Friday 29 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Hussey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQO 1444/00, to detail the costs of the "sectors" that nominated the Forum’s members.

(AQW 3222/00)

Reply: The breakdown of the costs of the nominating sectors is as follows:

Advertising - £45,000
(which included £10,000 to advertise for the Chairperson)

Consultancy support to nominating sectors - £13,000

Travel expenses of consortium Members - £ 2,400

Since we wrote to Mr Berry on 14 May 2001, the voluntary and community sector has claimed a further £20,000 towards its cost for the nomination process. The claim is under consideration by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what assessment has been made of the Equality Commission recommendation that the definition of indirect discrimination contained in the EC Equal Treatment Directive should be adopted and whether this would have an adverse impact upon the protestant community.

(AQW 3276/00)

Reply: The Equality Commission has recently recommended that the definition of indirect discrimination in the Race Relations (Northern Ireland ) Order 1997 should be the same as that contained in the recent EU Race Directive which requires the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin to be implemented. A similar definition of indirect discrimination is used in the EU Framework Directive, which lays down a general framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as regards employment and occupation.

In order to comply with these Directives it will be necessary to amend the definitions in both the Race Relations and Fair Employment and Treatment Orders. It is planned to take this forward in the Single Equality Bill. An Equality Impact Assessment will be carried out on that Bill in order to identify any differential impact between any of the groups set out in section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, including persons of different religious belief.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the findings of the Soil Association Report (published on 4 June 2001), ‘Too Hard to Swallow, the truth about drugs and poultry’ and to make a statement.

(AQW 3288/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): My Department has local responsibility for the testing for residues of veterinary drugs. It should be noted that of the 883 samples taken from poultry at slaughter in Northern Ireland in the year 2000 only 2 positives for nicarbazin and 1 for lasalocid were found. In addition a total of 146 local egg samples were taken. Of these, 21 eggs were tested for the presence of lasalocid and 3 were found to be positive. I understand, however, from my scientific advisors and those in the Food Standards Agency (FSA), that these positive results were well within safety limits and posed no threat to human health. While these results are reassuring I am arranging for an extensive survey for coccidiostats in Northern Ireland poultry and eggs.

The FSA has announced its intention to convene a meeting of interested parties to consider the issues raised in the report. The independent Veterinary Residues Committee which provides advice on such matters has established a sub-group to consider the findings of surveillance programmes on veterinary residues in poultry and eggs.

My Department will continue to work closely with the FSA to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to safeguard consumers from potentially harmful residues of medicines in poultry.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment on the impact, on farming, of the 20-day standstill period on animals which have been purchased and to detail whether she has any plans to reduce this period in line with the Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 3313/00)

Ms Rodgers: The 20-day standstill period is an EC control measure governing the movement of animals and is aimed specifically at inhibiting the spread of disease, specifically foot-and-mouth disease. In that respect I consider it has been successful in that Northern Ireland remains free of further outbreaks of the disease which can only be good for the farming industry. The standstill period also provides additional welfare benefits by preventing the repeated movement of animals from mart to mart over a short timescale. However, in overall terms it provides greater benefits to a greater number within the farming industry.

The Republic of Ireland used to operate for cattle a 30-day standstill system prior to movement, coupled with no inward movements of susceptible animals onto the holding within seven days prior to movement. However, the ROI authorities removed the "seven day" rule on 18 June and their 30 day holding period now applies to sales through marts and for farm-to-farm movements but not to cattle going for export through assembly centres.

I am reviewing the situation here in Northern Ireland with a view to bringing forward proposals which are aimed at providing adequate protection against the threat of contagious diseases. I will be consulting on these proposals in due course.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give an update on the restrictions on cattle exports as a result of BSE.

(AQW 3315/00)

Ms Rodgers: The current position is that no live cattle may be exported from Northern Ireland, or other parts of the UK, to another Member State or third country.

