Friday 30 March 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give its assessment of the prospects of achieving full employment in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2135/00)

Reply: [holding answer 21 March 2001]: Whilst the Northern Ireland economy is still somewhat short of full employment, growth in the employment rate combined with a significant fall in unemployment during the 1990s suggests that we are moving firmly in the right direction. Political progress should of course help to improve our prospects for achieving full employment.

Mr Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail (a) what provision has been made for social inclusion within Executive Programme Funds (b) whether action on social inclusion will include bringing communities together through participating in sport and (c) the timetable for implementation.

(AQW 2239/00)

Reply: The Executive places great importance on the need to address disadvantage and social exclusion and all of the Executive Programme Funds will have regard to and be fully consistent with the Executive’s commitment to equality and New TSN.

One of the Funds is specifically for social inclusion/ community regeneration. The Fund will support actions against poverty, and the development of effective community measures as well actions on community relations and cultural diversity.

The Executive is currently considering the large number of proposals, which have been received from all Departments, across the range of their responsibilities. It is planned that decisions will be made in the next few weeks to enable Departments to begin implementation of successful projects and programmes early in the new financial year.

Dr O’Hagan asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to list the electoral wards in the parliamentary constituency of Upper Bann which are designated as (a) Targeting Social Need and (b) New Targeting Social Need areas.

(AQW 2277/00)

Reply: Indicators of multiple deprivation are used to identify the most deprived areas. However, there is no single list of either TSN or New TSN electoral wards towards which all departments must target their programmes.

In some cases targeting on an electoral ward basis, as opposed to on a larger geographical basis, would not be practicable. In other cases, the areas appropriate to one type of programme may not be the same as the areas appropriate to another type of programme.

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail those groups that received funding from the Central Community Relations Unit in the financial year 1997-98, and the amount of each grant awarded.

(AQW 2328/00)

Reply: The Central Community Relations Unit provided the following funding to groups during the financial year 1997/98.

The Community Relations Council was also an Intermediary Funding Body responsible for administering the Promoting Pathways to Reconciliation Measure of the above Programme. In this role it received funding channelled through CCRU totalling £1,059,888.

Mrs Carson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQO 928/00, to confirm that provision to prevent discrimination in employment on grounds of age will be included in the Single Equality Bill.

(AQO 1187/00)

Reply: The Single Equality Bill will harmonise existing anti-discrimination law as far as practicable. It will also take account of the recently agreed European Framework Directive for anti-discrimination law on a range of categories including discrimination on the grounds of age. A consultation paper on the scope of the Single Equality Bill will be published shortly.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the steps she is taking to increase the income of hill farmers and to make a statement.

(AQW 2305/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): The Northern Ireland Rural Development Regulation Plan 2000-2006 approved by the EU Commission is a £266 million package providing for the expansion of agri-environment and forestry measures over the next six years.

The centrepiece of the Plan, accounting for over 60% of the budgeted expenditure, is the LFA Compensatory Allowances Scheme. I was able to secure an additional £32 million of funding from Treasury over the period to 2004 which represents a very significant improvement for Northern Ireland hill farmers and places the financing of hill support onto a much more secure footing than had been the case for the last number of years.

On 15 March I announced a substantial increase of over 18% in 2001 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance payments due to the hill farmers.

I am pleased that 90% of these payments, worth over £22 million, have now been paid as I know farmers have major cashflow problems during the present Foot and Mouth Disease restrictions.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the level of funding allocated to research and development into organic farming methods in the last 12 months.

(AQW 2307/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has not conducted any direct research on organic farming in the last 12 months. However, a number of the Department’s research programmes have elements that are pertinent to organic systems.

For instance, two projects relate to a comparison of Norwegian and Holstein Friesian Cattle. These projects are examining the potential for using the Norwegian Cattle, which are specifically bred for improved health/ fertility, on Northern Ireland dairy farms. While this work is relevant to all Northern Ireland dairy producers, it is particularly relevant to organic producers where there is less opportunity for veterinary intervention. One component of the study is being carried out on 20 dairy farms across Northern Ireland and four of these are organic dairy units.

