Friday 15 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her assessment of the objectives and options contained in the European Commission’s Green Paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy after 2002.

(AQW 2475/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): [holding answer 3 May 2001]: The Green Paper is a comprehensive analysis, which provides a good basis for developing options for the future improvements to the Common Fisheries Policy. Currently the views of a wide range of local organisations (and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee) are being sought on the Green Paper and I would obviously wish to consider the comments received before firming up a definitive stance for the debates ahead. At this point however, I would endorse the position as set out by the European Commission on the need for reform, on the key issues to be addressed and on specific objectives it has set for the future of the Common Fisheries Policy. These include a strengthening of the conservation and environment dimensions; emphasis on social and economic aspects of the policy; equity in monitoring and control; need for more stockholder involvement; improved fleet policy to match fishing capacity and stocks; improved research and scientific advice; and better health and safety and consumer protection.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her proposals to assist and encourage the fishing industry to contribute to debate on the European Commission’s Green Paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy after 2002.

(AQW 2492/00)

Ms Rodgers: A consultation exercise was launched on 13 April which, invited views from a wide range of local organisations, including those in the fishing industry, on the European Commission’s Green Paper. To encourage responses, in the related press release I have advised of the significance of this document and that the debate which will follow will influence decisions on future policy for this important industry.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to AQW 2573/00, to detail (a) whether the ‘ad hoc’ committee sought an amnesty for farmers involved in smuggling and (b) are any of the members of the committee suspected of being engaged in smuggling.

(AQW 2998/00)

Ms Rodgers: [holding answer 5 June 2001]: Both my officials and I met groups of farmers from South Armagh at the time of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak there. Those attending the meetings varied on each occasion and I am not clear which, if any, of those groups was the ‘ad hoc’ committee to which you refer. I can confirm, however, that at no time did individual farmers or those representing them raise the question of an amnesty in relation to smuggling activity. As I have stated on a number of occasions, the RUC are investigating a number of individuals relating to the circumstances surrounding the FMD outbreak. It is not for me to comment on those investigations or whom they may involve.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of works carried out at Copeland Water, Carrickfergus in relation to flood alleviation.

(AQW 3187/00)

Ms Rodgers: I can confirm that, following a flooding incident arising from exceptionally heavy rainfall in Carrickfergus on 9 October 2000, the Rivers Agency carried out remedial works to reduce the risk of future flooding from the Copeland Water. The works included the reinforcement of the riverbank eroded by the flooding, and upgrading of a major grille at the upstream limit of the designated section of the watercourse. These works should ensure the restoration of the level of flood protection to an acceptable standard for an urban watercourse.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) from which countries meat imports are banned (b) if meat is being imported from countries currently affected by foot-and-mouth disease and (c) what steps are being taken to ensure all food from these countries is thoroughly tested.

(AQW 3198/00)

Ms Rodgers: The answer to the points in your question are:-

(a) The UK has placed a complete ban on imports of fresh meat from certain third countries with foot-and- mouth-disease outbreaks. These countries are Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland and Uruguay, although this is under review at present.

(b) Imports of meat into Northern Ireland are subject to veterinary checks. For consignments imported from unrestricted member states the checks will be carried out at the point of destination. However imports from GB (under present arrangements) and third countries must undergo full documentary, identity and where appropriate physical checks at the ports and border inspection posts. Only meat officially certified from non-restricted areas is accepted into Northern Ireland.

(c) Controls are therefore based on the exclusion of products from high risk areas rather than the testing of imported products which at best would be an effective procedure in detecting localised contamination with virus.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) her policy with regard to those farmers who have restrictions placed on the movement of livestock due to TB and (b) what steps she has taken to redress the financial losses incurred.

(AQW 3204/00)

(a) In the case of suspect tuberculosis for example where there is suspicion at slaughter or where five or fewer animals react at the tuberculosis test (reactors), the herd is placed under restriction. If examination at slaughter proves negative then the restrictions may be lifted following the completion of a clear herd test carried out at least 60 days after the removal of the reactors. Where tuberculosis is confirmed the herd is restricted until two clear herd tests are achieved at intervals of 60 days after removal of any reactors. Animals can continue to be moved to slaughter when the herd is restricted for either support or confirmed tuberculosis.

(B) Compensation for all animals slaughtered as a result of tuberculosis is paid at 100% of the market value for both reactor and in-contact animals. There is no provision for payment of compensation in any other circumstances.

Mr ONeill asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the criteria for the decommissioning of fishing vessels.