I remain fully committed to a relaxation of the ban but a decision to submit a case to the European Commission will only be taken when the Commission and Member States are receptive. It is not appropriate, and could be counterproductive, to proceed with a case at this time as there is a real risk of rejection.

Mr Clyde asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of reported incidents of BSE in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2001 - 31 May 2001 and the number of similar cases reported in the Republic of Ireland for the same period.

(AQW 3324/00)

Ms Rodgers: There were 26 reported incidents of BSE in Northern Ireland between 1 January 2001 and 31 May 2001 and, at 14 June 2001, a published figure of 183 reported incidents in 2001 in the Republic of Ireland. Of the reported incidents, 6 in Northern Ireland have been confirmed as BSE cases and 56 have been confirmed in the ROI.

Mr Kane asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make a statement on the postponement of NVQ courses at Greenmount College during the foot-and-mouth restrictions.

(AQW 3346/00)

Ms Rodgers: Following the initial outbreak of FMD, Greenmount College closed from Monday 26 February 2001. Delivery of part-time courses, including the NVQ courses, ceased from that date.

Resumption of courses has been kept under continuous review and assessed in light of the risks involved. All full-time courses (excluding farm-based agriculture skills training and practical work) recommenced from 20 March 2001 and part-time courses, including NVQ courses, in ‘non-agriculture’ disciplines delivered within college campus recommenced from 9 April 2001.

Before resumption of the theory-only components of part-time agriculture NVQ courses, which are delivered at out-centres, could be fully implemented from 9 April 2001, the second FMD out-break occurred and part-time agriculture courses had to be suspended again. Delivery of the theory components of the NVQ courses has been gradually resuming since 15 June 2001.

All aspects of the FMD situation continue to be kept under review and the resumption of the skills training and the on-farm assessment components of the agriculture NVQ programme will be approved as soon as possible. This will enable trainees taking an NVQ as part of DHFETE-funded Jobskills programme to receive the full balance of their funded training.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her policy in respect of the introduction of early retirement schemes for farmers and when an announcement is likely to be made.

(AQW 3412/00)

Ms Rodgers: One of the central objectives of any early retirement scheme is to bring about structural change within the agricultural industry. This is a subject to which I attach considerable importance and it is essential that any investment of public money to bring about this change is focused on the right target.

One of the criticisms of such schemes as exist in other countries at the moment is that they do not provide good value for money. I have, therefore, asked my officials to carry out the necessary work to establish if, and how, a scheme could be developed which would provide a satisfactory return on the taxpayers’ investment. Early in the new year, my Department commissioned a desk study of early retirement and entrants schemes and I have now received the final report from the consultants. While it recommended a targeted early retirement scheme, the evidence presented was not conclusive. One of the difficulties with assessing schemes such as they is that there is a lack of empirical research and investigation in this area.

In the light of this, I have now commissioned a research study by the Department of Agricultural Food Economics at Queen’s University Belfast, in association with researchers at a University in the Republic of Ireland. As this is a full research study, I expect it to take at least nine months of work but, when it is finished, it will probably be the first really substantive piece of work on this topic.

Given that the process of obtaining EU Commission approval, and the build up of modulation and match funding, would not allow us to introduce a scheme much before the second half of 2002 or early 2003 anyway, it is sensible to seek robust evidence on value for money before committing ourselves.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the progress made in implementing Rural Proofing.

(AQW 3414/00)

Ms Rodgers: I remain wholly committed to the principle of rural proofing. The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease has, however, required considerable resources in my Department to be diverted from other duties to deal with the crisis. Progress to establish the machinery necessary to ensure that all developing policies are adequately rural proofed has therefore been slower than I would have wished. I am nevertheless confident that an inter-Departmental Group under my chairmanship will be established shortly.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make it her policy to establish a Ministerial-led group to proof all government policies in respect of their rural impact.

(AQW 3425/00)

Ms Rodgers: As the Executive Programme for Government makes clear, it is already my policy to establish a Ministerial-led group to proof all government policies in respect of their rural impact.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give his assessment on whether the budget will have an impact on performing arts industries; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3307/00)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): There were some tax concessions in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget statement of 7 March 2001 but it is too early to assess the impact on the arts sector. There were for instance, tax relief measures on employee training which, could include those working in the creative industries.

