for Northern Ireland.

(AQO 508/00)

Reply: The Freedom of Information Act, which received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000, extends to Northern Ireland and the intention is that this legislation will be brought into force in Northern Ireland at the same time as in England and Wales.

Freedom of information is a transferred matter and falls within the Assembly’s competence to legislate. The reason for extending the Freedom of Information Bill to Northern Ireland is to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged in relation to freedom of information legislation here.

However, the Executive when agreeing that the Freedom of Information Bill should extend to Northern Ireland, decided that further consultation should be carried out on the need or desirability of bringing forward further separate legislation here. It is proposed that a consultation paper will be issued next year to assess the need for dedicated legislation in this jurisdiction.

Ms Hanna asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the date, venue and agenda of the next British-Irish Council meeting.

(AQO 502/00)

Reply: The next British-Irish Council meeting will be of the transport sector, which is scheduled for 19 December 2000, in Belfast. The agenda is:

1. Opening remarks

2. Adoption of outline work programme

3. Strategic transport planning

4. Road and rail safety

5. Date of next meeting

6. Draft joint communiqué

Mr Close asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister why the Civic Forum has not met since October.

(AQO 524/00)

Reply: The frequency and timing of meetings of the Civic Forum is the responsibility of the Forum itself rather than of the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. We understand that the Civic Forum plans to meet every two months in plenary format. The second such meeting was held on Wednesday, 6 December 2000 in the Burnavon Theatre, Cookstown.

Mr McFarland asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail any reports it has received on the re-engagement of the Provisional IRA with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

(AQO 528/00)

Reply: The most recent report of the Independent International Commission for Decommissioning to the British and Irish Governments was dated 26th October 2000.

Mr Dallat asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to make a statement on recent participation in the conference on human rights.

(AQO 500/00)

Reply: A major ground-breaking conference entitled Protecting and Developing Human Rights on the Island of Ireland in an International Context was held in Dublin Castle on 9 December and 10 December. It brought together for the first time, representatives of: the Governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic; the Northern Ireland Office; the two Human Rights Commissions; the Northern Ireland Equality Commission; the Republic’s Equality Authority; leading academics; members of the legal profession; and a broad range of non-Government organisations to discuss key human rights issues.

The junior Ministers, Dennis Haughey and Dermot Nesbitt, represented the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, and they addressed the conference. The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms de Brún, also attended. The conference was highly successful. It has helped to foster closer working relationships between Governments, statutory authorities and social partners, and will pave the way for further valuable dialogue on human rights matters of mutual interest.

Mr Bradley asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail what plans are in place to stimulate the marketing of Northern Ireland in Europe.

(AQO 498/00)

Reply: At the end of January, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister will accompany Sir Reg Empey, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, on a European marketing campaign. It is planned that visits will be made to Paris, Düsseldorf and Berlin.

An office of the Executive will be opened in Brussels in March of next year and staff from the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and the IDB will be based there. Currently, the IDB and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board actively promote Northern Ireland as an inward investment location and tourist destination through their respective offices in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. Work is currently underway to develop a co-ordinated and cohesive approach to Europe for the Executive as a whole.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Meat Producers: Compensation

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her plans to compensate meat producers for the additional costs incurred in adhering to regulations aimed at preventing the spread of BSE.

(AQW 929/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): There are no plans to compensate meat producers for the additional costs in adhering to regulations aimed at preventing the spread of BSE. All the regulations to combat BSE have been introduced on the latest scientific advice available in an effort to protect public safety and restore consumer confidence in the meat industry. As a consequence, the meat industry has had to make changes to its operating practices to adapt to the new circumstances. Recent developments in the rest of the EU have brought about significant changes for other member states, and they are now also having to adapt to changes that have been in place in the UK since 1996.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her plans to provide compensation payments to pig producers.

(AQW 930/00)

Ms Rodgers: Mr Nick Brown, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has now announced the opening of the outgoers element of the pig industry restructuring scheme, which is designed to help pig producers throughout the UK. I am delighted that the Commission has finally agreed our proposals with regard to outgoers and trust that formal clearance for the whole scheme — outgoers and ongoers — will follow shortly.

The two main elements of the scheme are:

• the outgoers element, aimed at pig breeders who wish to end their involvement with pig production; and
• an ‘ongoers’ element for those who wish to remain in pig production and want to restructure their business to ensure its viability in the longer term. This element will provide compensation allowing a reducion in costs, thus helping to overcome competitive disadvantage and restore long-term viability.
• The purpose of outgoers element is to reduce the breeding capacity of the UK by 16% of the June 1998 figure and to compensate producers whose cessation contributes to achieving this reduction.
• The ongoers element has been designed to assist those remaining in the industry by providing a rebate equivalent to five percentage points on the interest payable to banks or other lending institutions over the next two years on borrowings used to deliver a business plan agreed with the said institutions. Details will be announced once the Commission’s approval is obtained.