(AQW 3241/00)

Ms Rodgers: Work continues on the development of a fishing vessel decommissioning scheme. Currently the draft scheme is based on a tendering system by vessel owners for the disposal of their fishing vessels. Amongst the eligibility requirements would be that the vessel must be at least 12 metres long, fished at least 75 days in each of the preceding two years and at least 10 years old. Bids would be ranked according to the vessel capacity units times days at sea. Based on the bids, the Department would set separate ‘strike prices’ for vessels considered to be mainly targeting whitefish stocks at depletion risk and for other vessels outside this criteria. Successful applicants would then receive grant based on the strike price once their vessel had been decommissioned. The licence in respect of the vessel would be revoked but the owners would retain the track record (expressed in terms of fixed quota allocation (FQA) units) of the vessel.

Mr ONeill asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what proportion of the recent package of support for fishermen has been allocated to whitefish and prawn fishermen.

(AQW 3242/00)

Ms Rodgers: My announcement of 29 March advised that the European Commission has agreed to allocate 29 million euros to assist the fishing industry through a range of measures. These include decommissioning of fishing vessels, processing and marketing, safety training, quality and marketing of fish on board fishing vessels, assistance to the Harbour Authority for capital projects and the promotion of fisheries products. With this wide range of measures it is not possible to quantify how much of this total amount will be of direct benefit to whitefish and prawn fishermen. Indeed, details of how this funding is to be allocated between measures has still to be agreed by the Monitoring Committee for the N.I Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity. I will be making an announcement detailing the allocations as soon as the Monitoring Committee has agreed these. However, my earlier announcement did advise that of the total amount available £5 million would be available in the current financial year for the decommissioning of fishing vessels. Currently it is proposed that £3·75 million of this money would be targeted at whitefish boats catching these fish stocks at most depletion risk for example, Irish Sea Cod, with the remainder be used for other (including nephrops) vessels.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the steps he is taking to promote Ulster culture overseas.

(AQW 3046/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): [holding answer 5 June 2001]: The Department is committed to the early development of a marketing strategy to promote awareness of Northern Ireland’s rich cultural treasures.

Northern Ireland’s creativity and cultural expression are unique selling points. The Department is committed to helping build a positive image of Northern Ireland by developing and enhancing our cultural facilities and supporting a joined-up approach to the development of cultural tourism. The Department’s Diversity 21 programme in particular, seeks to celebrate, and promote, the diverse cultures within Northern Ireland. This should include continued co-operation between the Tourist Board and bodies in the cultural sector, most notably the Arts Council. The Northern Ireland Film Commission also has a key role to play by attracting film and television production to Northern Ireland and promoting awareness of Northern Ireland locations. This will build confidence in Northern Ireland through new images on screens around the world.

The Department’s Corporate Strategy sets out DCAL’s ambitions for promoting a positive image of Northern Ireland abroad. DCAL is contributing to the cost of the Ulster Orchestra’s appearance at the UK in NY festival in October 2001 as part of the Northern Ireland arts programme being co-ordinated by the British Council.

Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch, which is jointly funded by DCAL and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in the Republic of Ireland, has a specific remit to promote greater awareness and use of Ulster-Scots language and culture. Tha Boord’s Corporate Plan, produced in January 2001, outlines the strategy for promoting Ulster-Scots language and culture at home and abroad.

The Institute of Ulster-Scots studies set up at the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster is jointly funded by Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch and the university. One of the objectives of the Institute is to promote understanding and awareness of the Ulster-Scots identity within and beyond Northern Ireland.

The Institute of Ulster-Scots Worldwide Academic Network was launched on 5 April 2001 in Washington DC. I attended the reception to celebrate the launch. The purpose of the network is to connect international researchers working on issues relevant to understanding the historical, political and cultural impact of the Ulster- Scots people within various regions worldwide. Working arrangements have been established with universities in Scotland, Canada, USA and Australia.

The Columba Initiative aims to foster close cultural and linguistic ties among the Gaelic-Speaking communities of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Funding is provided from all three areas.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in respect of Ulster Scots language and culture, to detail (a) what steps he has taken to promote this matter (b) how much funding has he allocated to this matter (c) his policies for its future development and (d) what meetings he has had with the Department of Education to promote Ulster Scots language and culture within schools.

(AQW 3210/00)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department, along with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (DAHGI), funds the North/South Language Implementation Body which incorporates Tha Boord of Ulster-Scots. Tha Boord is charged with promoting greater awareness and use of Ullans and of Ulster-Scots cultural issues.