The Treasury also announced that individuals employed in the sector such as those working in publishing, theatre and film will be able to spread tax payments over a longer period in order to reflect the unpredictable nature of the industry. Otherwise there were few benefits to the performing arts, or indeed, to artists generally.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give his assessment on the contribution of creative industries to the cultural and economic performance of Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3310/00)

Mr McGimpsey: The creative industries are now recognised as being a key sector in the new knowledge based economies at a time when traditional sectors of industry are either in decline or becoming increasingly mobile and vulnerable. The creative industries build on indigenous talent and skills and are characterised by rapid expansion, high added value and positive social inclusion. It is, therefore, essential that we develop for Northern Ireland strategies and policies which will accelerate the growth of the sector in Northern Ireland and which will build on the talents and skills of our people.

We are currently working with Queen’s University to define and measure the creative industries sector in Northern Ireland and initial findings suggest that up to 20,000 people could be employed in industries that fall within the generally accepted sector definition. It is, however, important to recognise that the sector is wide-ranging and it will be necessary to develop strategies that will recognise and respond to the challenges and opportunities faced by sub-sectors ranging from crafts through to film production.

One of my Department’s key tasks has been the development, in co-operation with the DETI, DE and DHFETE, of a strategy to unlock the creativity of the people of Northern Ireland and to accelerate the growth of the creative industry sector in the Province. As a first step my Department launched a wide-ranging consultation exercise aimed at helping us identify the most effective strategies with which to develop and implement policy. The purpose and thrust of the consultation process was to be as inclusive as possible and I am delighted to be able to say that the response to the exercise was extremely positive and constructive. On 27 June 2001, I will launch, together with the Ministers of Education, Enterprise Trade and Investment, and Higher and Further Education and Training, ‘Unlocking Creativity – making it happen’, a new strategic document which takes full account of the views and suggestions of all those consulted and which also aims to translate our broad strategic aims and objectives into a plan for action. In the coming months, we will roll out a series of new initiatives aimed specifically at helping Northern Ireland realise its creative potential.

I am confident that Northern Ireland can and will benefit significantly from the growth of the creative industry sector, in terms of both economic and cultural development, and I shall be working in co-operation with DETI, DE, and DHFETE to ensure that we maximise the employment which the sector can offer.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure following the PricewaterhouseCoopers report , "Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland, to detail (a) the steps he has taken to address the sectarian issues contained in the report and (b) if he has any plans to re-structure the organisation of soccer.

(AQW 3394/00)

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 anticipate that these recommendations will address, among others, issues surrounding sectarianism and the structure and administration of the game. I expect to receive the panel’s report by the end of the summer and I intend to publish this for consultation, probably in September. The consultation exercise will contribute to the development of a strategy for soccer in Northern Ireland, which I hope to launch before the end of the year.

I also met with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Irish Football Association (IFA) to review the events surrounding the international match between Northern Ireland and Norway on 28 February. You may recall that I publicly expressed my deep disgust at the sectarian behaviour of a minority of spectators during the game. Since that meeting the IFA have put in place a range of new measures to help them combat the problem and, to date, these appear to have had a positive effect.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (a) his plans to develop our maritime and industrial heritage and (b) if the water based tourism programme has been finalised.

(AQW 3396/00)

(a) MAGNI’s corporate plan identifies the establishment of a maritime and industrial museum as one of its leading priorities for development. It is absolutely essential that we capitalise on the economic and educational potential of this country’s maritime and industrial heritage and invest in the development of cultural tourism. I am therefore fully behind MAGNI’s proposals and my officials are working with MAGNI and others to identify how best to establish a museum.