Another project is concerned with assessing the potential benefit of using the Norwegian Cattle for beef production. Again the objective is very much about developing systems with less reliance on veterinary treatments and hence is most appropriate to organic production systems.

These are new projects and an assessment of the organic element costs associated with this work will not be available until later in the year.

Ongoing plant breeding research programmes for potatoes and grass varieties for innate pest and disease resistance, yield, sward densities, etc are also relevant to organic systems.

I can assure you that the Department keeps research opportunities under constant review and will consider, in the light of current information and developments in Great Britain and in the Republic of Ireland, likely future research needs and priorities relevant to Northern Ireland organic farming.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the steps she is taking to compensate farmers where the daily milk collection did not take place due to severe weather conditions.

(AQW 2321/00)

Ms Rodgers: I understand that relatively small amounts of milk were not collected and that at least one purchaser paid producers for any such milk. In the circumstances I am not taking any steps to compensate producers whose milk was not collected due to severe weather conditions.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to confirm that German beef imported as carcasses may lawfully be described as British produce after it has been processed.

(AQW 2347/00)

Ms Rodgers: Under EU Beef Labelling Regulations 1825/2000 and 1760/2000 beef must be labelled to show Member State or third country of slaughter and of cutting. Beef which was derived from carcasses sourced in Germany may not lawfully be described as British produce. The rules apply to beef but not to beef products such as sausages, pies, canned beef etc.

Mr A Doherty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the steps being taken to conserve the countryside by encouraging landowners and farmers to develop areas of new native woodland.

(AQO 1239/00)

Ms Rodgers: Farmers and landowners are encouraged to conserve the countryside by planting woodland on agricultural land through incentives offered under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. Both schemes seek to enhance the environment by improving the landscape, providing new habitats and increasing biodiversity. Broadleaf woodland, most of which consists of native trees, receives higher rates of grant at establishment and also attracts annual premium payments over a longer period, compared with conifer woodland.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the proposed allocation of the £94,000 grant set aside for Linguistic Diversity Projects and to make a statement.

(AQW 2338/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The £94,000 allocated to subhead

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the level of income generated from the siting of telecommunications masts on education and library board property (b) the length of contract for the siting of each mast and (c) if he will consider removing the masts.

(AQW 2234/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): I understand from Education and Library Boards that there are currently three masts on education and library board property. The erection and removal of masts on board property is a contractual matter for each Board. The details are as follows:

My Department has arranged for the Radiocommunications Agency to carry out an independent audit of telecommunications masts at these schools.

Mr ONeill asked the Minister of Education to explain (a) the late release of the school budget information and (b) why it took so long to reach schools and to give an assurance that this will not recur in future years.

(AQW 2246/00)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department has apologised to education and library boards and other school authorities for the late notification of school budgets and I reiterate that apology. Final calculations on school budgets could not be completed until the Executive Budget was formally approved by the Assembly in January. Subsequent delays were caused by pressures within my Department arising from validation of relevant school information and consideration of arrangements for additional funding. These factors were quite exceptional and I do not anticipate any recurrence in future years.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils who currently have a classroom assistant by (a) each education and library board area (b) each school in Northern Ireland and to outline what reviews have been carried out regarding such provision.

(AQW 2295/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I understand from Education and Library Boards that the numbers of pupils in controlled and maintained schools in each Board area with a statement of special educational needs, who have a classroom assistant, are as follows:

Figures are not available for grant-maintained integrated and voluntary grammar schools.

The numbers of schools where classroom assistants have been appointed as a result of children’s statements of special educational needs in each Board area are as follows:

Statements of special educational needs, and therefore the needs of individual children for classroom assistance, are reviewed annually.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to outline what guidelines are in place to ensure that money allocated for Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD) special units is spent wholly on those units.

(AQW 2302/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The financial allocations made by Education and Library Boards to special education units attached to primary and secondary schools are made up of two elements, ie those costs held centrally by Boards and those included in schools’ delegated budgets. Within delegated budgets, it is for each school to determine priorities. Boards hold centrally teachers’ and classroom assistants’ salaries and the costs of specialist equipment for pupils in units, which make up by far the greatest part of unit expenditure, and are thus able to ensure that these resources are spent on the unit provision.