I very much hope that Northern Ireland pig producers will benefit from the scheme as far as possible. Copies of the explanatory literature on the outgoers element have been placed in the Assembly Library.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of cases of BSE reported in each EU member state in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

(AQW 931/00)

Ms Rodgers: There is no centralised official record of the number of BSE cases reported in EU member states in 1999 and 2000. However, the attached table shows the most accurate figures we have to date for member states other than the UK derived from a variety of official and semi-official sources:

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of BSE cases reported in England, Scotland and Wales in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

(AQW 932/00)

Ms Rodgers: The number of BSE cases reported in England, Scotland and Wales in 1999 and 2000 are as follows:

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of cases of BSE reported in Northern Ireland in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

(AQW 933/00)

Ms Rodgers: The number of BSE cases reported in Northern Ireland in 1999 and 2000 are as follows:

Mr Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the central administration budget for her Department in each of the last two financial years and to advise the specific functions to which any increase will be allocated; and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 942/00)

Ms Rodgers: The table below sets out actual expenditure for 1999-2000, anticipated expenditure for 2000-01 and the estimated budget for 2001-02 for the various functions which are classified as central administration and which form part of the central administration and miscellaneous services in the Budget document.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the assistance she has given to farm support groups to help farm workers cope with the pressure and stress associated with farm debt, (b) how many such groups will benefit from this assistance, (c) where they will be located and (d) if the aid will be targeted in accordance with targeting social need.

(AQW 952/00)

Ms Rodgers: On 20 November I announced the allocation of up to £150,000 to provide additional information, guidance and counselling for farmers and their families to help alleviate stress due to the difficult financial situation. My officials have consulted industry representatives and health personnel working in this area and are currently finalising our proposals.

A number of organisations are already involved in projects to help farmers and their families, and it is probable that a main strand of this additional funding will be to build on and expand these initiatives and encourage new initiatives from other local groups.

The assistance available through this additional funding will be offered to all farmers and their families throughout Northern Ireland who feel they might benefit from such help. It will be administered through local group initiatives and by the distribution of general information.

In addition under Agenda for Government the Department has introduced an introductory business management training programme for farmers in the less favoured areas of Northern Ireland.

This will help farmers with filling in forms, maintaining herd registers and keeping basic records, which will help them better cope with the changes in farming and the development of their businesses.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she is taking to record river courses that have not as yet been designated and when present records will be updated.

(AQW 989/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Rivers Agency of my Department maintains a current database detailing the upstream and downstream limits of all designated watercourses. Those watercourses, and sections of watercourses, not included on this database can be identified as "undesignated". There are no plans to establish separate records in respect of watercourses that are not designated.

Watercourses are only designated for maintenance at public expense in circumstances where a drainage need is identified and relevant key criteria are met. Any benefits derived from designation and associated works must outweigh the costs involved. In consequence, the designation process is not based on a "rolling programme" designed to encompass all watercourses. Rather, the number of new designations in any year is relatively small.

The Drainage Council for Northern Ireland, an independent statutory body, decides whether a watercourse should be designated and maintained by the Rivers Agency at public expense. The council will consider representations from the public as well as Government Departments for designation of specific watercourses.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if (a) she is aware of the Better Regulation Task Force report into EU regulations, (b) she will give her assessment of its recommendations and (c) she intends to implement them.

(AQW 995/00)

Ms Rodgers: I am assuming that the question refers to the Better Regulation Task Force which is chaired by Lord Haskins and which has recently reported on ‘Environmental Regulations and Farmers’. The report in question was published in November 2000, and copies should be available in the Assembly Library.

The majority of the report’s recommendations relate directly to the responsibility of Minister Sam Foster, as, in Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment is the Department with the main responsibility for environmental regulation.

Although the focus of the report is mainly on the situation in England, I am also anxious, where possible, to reduce the regulatory burden on the farming industry here and will be anxious to adopt any new measures relating to agriculture which may help in doing this.

In Northern Ireland there is close co-operation and co-ordination between officials of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and officials of the Department of the Environment. Both Departments also engage in close and regular contact with the farming unions and non-governmental bodies concerned with the protection of the environment.

The report included suggestions that the level of record keeping required be reduced and that the complexity of UK integrated administration and control system (IACS) claim forms be reduced. Unfortunately, many regulatory burdens are imposed by EU regulations, and we have no discretion to do other than implement them. Again, IACS is a national scheme with UK-wide legislation, and any amendment to it will have to be introduced on that basis.

A comprehensive reply to the Better Regulation Task Force report is currently being prepared. This exercise is being led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. My Department, along with others, will have input to this exercise, which will not be completed for some weeks yet. However, I shall be considering what deregulatory action we should take as a consequence.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the definition of (a) "urban" and (b) "rural" used within her Department.

