Friday 22 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to give a breakdown of the funding provided by the Community Relations Council to the Fernhill House Museum in the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(AQW 3101/00)

Reply: It is understood from the Community Relations Council that no funding was provided to the Fernhill House Museum during these years.

Mrs Carson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the anticipated budget of the Children’s Forum and what the breakdown of that budget will be.

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Reply: The Forum does not have a budget, although we have agreed to provide modest grant aid of £15,000 to one of the member organisations to cover the cost of providing a secretariat.

In addition the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister may commission specific pieces of work from the Forum over the coming months to help with the development of proposals for a commissioner for children and the children’s strategy. Any such pieces of work may be supported by further grants, dependent upon the size and nature of the project.

Mrs Carson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister if an assurance can be given that the Children’s Forum will not be a quango; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3160/00)

Reply: The Forum is not a quango. It is an informal working group, brought together at our request for the specific purpose of providing input to proposals for a commissioner for children and a children’s strategy.

The purpose of the Forum is to draw on the experience and expertise of children’s organisations. This is something that many members have encouraged us to do.

Mrs Carson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister whether it has any plans to reduce the number of appointments to quangos which any individual can hold at any one time.

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Reply: The code of practice of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Public Appointments does not place a numerical limit on the number of appointments which any individual may hold. However, before offering an appointment to an individual who already holds a public appointment, Departments must be satisfied that the person will be able to devote sufficient time and commitment to the new appointment. Consideration is currently being given to a review of the arrangements for making appointment to public bodies.

Mr Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her plans to regulate, control and police the sheep industry to ensure that there is no illegal movement of, or trade in, these animals; and to make a statement.

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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has shown that the current sheep identification system is inadequate to trace sheep movements accurately and quickly for disease purposes. To help prevent and contain any further outbreak or illegal movement of sheep it will be necessary to tighten controls, but this will be for the overall good of the industry.

I announced my intention to move to individual sheep identification in a press release on 1 May 2001. My officials are currently working on this issue and I will be consulting widely on any new proposals in due course.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the proposed timescale for re-opening livestock marts, (b) what compensation will be given to livestock marts and (c) what representations she has made to the Minister of Finance and Personnel to ensure rate relief is obtained for livestock marts.

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

(a) It is still too early to say when livestock markets might be allowed to re-open. This is an issue which is under continuous assessment and any decision on re-opening is conditional on veterinary advice that re-opening would not present unacceptable risk.

(b) The only compensation provision under foot-and- mouth disease legislation is for animals or materials destroyed as part of the Department’s campaign to control and eradicate the disease. There is no provision for "consequential losses" such as those incurred through the closure of livestock marts.

(c) I have made representations to Minister Durkan, and a "Help for Business Scheme" as detailed in the attached leaflet is now available to those businesses which can demonstrate that they are suffering financial hardship as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make a statement on the use of information technology to support rural communities.

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Ms Rodgers: I am aware of the exciting opportunities which the effective use of ICT provides for businesses and communities everywhere. Information and Communication Technology has been shown to have the potential to increase the competitiveness of small firms in the broader economy and so can if effectively utilised make a significant contribution to the agrifood sector and rural economy.

My Department has already recognised the potential and has been working to achieve improved uptake and application through a number of initiatives. These have a strong emphasis on education and training which forms the basis for the future exploitation of the opportunities, which this new technology presents.

I obtained additional funding in the 2000-2001 financial year specifically targeted at improving the resources for ICT training and support for farmers in the west of the country. Progress has been somewhat curtailed by the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions but we hope by the end of the summer to be able to launch farmer access computers and training suites as well as the first stage of the Rural Portal being funded under the Programme for Government.

Within the Peace II programme measures are being finalised to enhance existing provision by facilitating unique programmes targeted at the development of the basic skills and effective application of ICT in farm businesses and rural communities.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what compensation will be given to those farmers who were unable to move cattle due to foot-and-mouth disease restrictions resulting in them now exceeding the over 30 month scheme (OTMS).

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Ms Rodgers: You may be aware that the only compensation provision under foot-and-mouth disease legislation is for animals or materials destroyed by the Department as part of the campaign to control and eradicate the disease.

I am aware that movement restrictions have in some cases unfortunately prevented cattle being moved to slaughter prior to reaching the 30-month age point and that this has involved loss with the animals then going to the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS). This is a problem that has arisen in FMD - affected areas throughout the UK. It is presently under consideration and it may be that it would be regarded as consequential loss for which the Government does not provide compensation. I am not yet in a position to comment on how this issue might eventually be resolved.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give his assessment of the impact of the abolition of admission charges for pensioners and children visiting national museums and galleries; and to make a statement.

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The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The abolition of admission charges would be welcomed by MAGNI. However, any such initiative would carry a cost in terms of lost revenue by MAGNI which would need to be sourced elsewhere.

The differing histories and development of individual MAGNI sites means that the implications of any such initiative would vary according to the prevailing situation on each site. The Ulster Museum and Armagh County Museum do not currently charge for admission. Consequently it is not envisaged any proposal relating to admission charges would alter the situation.

The UFTM already grants concessions to adults age 60 and over and to children under five years. The total expected income from admission charges to children and pensioners is £195,100 in 2000-01 rising to £215,000 in 2002-03. The UAFP also has concessions for children and senior citizens. To have granted free admission to these groups during 2000 would have reduced income by £76,750.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give his assessment of competition cycling in Northern Ireland.