I am not aware of any difficulties regarding expenditure on special units. I will, however, ask officials to make enquiries and, if it appears that there may be a problem with the funding of individual units, I will take action to address this.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number of temporary teachers in post and (b) the number of full-time teaching posts currently vacant in the parliamentary constituency of East Antrim

(AQW 2318/00)

(a) During the month of January 2001 there were 191 temporary teachers employed in schools in the East Antrim parliamentary constituency.

(b) The Department does not hold details of teaching vacancies, nor is this information collated by the Education and Library Boards.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost of vandalism at each school in the parliamentary constituency of East Antrim in the last 12 months.

(AQW 2319/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The cost of vandalism at controlled and maintained schools over the period April 2000 to February 2001 has been provided by the North Eastern Education and Library Board and is set out below. Information in respect of voluntary grammar and grant- maintained integrated schools is not available.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education to give an undertaking to the recognised teachers’ unions that there will not be a link between Staff Development Performance Review and teachers’ pay and to make a statement.

(AQW 2324/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The Agreement on the new pay system reached between Management Side and Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) on 23 January 2001 provides for Staff Development and Performance Review to become Staff Development and Performance Management. The revised arrangements will build on existing practice and operate within schools’ development plans so that teachers will benefit through professional discussions about their work and their professional development.

Although the arrangements apply to all teachers, teachers will, as before, move up the main pay scale annually unless they are subject to the procedure for teachers whose work is unsatisfactory. In the case of the leadership group (principals, vice-principals and assistant vice-principals) and teachers who cross the threshold to the upper pay scale, decisions on their subsequent progression up the pay scales will be informed by each end of year review under the Staff Development and Performance Management arrangements.

Staff Development and Performance Management is not, therefore, linked exclusively with the threshold assessment and pay progression, but it is an integral part of the overall approach to school management and school improvement.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the introduction of Performance- Related Pay for teachers in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2325/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The Agreement on the new pay system reached between Management Side and Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) on 23 January 2001 provides the opportunity for teachers on the maximum of the main pay scale, for qualifications and experience, to move to an upper pay scale with an immediate uplift of £2,001 by applying for threshold assessment. The employing authorities are working hard to put in place the threshold assessment arrangements so that payment can be made to successful teachers at the earliest possible date.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education to confirm that there have been no substantive changes to teachers’ conditions of service since the Jordanstown Agreement of 1987.

(AQW 2326/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The Agreement on the new pay system reached between Management Side and Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) on 23 January 2001 modifies teachers’ conditions of service to provide for Principals to operate the threshold assessment arrangements. It also replaces the phrase "performance review" with "performance management".

Mr J Kelly asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the growing volume of students coming from Irish-Medium schools, he intends to increase the number of places available for students wishing to study Irish at St Mary’s University College.

(AQW 2351/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I would refer the Member to the reply given to a question by Mrs Mary Nelis on 13 October 2000 (AQW 254/00).

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Education to confirm that funds have been set aside for the establishment and running costs of the proposed Northern Ireland Regional Centre for Performance Management.

(AQW 2355/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Funds have been set aside to meet the costs of the Regional Manager and Deputy Regional Manager posts, which have responsibility for the introduction of the arrangements for threshold assessments, the leadership group and performance management. Financial provision is also being made available for the external threshold assessors and the external advisers to Boards of Governors on principals’ pay. As the workload will reduce significantly after the initial year’s threshold applications have been dealt with, fewer staff will then be required so appointments are being made for fixed periods. Although the staff will work on a regional basis, their employer will be one of the Education and Library Boards.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education whether he has any plans to address the disparity of funding between primary and secondary schools in England and Wales compared to that in Northern Ireland, as reported in the Second Report of the House of Commons Education Committee [Session 1993-94] entitled ‘The Disparity in Funding Between Primary and Secondary Schools’ and to make a statement.

(AQW 2362/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I believe primary and post-primary schools here are under funded compared to England and Wales and I will continue to argue for additional resources for education.

The differential in funding between the primary and post-primary sectors here has been steadily reduced over recent years. Between 1993/94 and 2000/01 primary sector funding increased by 32% compared to 24% for the post-primary sector.