A major constraining factor is finance - the maritime museum will cost an estimated £30 million to develop. My Department does not have the resources to allow this project to proceed, and while we will have to be imaginative and creative in identifying sources of funding, I will inevitably have to ask the Assembly for additional resources. I hope that I can count on your support in this.

(b) The monitoring committee recently agreed details of the complements for all the Peace II measures and these have been formally submitted to the European Union for their comments. The internal mechanisms for the implementation of the measures under Peace II are presently being drawn up. With regard to the Water Based Tourism Measure it is planned to launch an Angling Development Programme in early autumn that will assist in the development of game, coarse and sea angling, improve fisheries habitat and offer assistance to those involved in angling tourism. Simultaneously and under the same measure, the Department intends launching a programme to grant aid the provision of facilities for the development of water-based recreational tourism.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 3146/00, to detail his plans to ensure that those individuals from a disadvantaged background in the west have equality of access to the Sports Institute given the travel distance involved in getting to and from the Jordanstown campus.

(AQW 3406/00)

Mr McGimpsey: It is anticipated that all athletes in receipt of Sports Council Lottery Revenue support through either ‘Talented Athlete’ or ‘Talented Athlete – Next Generation’ programmes will be eligible for a contribution towards travel costs for specialised approved training at the Sports Institute. Access to the Institute will be determined on the basis of sporting ability/achievement.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Education whether the NEELB Teaching Appointments Committee considered the minutes of the Carrick College Board of Governors meeting of 24 January 2001 as part of their decision making process; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3231/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): I have been informed by the North-Eastern Education and Library Board that its Teaching Appointments Committee received an extract from the minutes concerned before they conducted the interviews for the post of principal at Carrickfergus College. I have been assured by the Board that the procedures of its Teaching Appointments Scheme were followed in making this appointment.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Education to detail, pursuant to AQW 2987/00, what safeguards are in place to ensure that annual reviews of special educational needs statements are carried out.

(AQW 3337/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Under special education legislation statements of special educational needs must be reviewed annually. The Education and Library Boards have put arrangements in place to ensure that this happens. They normally inform schools, parents and educational psychologists in the first term of the date by which annual reviews should be carried out. Psychologists or Board Officers attend appropriate review meetings. Reminders are issued to those schools which have not returned their annual review reports by the due date. Reports are monitored for evidence of need for further action.

Mr McHugh asked the Minister of Education to ensure, with respect to the current consultation on a common formula for grant-aided schools, that schools with a relatively high proportion of pupils suffering from socio-economic disadvantage will incur no loss of funding under whatever common formula is agreed.

(AQO 1637/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Given the differences which exist in current LMS formulae in terms of the both the amount distributed and the means by which it is distributed, it would not be possible to safeguard the position of any school in the move to a common funding formula. Indeed to do so would run counter to the broad thrust of the formula and the key principles on which our proposals have been formulated.

However, insofar as schools with large numbers of pupils from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are concerned I am particularly anxious that the formula provides as much support as possible to these needy schools. I have therefore proposed an increase in the share of total funding allocated to TSN from 5% to 5.5%, which will provide a further £4 million to help schools provide additional educational support to pupils performing below the expected level while maintaining existing levels of support to schools with substantial numbers of socially disadvantaged pupils. This measure should ensure that schools with a high percentage of socially disadvantaged pupils have the funding they need to meet the needs of those pupils.

Schools will also benefit from transitional funding arrangements which will limit any reduction in per capita funding.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the exact criteria required to qualify for the £2000 threshold payment to teachers.

(AQO 1651/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Teachers who were on point 9 of the teachers’ payscale at 1 September 1999 based on their qualifications and experience are eligible to apply for threshold assessment from September 2000. They must then show on their application form how they meet the four professional standards of:

• Core values, Understanding of the Curriculum and Professional Knowledge;
• Teaching and Assessment of Learning;
• Contribution to raising Standards through Pupil Achievement; and
• Effective Professional Development.