In January 2001 Tha Boord produced its corporate plan which outlines its strategy for the period 2001-02 to 2003-04. The aim of the plan is to ‘promote the study, conservation, development and use of Ulster-Scots as a living language’. The plan supports four major themes at a total cost of £1.45 million over three years. These are: supporting Ulster-Scots as a living language and promoting its use and development; acting as a key contributor to the development of the Ulster-Scots culture; establishing partnerships with the education and community sectors to promote the study of the Ulster-Scots language, culture and history; developing the public’s understanding of the Ulster-Scots language and culture.

For the year 2000-01 funding of £667,000 was available to Tha Boord. DCAL provided £500,000 of this. In 2001-02 £1·29m is available to Tha Boord. DCAL will provide £970,000 of this. Resources may also be available for projects with a language dimension which meet the objective criteria of Executive mainstream programmes.

The UK Government signed the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages in March 2000, recognising Ulster Scots as a language for the purposes of Part II and undertaking to apply general principles and objectives and not to discriminate against the languages recognised. My Department leads an Interdepartmental Group which is considering how best to implement the charter.

My Department has commissioned research, including a project to help the Ulster-Scots Language Society develop its strategic planning capability and a survey of views on provision of Government services and official matters in Ulster Scots.

Officials from my Department and the Department of Education have met and discussed a range of educational issues including Ulster-Scots. A further meeting has been arranged. Both Departments have agreed to co-operate more closely to develop a co-ordinated approach to relationships with the North-South Language Body and with official counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. I believe this will help both Governments and the North/South Language Body to develop a coherent strategy for fulfilling education-related functions in both parts of the island of Ireland.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail his plans to increase the participation of young people in sport.

(AQW 3248/00)

Mr McGimpsey: The participation of young people in sport is one of the Sports Council’s key work areas. At present over 700 schools are involved in its Youth Sport Programme and the Council is currently reviewing its Youth Sport Strategy to consider how to develop further opportunities for young people.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 1870/00, whether he has any plans to meet the Chairman of the Irish Football Association to discuss progress regarding the building of a national sports stadium for Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3259/00)

Mr McGimpsey: I have no plans to discuss this matter with the Irish Football Association at present. The viability and sustainability of such a project is still under consideration. The subject is being considered in the context of the soccer strategy but a national stadium has implications for sports other than soccer.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the Minister of Education, to promote and encourage pupils to participate in sport at school.

(AQW 3261/00)

Mr McGimpsey: Physical education is compulsory within the Northern Ireland curriculum for all pupils from age 4 to 16 to enable pupils to develop an understanding of the importance of physical activity to a healthy lifestyle in later life. Schools are encouraged to give pupils at least 2 hours PE per week and the programme of study enables teachers to develop the particular sporting interests of all pupils. This is complemented by the Youth Sport Programme which is delivered in partnership with schools, education and library boards, district councils and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and is consistent with my Department’s objectives of promoting participation in sport.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail what developments have taken place since the publication of ‘Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland’.

(AQW 3267/00)

Mr McGimpsey: The report, ‘Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland, Views of the Stakeholders’, which was published on 5 February, was the outcome of a consultation exercise commissioned by my Department and was a key stage of the process in working towards a strategy for the sport. It provided an agenda for a conference workshop held on 10-12 February at which representatives of the key stakeholders debated the issues facing soccer and developed ideas for the future development of the game.

The advisory panel, which I established to guide and advise on the process, is currently at the critical stage of working on recommendations. I expect to receive the panel’s report by the end of the summer and this will form the basis of a draft strategy document that I intend to publish for consultation, probably in September.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (a) how much funding has been provided to promote Northern Ireland as a suitable location for the film industry (b) what meetings he has had with the Northern Ireland Film Commission and (c) what policy he is pursuing to promote this industry.

(AQW 3268/00)

Mr McGimpsey: During the current financial year my Department will provide assistance totalling £412,000 to the Northern Ireland Film Commission, and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment will provide £250,000. The commission will receive a further £360,000 from a range of other organisations, including the UK Film Council and the British Film Institute.

I have had a number of meetings with the new chairman of the commission and my senior officials meet the chairman and chief executive of the commission on a regular basis.

The chairman and board of the commission are currently developing a new strategy which will be aimed at developing the sector in Northern Ireland. I expect to be in a position to discuss the new strategy with the board of the Northern Ireland Film Commission in the very near future.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) his assessment of the impact of aggregates tax on schools repairs and building projects and (b) what meetings he has had with the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding this matter.