The differing scope and method of curriculum delivery in each sector requires different organisational arrangements and levels of funding. Nevertheless, I believe there is a case for further reduction in the current funding differential and the distribution of the recent £20.4 million Budget Addition on an equal basis to the primary and post-primary sectors is evidence of my commitment to addressing this issue. The Consultation Document on the LMS Common Formula, which I shall be launching next week, also contains proposals to give primary schools a fairer share of available resources.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Education whether he intends to fund Information and Communication Technology training for teachers from the New Opportunities Fund and will he make alternative funding available for those teachers or schools who object in principle to the use of lottery money.

(AQW 2365/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Arrangements have already been put in place for the costs of information and communications technology training to be met from Departmental funds where teachers disapprove of the use of lottery money because of their genuine convictions. In all other cases the training costs are being met by the New Opportunities Fund.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children of primary school age in Newtownabbey who have failed to find a place in (a) the school of first choice (b) the school of second choice and (c) the school of third choice and to make a statement.

(AQW 2386/00)

Mr M McGuinness: In relation to applications for admission to the 26 primary schools in the Newtownabbey District Council area for September 2001, I understand from the North Eastern Education and Library Board that 98% of children obtained admission to their first-preference primary school; 34 children were unsuccessful in obtaining their first-preference primary school; 16 children were unsuccessful in obtaining their second-preference primary school; and three children were unsuccessful in obtaining their third-preference primary school. It is for the Board of Governors of each primary school to determine admissions criteria and apply them if they receive more applications to the school than there are places available.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the level of funding to each of the Education and Library Boards for the financial year 2001/02 and (b) how this compares to the actual cost as assessed by each Education and Library Board.

(AQW 2388/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The total allocations of recurrent and capital budgets to the Education and Library Boards from the Department of Education for the 2001-02 financial year are as follows:

As the core funding of Education and Library Boards is based on an assessment of relative needs and Boards are required to contain their expenditure within the budgets allocated, the comparison sought is not practical. A total of £89·459 million of funding earmarked for special initiatives etc remains to be allocated to the Education and Library Boards during 2001-02.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of vacant places currently available in primary schools in the Newtownabbey area.

(AQW 2390/00)

Mr M McGuinness: A comparison of approved enrolment numbers with enrolments recorded for each primary school in the October 2000 school census indicates that there are 2,211 places currently available in the Newtownabbey Council area.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, pursuant to his statement on energy to the Assembly on 5 March 2001, to give his assessment on producing energy from waste projects and to make a statement.

(AQW 2278/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy indicates that the development of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities will be necessary to meet the waste diversion targets specified in the Landfill Directive.

The development of EfW facilities is a matter for consideration within the framework of Waste Management Plans, which are currently being prepared by district councils. Plans that propose to include incineration capacity are required to show how they will meet sustainable recycling targets and maximise energy recovery in the form of heat and electricity.

The July 1999 report ‘Renewable Energy in the Millennium – The Northern Ireland Potential’ estimated that the maximum electricity generation contribution from EfW projects by the years 2010 and 2025 was 28 MW and 64 MW respectively. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment plan to issue a consultation paper by the end of April seeking views on how best to develop within the context of an all-island and European energy market Northern Ireland’s renewables potential including that from EfW projects.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail when he next plans to meet with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to discuss the promotion of Northern Ireland overseas.

(AQW 2290/00)

Sir Reg Empey: As Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, I play a proactive role in the promotion of Northern Ireland as a tourism destination in overseas markets. In this regard I meet regularly with officials and recent meetings have included:

• The evaluation of Tourism Brand Ireland consumer advertising campaign
• Maximising Northern Ireland outputs from Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL)
• Media profile in recent trade mission to France
• The first of a series of meetings on managing the impact of foot and mouth disease in international markets
• Future meetings on maximising the development of Tourism Ireland are planned including a meeting with the Board of Tourism Ireland Ltd (the NITB are represented on this Board).

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to address ageism within the workforce.