Mr C Murphy asked the Minister of Education, in view of the findings of the Report on a Survey of Pupils with Asperger Syndrome in Primary and Secondary Schools in Northern Ireland 1999-2000, to detail his plans to ensure that additional resources are directed to meet the requirements of all children with special education needs including the requirements of teachers who work with them.

(AQO 1639/00)

Mr M McGuinness: I have noted the findings of the Inspectorate’s Asperger Survey Report and its very useful recommendations. Before taking further action, however, I would wish also to consider the report of the Task Group on Autism which was set up by my Department in the Autumn to advise on the range of provision for autistic children across the Education and Library Boards. The Group is due to report shortly and will make recommendations about exemplars of good practice, about training needs and about future provision to help promote consistency of approach to identification and service delivery across all ELBs.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the research he has undertaken to assess the impact of Targeting Social Need spending since 1993; and (b) the steps he is taking to ensure that New TSN funding is directed to where it is most urgently needed and most effectively deployed.

(AQO 1636/00)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department published a report on 14 June 2001, which for the years 1994/95 onwards outlines participation in education by children of pre-school age, explores the academic achievements of school leavers and considers outcomes for school leavers in terms of their first destination on leaving school.

Whilst the report does not attempt to isolate the effects of Targeting Social Need spending it does indicate the progress that has been made and the scale of what still has to be done.

As part of a research project funded by the Department on the Impact of Formula Funding and Local Management of Schools, schools were asked what proportion of their budget was spent tackling problems of social/educational disadvantage, and what specific action the school had taken to deal with problems relating to social deprivation.

In addition there has been research into a range of policy initiatives which impact on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes a value added analysis of pupils and schools performance under the Raising School Standards Initiative, an evaluation of the impact of the first two years of Reading Recovery, a longitudinal evaluation of Reading Recovery and evaluations of pilots of summer literacy and numeracy schemes in 1998 and 1999.

The steps that my Department are taking in relation to targeting social need are set out in the recently published New TSN Annual Report "Making it Work". Progress towards the actions and targets contained in the report are monitored quarterly and a progress report on key actions points is forwarded to the Executive Committee through the Office of First Minister/Deputy First Minister. The action plan covers all of my Department’s business areas and demonstrates that the education service already targets social need in a range of ways.

LMS formulae continue to be one of the most significant mechanisms for distributing TSN funding to school budgets. It is essential however that resources are directed where they are most needed. In April I published a consultation document in which I set out proposals for a Common LMS Formula for Grant Aided Schools and included in these were several relating to New TSN.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether any further assessment has been made on the effects of the foot-and-mouth outbreak on tourism.

(AQW 3312/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): No further information on the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak on tourism is available since my response to Assembly Written Question No: 3250/00 on 19 June 2001. A number of measures are, however, in place to assess the impact of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his response to the Director of the Northern Ireland Textiles Association concerning increasing electricity costs to the textile and clothing industry.

(AQW 3340/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I fully understand the concerns of the Northern Ireland Textiles and Apparel Association Ltd about the implications of recent electricity price increases for the textiles and clothing industry, and have written in some detail to the Association describing a number of ongoing measures aimed at bringing about reductions in these costs.

For the benefit of MLAs, I am arranging for copies of this correspondence to be placed in the Assembly Library.

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to take urgent action to address the plight of traders on or about the Crumlin Road, Belfast who have been adversely affected by the recent disturbances in North Belfast; and make a statement.

(AQW 3512/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I recognise the difficulties faced by traders and SMEs based in and around the Crumlin Road, particularly at this time.

LEDU has helped fund economic development officer posts at the North Belfast Partnership Board and there are a number of other economic development officers employed by other organisations working in the area. There are also 2 Local Enterprise Agencies, Brookfield and North City, operating in the North Belfast area. LEDU will be contact with these organisations reminding them of the need to maintain contact at grass root level with the traders and their organisations to help identify the issues facing the businesses at this sensitive time. If there is a need for business advice these organisations will be able to sign post the individual businesses to LEDU, ASPIRE and other appropriate services.