(AQW 3126/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): The cost of aggregate would be about 0·6% of the contract value and is estimated to amount to an additional cost of £600,000 per year. My officials have raised this pressure on the capital budget with DFP officials and I will be discussing this with the Minister for Finance and Personnel at our next meeting.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail what recent representations he has received in respect of his policy on the expulsion of pupils from school.

(AQW 3170/00)

Mr M McGuinness: No formal representations have been made to me recently about my Department’s policy on the expulsion of pupils, the arrangements for which are governed by both primary and secondary legislation. However, I understand that officials in my Department have recently received representations from some education and library boards and some schools about:

• the operation of the current expulsion arrangements and the problems surrounding the admission of expelled pupils to alternative schools; and
• the need for a review of strategies aimed at tackling pupil disaffection and challenging behaviour.

As a result of these representations and earlier research, including that on developing alternative education strategies for disaffected pupils, my Department will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the current expulsion and suspension arrangements in consultation with interested parties. The aim will be to complete this review by mid 2002. In addition a draft strategy on alternative education provision for disaffected pupils will be published for consultation during the next school year.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education whether he has any plans to support schools in using information technology to tackle truancy.

(AQW 3171/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Every school is responsible for monitoring the attendance of its pupils and for notifying the education and library boards about persistent absenteeism. The existing computerised administration system used by most schools (CLASS) contains an attendance module which enables schools to monitor individual pupil attendance on a morning and afternoon basis. The option of developing the existing CLASS management information modules to provide more meaningful information and reports on non-attendance, behaviour, suspensions, and expulsions, is currently being explored.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Education to detail any plans he has to upgrade Woodburn Primary School, Carrickfergus.

(AQW 3177/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Woodburn Primary School is a controlled school which is the responsibility of the North-Eastern Education and Library Board. A capital scheme to replace the school has been placed on the Department’s capital priority list but a new site must be found before the Board can complete an economic appraisal. The Board is currently reviewing facilities at the school with a view to undertaking some essential minor works to meet short term needs.

Mr Fee asked the Minister of Education to detail the steps he is taking to promote awareness of environmental issues in (a) primary schools (b) secondary schools and (c) grammar schools.

(AQW 3182/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Awareness of environmental issues is already included in the curriculum, mainly through the science programme of study which is compulsory for all children aged 4-16. In addition, environmental responsibility is one of the issues which has been highlighted by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) as part of the current curriculum review.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education in relation to the consultation document ‘A Common Funding Formula for Grant-Aided Schools’, to give a commitment to provide the necessary figures to each individual school to enable them to determine how the low and high aggregated schools budget (ASB) will impact on the funding available to them.

(AQW 3195/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I do not intend to release the Department’s assessment of the impact of the formula on individual schools because this could be misleading in view of the various assumptions which have had to be made in constructing the funding model. These assumptions and other constraints are outlined in the consultation document.

I have however decided to release the value of the AWPU applicable to the low and high ASB models and schools may wish to use this in framing their response. I must however stress that these AWPU figures are based on the composite pupil count for 2000/1 and would also be subject to change should the various assumptions made in the model require revision. The relevant figures are:-

high ASB model £1,236.72; and;

low ASB model £1,203.91

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2668/00, to detail the normal translation service used by the Department including (a) was the service initially put out to tender (b) how many applications were received for the tender (c) how much was the tender worth (d) on what basis was the tender awarded (e) who was the successful applicant and (f) when is the tender due for renewal.

(AQW 3196/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The Department of Education commissions translation work from a number of Irish language translators drawn from a list available to Departments. Work is commissioned as required from a translator who is available and able to complete the work within the required deadline. No tendering process is entered into in respect of each piece of work commissioned. A review of translation services for Departments is currently being undertaken by an inter-departmental group.

Mr Kennedy asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2668/00, to detail (a) the date on which the single tender action was initiated (b) how many bids were received for the tender (c) on what basis was the tender awarded and (d) who was the successful applicant.

(AQW 3197/00)

Mr M McGuinness: A single tender action was initiated on 16 March 2001 with a recommended translator to translate the Consultation Document on a Common Funding Formula for Grant-Aided Schools and the Response Form into Irish. This was the only invitation made by the Department to have this work processed. The job was undertaken by Mr Sean McNally.

Mr Leslie asked the Minister of Education to provide the estimated cost of repairing schools damaged by arson attacks in the North-Eastern Education Library Board area in the calendar year 2000.