(AQW 2297/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I am very aware of the significance of this issue. Following representations from Age Concern my Department is fully committed to supporting the work of the Northern Ireland Ageing Population Panel. With my Department’s support the Panel is organising a major conference in March on ageism within the workforce, and will issue a report in June 2001.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people, in the age bracket 50 to 65 years, who are unemployed.

(AQW 2298/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey figures for the period Winter 1999-2000 to Autumn 2000 indicate that there were on average 7,000 unemployed persons, in the 50 to 65 age bracket, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition. This represents 14.1% of the total ILO unemployed for this period. The other major source of unemployment information is the claimant count. The latest claimant count data refers to February 2001. At that date, the number of claimants, in the 50 to 65 age bracket, who were unemployed stood at 6,753 (16.5% of total claimant unemployed).

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of unemployed people who are registered as either partially or totally deaf and to outline the steps he is taking to have them placed in the workforce.

(AQW 2336/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The main source of unemployment information is from the Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey (LFS). Information pertaining to the number of unemployed people registered as partially or totally deaf is not collected by the LFS.

The other source of unemployment information is from the claimant count and, like the LFS, it is not possible to obtain data on the number of unemployed people registered as partially or totally deaf from this series.

Measures to assist those with partial or total deafness into employment fall to Dr Farren, the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the expected roll out-time for broadband data communications infrastructure (e.g. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) to the Derry City Council area.

(AQW 2368/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The roll-out of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a commercial matter for the telecommunications companies. However the Executive will encourage the companies to make it available as widely as possible across Northern Ireland in the shortest possible time.

Present published plans by the telecommunications companies do not indicate that ADSL will be available in Londonderry during 2001, but I understand that other broadband services such as leased lines and private circuits are currently available in the Derry City Council area

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment on the level of Information Technology infrastructure in West Tyrone and how this compares with Great Britain.

(AQO 1160/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The provision of telecommunications infrastructure, which I understand the hon Member to mean, is a matter for the private sector. Recent studies by my department and the CBI indicate that telecommunications infrastructure across Northern Ireland is on a par with national and international best practice and sufficient to meet current demand.

Ms Armitage asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the number of jobs lost due to the closure of clothing manufacturers and (b) his plans to protect the remaining jobs in the textile industry.

(AQO 1145/00)

Sir Reg Empey: In the year to March 2001, there were 1,543 redundancies. In June Kurt Salmon Associates was appointed to work with the IDB and an industry steering group to produce a plan for sustainable growth. Recommendations have been put to the industry and an implementation team appointed to take them forward.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to confirm that permission has been granted for the D5 shopping complex, Knocknagoney, to proceed and to give his assessment of the implications for other similar developments.

(AQW 2339/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The recent Court ruling upheld the Department of the Environment’s decision that planning permission should be granted for the D5 development. The formal decision notice on the application is expected to issue shortly.

There are no implications for other similar developments in terms of the application of retail planning policy as a result of the D5 decision. The policy framework for determining major retail applications as set out in the Planning Policy Statement – Retailing and Town Centres, remains unchanged.

The Department will, however, take into account the likely cumulative effects of D5 in assessing the impact of any future major retail development proposals on the vitality and viability of existing centres, where appropriate.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail his plans to amend legislation to enable an individual, resident in Northern Ireland, to change a South African driving licence to a Northern Ireland driving licence.

(AQW 2345/00)

Mr Foster: I intend to bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity, subject to the requirements of the legislative process, to enable a Northern Ireland licence to be issued to drivers who have passed a driving test in South Africa or have obtained their South African driving licence in exchange for one from a country whose licensing standards are recognised in Northern Ireland.

I am not in a position to say at this stage how long it will take to introduce the necessary legislative changes through the Assembly.

However, my Department will explore the possibility of including these provisions in proposed legislation to achieve the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications, penalty point endorsements and endorsable fixed penalties between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on which we are currently undertaking public consultation.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to introduce legislation reflecting the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 
(ch 37).

(AQW 2364/00)

Mr Foster: On 2 March 2001, I published a consultation paper entitled ‘Partners in Protection’. The paper seeks views on possible changes to the existing legislation for the protection and management of Areas of Special Scientific Interest. The deadline for replies is 31 May 2001.