I am aware of difficulties in a number of interface areas in North Belfast and LEDU will be monitoring the situation closely. Should the situation deteriorate LEDU and other Departments have continuity plans where those businesses experiencing severe difficulties will be able to make contact with the appropriate Department.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of the Environment to explain, pursuant to AQW 2710/00, why the extension to "The Sly Fox", Moy, County Tyrone "did not make an undue impact on the scale or proportions of the existing property" given that the licensed allowable capacity of the premises rose from 115 persons to 350 persons.

(AQW 3316/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The increase in the floor area of the original building, approved under the planning permission which issued in March 1999, has allowed an increase in the licensed capacity of the premises. However, a large increase in the floor area and the capacity of a premises does not necessarily result in an unacceptable impact on the existing property, i.e. the original building.

The development takes the form of a two storey rear extension to an existing three storey property. When viewed from the front of the property at The Diamond / Killyman Street, the extension is largely hidden from view and does not have any significant visual impact on the original building. It is therefore judged as having no undue impact.

My Department’s Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch consented to the granting of Listed Building Consent for the extension to this listed building. Such consent would not have been given to a development which had an undue impact on the existing property.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to introduce precautionary planning criteria in respect of potential health hazards associated with the erection of telecommunication masts/antennae.

(AQW 3317/00)

Mr Foster: The health issues arising from telecommunications equipment are a matter for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Their advice is taken into account when planning policy is framed. Following recent consultation, that Department confirmed that, as regards individual masts, where the emissions from the mast are within the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection guidelines, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety would not raise any further questions in regard to health. This is on the basis that exposures to radio frequency radiation would be small fractions of those permitted by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection Guidelines.

However, you will be aware that my Department is in the process of preparing legislation to give effect to the Executive Committee’s recent decision that full planning permission should be introduced for all new masts. It is anticipated that this legislation will be introduced later this year.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of the Environment to give his assessment of planning guidance relating to public houses and night-clubs and to detail the steps he is taking to protect nearby residents from an unacceptable increase in noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour; and to make a statement.

(AQW 3318/00)

Mr Foster: Planning guidance for public houses is contained in my Department’s development control advice note 7 (DCAN 7), which is designed to provide advice on the planning criteria to be applied when an application for this form of development is being considered. This guidance has been used extensively by my Department in determining such applications since its introduction in 1983.

My Department is currently carrying out a review of its existing development control advice notes, and DCAN 7 will be included as part of this exercise. Preliminary work on revising DCAN 7 will commence towards the end of this financial year, and will involve a process of public consultation.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 2710/00, to indicate what account he took of the Principal Environmental Health Officer’s response to the Planning Office on 7 August 1998 in relation to the application for an extension to "The Sly Fox", Moy, County Tyrone.

(AQW 3319/00)

Mr Foster: Following receipt of the Principal Environmental Health Officer’s comments of 7 August 1998, officials advised the applicant’s agent on 11 September 1998 of the need to submit a noise report on the basis of the Principal Environmental Health Officer’s understanding that the extension was to be used for entertainment purposes.

Discussions subsequently took place between the Environmental Health Office and the applicant on this matter. The discussions concluded with the submission of a letter by the applicant’s agent to the Divisional Planning Office on 8 October 1998 which confirmed that there would be no change to the existing entertainment arrangements in the original bar. The area for live music in the original premises would continue to be used, and the new areas within the extended premises would be used for bar/restaurant purposes. This situation is confirmed on the approved drawings. In the circumstances, officials were satisfied that a noise report was not necessary.

The Member will be aware that Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council is the responsible authority for the control of any potential noise nuisance associated with entertainment within the premises.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail his plans to reduce the risk of river pollution.

(AQW 3347/00)

Mr Foster: The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of my Department pursues a policy of pollution prevention which aims to reduce the number of river pollution incidents.

The current target is to reduce the number of high and medium severity incidents by 20% over the period 1996 to 2003.