(AQW 1003/00)

Ms Rodgers: While most people will have an intuitive sense of what is meant by the terms "urban" and "rural", there are no universally accepted definitions of the terms that the Department is able to apply to its activities. As a result, the Department has had to devise its own definitions where it is necessary to draw a distinction between urban and rural.

One of the areas where it has been necessary to define "rural" areas has been in the rural development programme. For the purposes of that programme, "rural" areas are defined as all parts of Northern Ireland outside the Belfast metropolitan area, the city of Derry/Londonderry and towns with populations greater than 5,000. However, the rural development programme will retain the flexibility to support projects located in more urban settings in cases where the projects will benefit rural areas and it makes sense that they should be located in a town.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) what assessment she has made of an early retirement scheme for farmers, (b) what assessment she has made of any similar scheme in the EU and (c) what policy she intends to follow on this issue.

(AQW 1010/00)

Ms Rodgers: I have decided to commission a study of early retirement and new entrants schemes, including an assessment of the available evidence on such schemes in other EU member states and have written to a number of institutions inviting them to bid to carry out the study. I would like to have someone appointed to carry out the study early in the new year and hope to have it completed before the end of February 2001.

Until I see the results of the study, and any views that the vision group may have on this issue, I will not make a decision on whether to introduce such schemes. While I understand the interest of farmers in these schemes, the evidence for their effectiveness is mixed, and this is why I would like to have an independent appraisal.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make it her policy not to implement EU regulations relating to the fishing industry ahead of other EU states.

(AQW 1015/00)

Ms Rodgers: The EU Council and Commission regulations are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all member states. The question of the timing of local implementation does not therefore arise.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if, in relation to the local fishing industry, she will make it her policy not to implement EU Directives.

(AQW 1016/00)

Ms Rodgers: Whilst Directives leave the choice of means of implementation to national Administrations, they are legally binding instruments addressed to member states. It follows, therefore, that there is a need for their introduction as soon as possible.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the highest level of compensation paid out to date in respect of any one animal rejected as result of bovine tuberculosis or brucellosis and (b) the highest level of compensation paid out to date in respect of any one herd as a result of tuberculosis or brucellosis.

(AQW 1070/00)

Ms Rodgers: The highest level of compensation paid out in respect of any one animal slaughtered was £50,000 paid in respect of a pedigree Charolais bull in a brucellosis breakdown herd.

The highest level of compensation paid out to date in respect of any one herd was £1,213,092·50 in respect of brucellosis. The herd consisted of 39 reactor animals and 777 negative in contacts.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the number of Northern Ireland herds affected by brucellosis in each of the last five years (b) the amount of compensation paid out in respect of brucellosis outbreaks in each of the last five years and (c) the amount of compensation paid out in respect of brucellosis outbreaks in each of the 18 constituencies in each of the last five years.

(AQW 1071/00)

Ms Rodgers: The following table sets out the number of NI herds affected by brucellosis in each of the last five years and also the amount of compensation paid.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the number of Northern Ireland herds affected by bovine tuberculosis in each of the last five years (b) the amount of compensation paid out in respect of bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in each of the last five years and (c) the amount of compensation paid out in respect of bovine tuberculosis in each of the 18 constituencies in each of the last five years.

(AQW 1072/00)

Ms Rodgers: The following table sets out the number of NI herds affected by tuberculosis in each of the last five years and also the amount of compensation paid.

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to (a) detail all buildings and amenities within her responsibility in the constituency of West Tyrone, (b) outline the percentage of her budget that has been allocated to the West Tyrone constituency and (c) explain how this compares with the previous budget.

(AQW 1083/00)

Ms Rodgers:

(a) Within the constituency of West Tyrone, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development staff are located mainly in four properties, all of which are in the Omagh area – Sperrin House (which houses the Divisional Veterinary Office and Agri-Food Development Service), Hospital Road (Rural Development Division), Woodside Avenue (Rivers Agency) and the Veterinary Inspection Centre. The Forest Service operates the Gortin Forest Park amenity. The maintenance and upkeep of the office accommodation estate is the responsibility of Department of Finance and Personnel, and my Department is responsible for the specialised buildings and for the Gortin Forest Park amenities.

(b) It has not been the practice of Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments to retain budgetary information or maintain records of expenditure on a constituency by constituency basis. To obtain or provide such information would incur disproportionate effort and cost.

(c) In light of (b), information for previous years is not available.

CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE

Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association Under-15 Side

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail his plans to acknowledge the success of the Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association under-15 side, which recently won the Victory Shield Home International Tournament.