After my Department has received and analysed the consultation responses, I shall decide what steps need to be taken to improve our management and protection of these important sites. This could include changes to the legislation on Areas of Special Scientific Interest and will take into account those provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act which relate to the equivalent sites in England and Wales.

The current consultation does not relate to the rights of way or other provisions in the CROW Act.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to list the 510 settlements defined by Planning Services as a "Rural Settlement", with a population of not more than 3,000, for the purpose of any Northern Ireland Rural Rate Relief Scheme.

(AQW 2379/00)

Mr Foster: A copy of the Annex has been placed in the Assembly Library.

This is compiled by Council Area and sets out the settlements within the population groups; less than 2,000; and 2,000-3,000, as estimated at 1999. I would emphasise that any such referred to definition of "Rural Settlement" is applicable here only in specific relation to the Northern Ireland Rural Rate Relief Scheme.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to give his assessment of the possible impact and implications for his Department of the European Commission’s adoption of a proposal for a directive that for the first time would introduce legal sanctions for breaches of environmental law at European Union level.

(AQW 2381/00)

Mr Foster: Environmental law in Northern Ireland has created a number of criminal offences for actions that lead to pollution of the environment or damage to species and habitats. The penalties for these offences can range from various levels of fine to imprisonment for up to two years in the case of the most serious offences. My Department seeks to ensure that Courts, in determining penalties, are aware of the seriousness of the offences.

I am aware that the European Commission has recently published a proposal for a Directive relating to protection of the environment through the criminal law. It is too early yet to assess the detail of the proposal and the extent to which any Directive may involve matters within the competence of the Assembly.

Member States now have the opportunity to form a view on the Commission’s proposal, including the issue of any Community competence in the field of criminal law. I shall ensure that as the UK response to the EC proposal is being developed and agreed, the implications for Northern Ireland are fully assessed and taken into account.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to detail his plans to designate, as special areas of conservation within the West Tyrone area (a) Cranny Bog (b) Deroran Bog (c)Tonnagh Beg Bog (d) Tully Bog and to extend the boundary of the Fairywater Special Area of Conservation to include Envagh and Derranscultagh raised bogs.

(AQW 2415/00)

Mr Foster: I have no plans at present to add Cranny Bog, Deroran Bog, Tonnagh Beg Bog or Tully Bog to the UK list of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), nor to extend the boundary of the Fairywater Bogs SAC to include Envagh and Derranscultagh raised bogs.

The UK Government proposes to submit to the European Commission a total of 43 sites that include raised bog habitat. Nine of these sites are in Northern Ireland.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which is the UK Government’s conservation adviser, considers that these 43 raised bog sites include the top ranked sites, provide adequate geographical coverage across the UK and represent a sufficient proportion of the total habitat resource.

Cranny, Deroran, Tonnagh Beg and Tully Bogs are afforded protection through their designation as Areas of Special Scientific Interest, as are the individual bogs that comprise the Fairywater Bogs composite SAC

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the total amount raised through vehicle excise duty during the last financial year.

(AQW 2419/00)

Mr Foster: The collection of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is an excepted matter and carried out in Northern Ireland by DVLNI under the terms of a formal agency agreement between DOE and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

A sum of £124 million in VED was collected in the financial year 1999/2000. VED is an unhypothecated tax and the revenue collected is paid into the UK Consolidated Fund.

Mr A Doherty asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what steps are being taken to strengthen the enforcement of Tree Preservation Orders.

(AQW 2420/00)

Mr Foster: My Department issued a consultation paper outlining a range of amendments to planning legislation, including the legislation on Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). The proposals included increased fines, and allowing offences to be taken to the High Court for prosecution.

It was further proposed to make it an automatic requirement, unless considered otherwise by my Department, to replace trees removed or destroyed that are under the protection of a TPO. In addition, it was proposed to afford the same protection to trees in a conservation area as is currently afforded to trees covered by a TPO.

However, as a result of representations made to me, I have asked officials to consider if additional amendments are needed.

I hope to introduce this legislation by way of a Planning Amendment Bill during the next session of the Assembly. 

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