A number of approaches to this are being undertaken, including:

• education, for example through pollution prevention guidelines at appropriate seminars;
• industrial estate surveys to undertake risk assessments with the aim of reducing industrial pollution;
• surveys of oil depots;
• surveys of timber treatment premises;
• the promotion of sustainable urban drainage systems;
• river corridor surveys, targeting catchments where river quality is impaired or fails to comply with water quality standards;
• input to development planning proposals to protect river quality during the construction stage and post development;
• working in close co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to produce codes of good agricultural practice; and
• working closely with the Department of Regional Development’s Water Service to control intermittent sewage discharges through the application of Urban Pollution Manual (UPM) procedures.

Extra powers to prevent pollution will become available to the Department under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. These will include the power to serve enforcement notices on industry and the introduction of Regulations to control the storage of slurry, silage and agricultural fuel oil.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what action is being taken to limit the damage to bank side vegetation as a result of the recent pollution incident on the Inver River, Larne.

(AQW 3348/00)

Mr Foster: A fish kill in the Inver River was reported to the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of my Department on Sunday 27 May 2001. The incident was investigated by staff from EHS and the Fisheries Conservancy Board.

The source of the pollution was identified on Sunday 27 May and by that stage was no longer causing a polluting discharge to the river. The damage to the bank side vegetation had already occurred at the time of investigation. With the polluting discharge having stopped, no further damage is anticipated.

The Chief Environmental Health Officer of Larne Borough Council was informed about the incident and the Council initiated the appropriate warnings for members of the public to keep away from the river.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the damage caused to fish and invertebrate life as a result of the recent pollution incident on the Inver River, Larne.

(AQW 3349/00)

Mr Foster: A fish kill on the Inver River was reported to Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of my Department on Sunday 27 May 2001. The incident was investigated by staff from EHS and the Fisheries Conservancy Board.

The dead fish were counted, and assessed by age, on Sunday 27 May. A preliminary count of fish indicated that approximately 1500 brown trout and sea trout were killed ranging in age from last years fry up to fish of 5 years old. The results of this survey will be used to establish the numbers of fish required to restock the river. Restocking also has to take into account expected survival rates of hatchery-reared fish.

A biological survey was also undertaken on behalf of EHS to assess the impact on the invertebrate life within the river. There was a clear impact at the point of entry to the tributary via which the pollution entered the river, but the impact on the Inver River itself appears to be slight. The full results of the survey are currently being collated.

The source of the pollution was traced and statutory samples were lifted with a view to prosecution. A file is being prepared for submission to the Department of Public Prosecutions Office. It is therefore inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage on the specific details of this particular investigation.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment to make it his policy to introduce special driving test rules for people with reading difficulties.

(AQW 3366/00)

Mr Foster: For the practical driving test, a candidate must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres in good daylight. If a candidate needs glasses or contact lenses to do this, they must be worn throughout the test and at all times whilst driving. I have no plans to change this requirement.

As regards the driving theory test, special facilities are available to ensure that candidates with reading difficulties are not disadvantaged. The theory test is now delivered via a touchscreen computer system. People with dyslexia or with literacy or learning disabilities are allowed extra time to complete the test, if they require it. An audio voice-over is also available to assist comprehension of on-screen material.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail what meetings have taken place with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the proposed aggregate levy.

(AQW 3304/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): I would refer to the answer on this subject that I gave on 7 June 2001.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to make a statement on the outcome of the tendering procedure for intermediary funding bodies under the Peace II Operational Programme.

(AQW 3339/00)

Mr Durkan: The outcome of the tendering procedure for Intermediary Funding Bodies under PEACE II was announced on Friday 8 June 2001 by the Special EU Programmes Body, which is responsible for the overall management of the Operational Programme. Contract negotiations will now begin between the recommended organisations/consortia and the Programmes Body, in consultation with the relevant lead Government Departments. Final decisions on appointments will depend upon the outcome of these detailed contract negotiations.

The areas of activity of PEACE II which were put out to tender, the amounts of funding allocated and the recommended organisations / consortia are set out below:-

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