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Mr McGimpsey: Responsibility for the development of sport in the Province rests with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI). The Sports Council currently recognise the Ulster Cycling Federation (UCF) as the governing body of the sport, though the Council has also provided Lottery funding support for the other governing body for cycling in the Province, the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation (NICF). Both federations, supported by the Sports Council, are currently making efforts to develop agreed plans for the sport and a more co-ordinated approach to local management issues. Progress in this direction will enhance the development of the sport in Northern Ireland.

Mr J Wilson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will indicate when access will be permitted to (a) areas adjacent to agricultural land and (b) to agricultural land along river banks and lift the restrictions imposed as a result of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

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Mr McGimpsey: The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development announced on Friday 15 June 2001, with Executive Committee approval, a relaxation of the foot and mouth restrictions that will allow greater access to agricultural land and along river banks. The new guidelines recommend that controlled access to fields and farmland where there are no livestock, and to hills, mountains and moorland where there is little likelihood of contact with livestock, may be permitted. Anglers may once again fish rivers, lakes and reservoirs which can be reached without the risk of encountering farm animals.

This relaxation of access to the countryside should, with farmers agreement, enable anglers to access most fisheries providing a common-sense approach is adopted and care is taken to avoid contact with livestock. Following the DARD announcement my Department issued a press release announcing the reopening of those waters in the Public Angling Estate which comply with the new guidelines. The remaining waters will be urgently assessed and where appropriate farmers or landowners agreement sought for their reopening.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to improve facilities for tourists visiting Northern Ireland.

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The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has available, in the current year, £4.714m to spend on the development of tourism facilities. In relation to visitor attractions its current policy is to provide capital support towards the upgrading, re-theming or improved interpretation at those centres that attract non-domestic tourists. In addition, the NITB can provide financial assistance for marketing activity.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline what arrangements exist between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority to promote Northern Ireland in Great Britain and overseas.

(AQW 3249/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Though the British Tourist Authority does not have a statutory obligation to promote tourism to Northern Ireland, good co-operation exists in all markets. A "Milestones Agreement" exists between NITB and BTA which provides for enquiry handling in markets where NITB does not have its own office. Northern Ireland is covered in many BTA publications and has an option to buy into workshops, fairs and trade shows.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland in the last six months.

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Sir Reg Empey: It is not possible to provide an official estimate of tourism performance for the last six months. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has monitored the impact of foot-and-mouth disease closely since March. An initial estimate of the decline in visitors for the months of March and April is calculated at approximately 60,000 visitors.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of strategic business links forged with the United States of America in each of the last three years.

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Sir Reg Empey: My Department and its agencies have helped support and facilitate strategic business links with the US in a variety of ways.

Since 1999 IDB, LEDU and IRTU have helped 420 NI companies initiate contact with US companies with the aim of establishing a business relationship either through direct sales, distribution agreements, alliance or partnership or technology transfer and development. This figure breaks down over the last three years as follows:

At agency level many important links have been forged with influential US organisations and agencies, these include:

• The US Department of Commerce who have organised trade missions into Northern Ireland and facilitated NI company contacts in the USA.
• The US/NI Joint Board on Scientific and Technological Co-operation, established through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Technology Administration of the US Department of Commerce and IRTU.
• Joint Memorandum of Understanding between IDB and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which has resulted in reciprocal trade missions and a trade and investment conference in Boston.
• Trade and Investment Conference with the New York Economic Development Corporation with US/NI companies.

Many of these contacts at company and agency level build on the strong linkages already established through the valuable work undertaken by councils throughout Northern Ireland and the mutually beneficial research linkages between US and Northern Ireland university departments.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the telecommunications industry in Northern Ireland.

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Sir Reg Empey: In this international and competitive telecommunications sector, the longer-term outlook for the markets serviced by companies in Northern Ireland is positive. Whilst it is accepted that current market conditions are difficult, and this is impacting on local firms, an upturn is anticipated in 2002.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the level of investment in each of the fishing ports in Northern Ireland by the IDB for each of the last 10 years, (b) the level of unemployment in each of the ports in comparison to the (i) district average and (ii) Northern Ireland average.

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(a) Responsibility for support to fishing ports lies with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and not IDB.

(b) Small area unemployment rates are unavailable for Northern Ireland below District Council area and so there are no measures of the level of unemployment for individual fishing ports. In order to make the comparisons requested unemployment rates are required and the smallest areas for which these are available are District Councils. These figures, plus Northern Ireland averages, are available in the DETI monthly publication, Northern Ireland Labour Market Statistics (Section 3, Table 3.8), copies of which are placed in the Assembly Library.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of jobs created as a result of work undertaken by his Department and its agencies in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years.

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Sir Reg Empey: Information in the tables provided relates to employment in the client companies of the Industrial Development Board (IDB), the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). Activity by other parts of DETI, such as the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU), will also contribute to employment growth in these companies.

Table 1 provides information on employment creations within IDB client companies, for each parliamentary constituency, over the past three years.

Table 2 provides job creations in LEDU client companies. It is presented for the past two years by District Council area, as information is not currently available at parliamentary constituency level or for years earlier than 1999-2000.

Figures in Table 3, supplied in respect of jobs created as a result of work undertaken by the NITB, relate to jobs anticipated to be created upon completion/opening of capital projects in each of the 18 parliamentary constituencies. Figures are detailed on the basis of year of issue of Letter of Offer awarding financial assistance.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people injured while at work in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3272/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The number of people injured while at work in each of the last five years are as follows:-

^(p) provisional

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of fatalities due to accidents at work in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3273/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The number of fatalities due to accidents at work in each of the last five years are as follows:-

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