(AQW 927/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): I have issued a letter of congratulation recently to the secretary of the Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association, Mr Brian Gilliland, offering my wholehearted congratulations to the management team and the players on their magnificent achievement of winning the Victory Shield for the first time for Northern Ireland. I am also planning to host a reception in recognition of the team’s success in the new year.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will actively support the reintroduction of the home international football tournament at full international level; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 928/00)

Mr McGimpsey: I am very much in favour of the reintroduction of the home international tournament, but I should stress that this is a matter for the four football associations concerned. I am well aware of the disappointment felt by the IFA and local supporters when the tournament was lost in 1983-84. The opportunity that the competition provided for local people to see the stars of the English and Scottish leagues in regular competitive competition coupled with the regular revenue generated has never been replaced. The tournament also provided a regular and profitable focus for international soccer in Belfast. Its reinstatement would also complement the efforts being made to modernize and strengthen the sport through the process that I announced recently for the development of a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the central administration budget for his Department in each of the last two financial years and to advise the specific functions to which any increase will be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 938/00)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was only created in December 1999, and therefore budget figures are not available for the 1999-2000 financial year.

The total DRC provision for the financial years 2000-01 and 2001-02 is £11·6 million and £12·5 million respectively.

The increase of £900,000 will be used mainly to meet the cost of the additional staff that were recruited to enable the Department to deliver the full range of services for which it has responsibility, which was £560,000, and to undertake a programme of research/consultancy, costing £250,000, to help my Department focus its programme of activity in the coming years. The remainder will be used to meet any other increases in expenditure that may arise — for example, salary increases, inflation, and so on.

My Department has been tasked with a number of new activities, as well as the existing ones that transferred from other Departments, and it is essential that it is adequately staffed to carry out all of these duties effectively and efficiently.

Mr Dodds asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the funding made available to (a) soccer, (b) Gaelic games, (c) rugby and (d) other sports in North Belfast in each of the last five years.

(AQW 962/00)

Mr McGimpsey: Funding for sport in Northern Ireland is made available through the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The figures for the North Belfast constituency area are as follows:

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his position with regard to the provision of new library facilities in (a) Strabane and (b) Castlederg.

(AQW 971/00)

Mr McGimpsey: Since taking over policy responsibility for the public library service, I have announced the building of a new library for Strabane as part of the Strabane 2000 initiative. The planning of this is advancing, and the aim is that building should commence in May 2001 with a view to completion in July 2002.

The need for a new library in Castlederg has been recognised for many years, but funding has not been available. I am making efforts to secure additional resources for library capital projects, and my Department is working on the details of a capital development programme. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement early in the new year.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if, in relation to the upgrading of first division football clubs, he will (a) detail what criteria will be used for the allocation of funds and (b) outline how much funding will be available.

(AQW 987/00)

Mr McGimpsey: (a) First division clubs are eligible to apply for funding for urgent health and safety works and safety management. The following criteria for allocating funds have been used across both programmes, except where specifically indicated:

Applicants must identify the impact of the project on the safety of spectators or others at their venue.

The views of the club safety officer and of the environmental health department of the district council must be taken into account.

Proposed safety management schemes will have to show a scale appropriate to past and projected attendance figures. Supporting information may be required.

For urgent works schemes, the facility proposed should be of adequate size and conform with the appropriate technical specifications and/or other recognised specific criteria. Projects will also be reviewed against the following technical requirements:

• appropriateness of the site location;
• overall venue layout and design standard;
• accessibility for people with disabilities;
• accessibility and use by both genders; and
• planning issues and project readiness.

For safety management schemes the Sports Council will determine criteria for and approve providers of:

• the safety officers training programme;
• the stewards training programme;
• CCTV;
• the fixing of CCTV brackets; and
• the heavy stewarding.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have secured a viable capital funding package. Applications need to display that their percentage of the finance is in place, or that there are other realistic sources for raising the funding shortfall within six months of the application. Applicants will also need to show that they can manage the project and control the finances during its development.

Applicants may be required to evidence the necessary financial need to warrant an award.

The Sports Council is committed to providing equality of opportunity for people who may suffer social disadvantage.

In particular, the Sports Council recognises that arrangements for women, young people and people with disabilities are limited at some sporting venues. Applicants are encouraged to consider these issues within their planned project.

(b) The maximum grant available to first division clubs for urgent works is 85% up to a maximum of £15,000 per club and for safety management is 90% of the total cost. All applicants who fulfil the funding criteria will be successful.

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to (a) detail all buildings and amenities within his responsibility in the constituency of West Tyrone; (b) outline the percentage of his budget that has been allocated to the West Tyrone constituency, and; (c) explain how this compares with the previous budget.

(AQW 1081/00)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department does not have any buildings and amenities for which I have direct responsibility within the constituency of West Tyrone. In relation to parts (b) and (c) of the question this information is not recorded on a constituency basis and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

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