(AQW 3207/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The board has estimated the cost of repairing controlled and maintained schools to be some £74,000.

Mr Leslie asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2861/00, to detail the monetary value attached to each age weighted pupil unit for (a) a high aggregated schools budget (ASB) and (b) a low ASB.

(AQW 3208/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The age weighted pupil unit cash value used in the illustrated outcomes at Annex 1 of the document was £1,236.72 under the high ASB model and £1,203.91 under the low ASB model.

I must however stress that these AWPU figures are based on the composite pupil count for 2000-01 and would also be subject to change should the various assumptions made in the model require revision.

Mr Leslie asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 2861/00, to detail the monetary value in the formula deriving from (a) TSN - social deprivation and (b) TSN - special education need.

(AQW 3209/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The amounts due to Dalriada School under the proposals for TSN funding contained in the consultation document ‘A Common Funding Formula for Grant Aided Schools’ are as follows:-

Social Deprivation: £6,910
Special Educational Need: £762

I must however stress that these figures are subject to the constraints set out in section 18.2 of the consultation document and could change should the various assumptions made in the model require revision.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Education whether legislation is required to introduce a unified local management scheme (LMS) for schools.

(AQW 3232/00)

Mr M McGuinness: A common LMS Scheme will be necessary to make clear the detailed operation of the common funding formula to which each funding authority must adhere and I have been advised that legislation will be required to achieve this.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people who have benefited from the national minimum wage since its introduction.

(AQW 3229/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The national minimum wage (NMW) is a reserved matter, on which DTI leads for the UK as a whole. They estimate that some 1.5 million jobs in the United Kingdom were paying below the minimum rate when the legislation was introduced in April 1999.

There is no definitive estimate of the number of people directly affected by the NMW legislation. However, the new earnings survey estimates that the percentage of Northern Ireland employees earning less than the NMW reduced from 6.6% in April 1998 to 2.3% in 1999 and 1.2% in April 2000.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what steps he is taking to ensure the conservation and preservation of Knockagh Hill.

(AQW 3183/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): My Department has taken a number of steps to ensure the conservation and preservation of Knockagh Hill:

(a) The area is located within the Belfast urban area greenbelt where there is a presumption against development.

(b) The extent of the nature conservation value of the Knockagh Hill and its main habitats were mapped following a ‘Nature in the City’ survey commissioned by my Department in 1999, while the Area Plan identifies for protection sites of nature conservation importance in the Knockagh area.

(c) In addition, the Knockagh Hill was designated as an Area of High Scenic Value by my Department in the Carrickfergus Area Plan 2001, due to its scenic and landscape quality. This designation will ensure that any new development maintains the particular landscape quality and character of the area. The Carrickfergus Area Plan also identified Knockagh as an Area of Constraint on Mineral Development in recognition of the damaging effects that mineral development could have on its scenic quality.

(d) A number of archaeological sites in the area have been recorded by my Department including the County Antrim War Memorial, known locally as "The Knockagh monument", which has been afforded statutory protection by listing under part V article 42 1(a) of the Planning (NI) Order 1991. Any proposals affecting this monument would be subject to the normal Listed Building Consent process.

The Carrickfergus Area Plan will remain in force until it is superseded by the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. The issues paper for the new plan, to be published by my Department in the autumn of this year, will provide the opportunity for further debate on the issue of landscape protection in the area.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the steps he has taken to make the public aware of the rebate on vehicle excise duty for car engines under 1500cc.

(AQW 3205/00)

Mr Foster: The registration and licensing of vehicles are excepted matters. They are 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 (DETR).

The extension of the reduced rate of vehicle excise duty to include cars with engine sizes up to 1549cc, taxed in the PLG class, was announced in the Chancellor’s March Budget. The implementation date for this extension is 1 July 2001. In Northern Ireland approximately 125,000 vehicles will qualify for a rebate on their licence.

A "stop press" note was added to a series of advertisements being run in the 3 main newspapers in Northern Ireland in March giving details of the previous rebate scheme for vehicles with engine sizes up to 1200cc. This note advised customers about the extension of the reduced rate of duty to 1549cc and told them that keepers would be notified later with full details. Information on the scheme has been available in leaflets which have been obtainable since March at the agency’s 8 local offices, or by telephoning the agency’s headquarters in Coleraine. Information has also been available on the agency’s website.

DVLNI will issue a letter in the first week of July to the registered keeper of each eligible car. The letter will include a tear-off claim form and rebates will be paid on receipt of the claim form. This will be supported by an advertising campaign which will be run in the Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and Irish News between 24 June and 2 July 2001. In late August, the same papers will carry advertisements to encourage any keepers who have not returned their application forms for their rebate to do so as soon as possible.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 2320/00, to detail the conditions specified regarding the height and profile of the disposal site at Kilroot Power Station.

(AQW 3216/00)

Mr Foster: The operator is required to comply with the approved plan for the ash disposal area, ref: 6285/E/7, under the planning permission granted on 21 July 1987.

The plan, which details the approved elevations and sections for the disposal area, provides for a mound with a storage capacity of approx. 2,500,000 tonnes levelling out at 16 metres in height, with additional storage capacity of approx. 620,000 tonnes on top plateauing out at 32 metres height.

The mound was measured by my officials during a site visit on 8th June 2001 and found to be 14 metres in height.

The plan can be viewed by the public by arrangement with Planning Headquarters; Special Studies Section, at Bedford House, Bedford Street, Belfast, Tel 02890 252940, and I have arranged for a copy to be sent to you.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 3050/00, whether he has any plans to collate the data in order that an assessment of the extent of the problem can be made.

(AQW 3219/00)

Mr Foster: The Department does not currently have any plans to collate data on the number of prosecutions for noise nuisance taken by district councils in Northern Ireland.

Details of the number of prosecutions taken under the relevant legislation, the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978 should be available from each district council. It should, of course, be noted that under the Order it is also open to the occupiers of premises affected by noise to complain direct to the magistrates’ court.

Collation of data on prosecutions for noise nuisance is not among my Department’s priorities at present.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what steps are taken by the Planning Service to ensure that development proposals are completed to planning standards prior to the developer leaving the site.

(AQW 3220/00)

Mr Foster: The operator is required to comply with the approved plan for the ash disposal area, ref: 6285/E/7, under the planning permission granted on 21 July 1987.

The plan, which details the approved elevations and sections for the disposal area, provides for a mound with a storage capacity of approx. 2,500,000 tonnes levelling out at 16 metres in height, with additional storage capacity of approx. 620,000 tonnes on top plateauing out at 32 metres height.

The mound was measured by my officials during a site visit on 8th June 2001 and found to be 14 metres in height.

The plan can be viewed by the public by arrangement with Planning Headquarters; Special Studies Section, at Bedford House, Bedford Street, Belfast, Tel 02890 252940, and I have arranged for a copy to be sent to you.

Ms Armitage asked the Minister of the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce a car insurance disc, similar to the vehicle excise disc.

(AQO 1602/00)

Mr Foster: I would refer the Member to the Memorandum of Reply to the Public Accounts Committee’s Report on Road Safety which was laid before the Assembly by the Department of Finance and Personnel on 1 December 2000.

The following is an extract from the memorandum of reply:

"DOE notes the Committee’s recommendation that compulsory display of MOT discs should be introduced as quickly as possible and extended to include insurance discs. Introduction of a MOT certificate in disc format will become possible as part of the DVTA test equipment replacement programme. The change to disc format can be made under current legislation. Initially, display will be on a voluntary basis. New subordinate legislation would be required to make display of discs compulsory. This would become possible when the test equipment replacement programme has been completed and all MOT certificates are available in disc format. The earliest date for completion of the replacement programme is mid-2002, subject to contract. In the meantime, DOE will draw up policy proposals for consultation with the public and with the Assembly Environment Committee to take account also of wider MOT compliance and enforcement issues. The idea of introducing a similar requirement for insurance will also be examined in this context."

This remains the position in relation to the introduction of car insurance discs.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of the Environment whether he took into account the issue of road safety when considering the planning application for an extension to "The Sly Fox", Moy, Co. Tyrone; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3228/00)

Mr Foster: I can confirm that my Department took into account the issue of road safety in its consideration of this proposal.

In accordance with standard consultation procedures, the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service was consulted on this planning application. Their response, received on 21 July 1998, raised no objection to the proposed development.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail any future plans to improve road safety policy.

(AQW 3233/00)

Mr Foster: I would refer the Member to the consultation document which I published on 2 May 2001 and which seeks views on a new road safety strategy for Northern Ireland to 2010. A copy of the document was provided to all Members and further copies are available in the Assembly Library.

The document provides an analysis of the road safety problem in Northern Ireland, reviews current road safety measures and the reductions in road casualties made to date. It presents for consideration proposals for long-term casualty reduction targets and indicates a number of potential measures which would contribute to road casualty reduction in Northern Ireland.

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