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Friday 22 February 2002
Consultancy Costs Mr Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how much money has been spent on external consultants and consultancy reports in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 1952/01) Sir Reg Empey: The amount spent on external consultancy including resulting reports by my Department in each of the last 3 years is as follows:
Non-Departmental Public Bodies Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to list all non-departmental public bodies under his control, and to advise if they follow guidance on reporting fraud to the Comptroller and Auditor General, as required under Government accounting procedures. (AQW 1991/01) Sir Reg Empey: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has four non-departmental public bodies; the Local Enterprise Development Unit, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. All the Department’s non-departmental public bodies are currently following guidance on reporting fraud to the Comptroller and Auditor General in line with Government accounting procedures. Energy Efficiency Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to make a statement on his plans for improving energy efficiency. (AQW 1992/01) Sir Reg Empey: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has responsibility for promoting energy efficiency in the industrial and commercial sectors. The Industrial Research and Technology Unit currently operates an energy efficiency programme, and this role will transfer to Invest Northern Ireland on 1 April 2002. The Government has set up a new company, The Carbon Trust Ltd, to lead on non-domestic energy efficiency across the UK. The Carbon Trust’s operations will be based around an energy efficiency best practice programme and an interest free loan scheme. These services will help businesses, including those in Northern Ireland, to: identify their potential to save energy; follow good practice for their sector; and gain financial support to take action. In addition a low carbon innovation programme will encourage and support research and development into technologies that will help to build and sustain a low carbon economy. Under the direction and guidance of Invest NI staff the Carbon Trust’s programme in Northern Ireland will pay particular attention to the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). My Department also continues to promote the production of energy from renewable sources and has recently conducted a consultation exercise with a view to setting a revised target for the proportion of electricity to be produced from such sources by 2010. I am about to embark on a consultation process leading to a new energy strategy for Northern Ireland. In the course of this, I will be emphasising again that our consumption of energy must be the minimum consistent with the needs of a modern economy and society. Jobs Lost/Created: Larne, Carrickfergus Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) total jobs lost; and (b) total jobs created in (i) Larne; (ii) Carrickfergus; and (iii) Newtownabbey Borough Council areas over the last 2 years.[R] (AQW 2060/01) Sir Reg Empey: It is not possible to provide information on redundancies or employee jobs for borough council areas. However, over the last two years, there were 227, 469 and 928 redundancies confirmed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey Jobcentre Areas respectively. Information on the number of jobs created is not available. However, figures from the NI Census of Employment can be used to estimate the net change in employee jobs between censuses. Latest figures show that between the 1997 and 1999 censuses the number of employee jobs in the Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey District Council Areas increased by 14, 227 and 2906 respectively. Long-Term Unemployed Mr Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people classified as long-term unemployed in each electoral ward. (AQW 2071/01) Sir Reg Empey: Unemployment statistics at ward level are only available from the claimant count. The information has been placed in the Assembly Library. Strategic Action Plan for the Future of the Textiles and Apparel Industry Mr Dalton asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he has any plans to launch an investigation into the problems associated with the local textile industry. (AQW 2085/01) Sir Reg Empey: A major strategic review culminating in the production of a strategic action plan for the future of the textiles and apparel industry involving internationally recognised consultants Kurt Salmon Associates, sector experts and senior company managers was completed during the latter half of year 2000. Its recommendations were presented to the industry in January 2001when it received widespread support. The recommendations of the plan are as relevant today as they were this time last year. IDB: Baileys Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what discussions took place between the Industrial Development Board and Baileys on the sourcing of local milk products for manufacture in the proposed new factory for North Belfast. (AQW 2112/01) Sir Reg Empey: It would be inappropriate for me to comment on confidential and on going discussions between IDB and the company. However I can say that while ultimately the sourcing of raw materials is a commercial decision for the company IDB will certainly be encouraging the company to source as much as possible of it’s raw material requirement including milk products from Northern Ireland suppliers. Disposal of Fridges and Freezers Mr Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment what financial assistance is he providing or intends to provide to local district councils for the safe disposal of fridges and freezers. (AQW 1857/01) The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt): I would refer the Member to the written responses to Assembly Questions 1277/01 (answered on 18 January 2002); 1744/01 (answered on 15 February 2002) and 1769/01 (answered on 15 February 2002) which set out the current position on financial assistance to district councils for disposal of fridges and freezers. Special Studies Unit of the Planning Service: Employees Mr Wells asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (a) the number of staff currently employed in the Special Studies Unit of the Planning Service; and (b) the number of cases currently being dealt with by this unit. (AQW 1905/01) Mr Nesbitt: There are 11 permanent professional planning officers, two casual professional planning officers and one administrative officer employed in this unit. It is currently dealing with approximately 230 planning applications and 130 enforcement cases. Publication of the 2001 Census The Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what is the proposed timetable for the publication of the 2001 census. (AQW 1798/01) The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Dr Farren): The first census-based outputs – detailed population counts by age and sex – will inform the 2001 mid-year estimates of population. It is planned that these will be released in late summer 2002 in parallel with results for England, Wales and Scotland. These will be followed in late 2002 by a Key Statistics report which will provide frequency counts on each of the census questions. In early 2003, more detailed census outputs will be released which will provide cross tabulations of all the census results. Results will be provided for a range of geographic area levels such as district council, ward and sub ward level. Census results will be made available in a range of formats including a series of printed reports, electronic supplements on CD and via the Internet. Rates: Orange Halls Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the criteria used to determine which properties/buildings qualify for zero rating, and if he will make it his policy to de-rate Orange Halls. (AQW 1812/01) Dr Farren: Both the range of properties that are eligible for relief and exemption and the criteria for determining them are wide-ranging and usually concerned with establishing dedication to a particular purpose such as agricultural, industrial or charitable. The Review of Rating Policy will examine these reliefs and exemptions including the legislation that entitles many Orange Halls to partial exemption. It would not be appropriate at present to introduce changes since the review is underway. Vacant Properties Not Paying Rates: Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number and percentage of properties in Carrickfergus town centre which are vacant and not paying rates in the (a) commercial and retail sector and (b) in the residential sector. (AQW 1859/01) Dr Farren: The Rate Collection Agency is responsible for the collection of rates in Northern Ireland. The Agency records vacant properties by ward within district council areas. The town centre of Carrickfergus falls largely into the Killycrot Ward and the Agency’s records at 8 February 2002 show that:
The Agency regularly inspects vacant properties to ensure that property that becomes occupied is identified and that a rate bill is issued. The most recent round of vacancy inspections for Carrickfergus Borough Council area took place in January 2002. Rates Reduction Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of (a) shops and (b) post offices that have qualified in each constituency for a rates reduction of between 50% and 100%. (AQW 1860/01) Dr Farren: No non-charity shops or post offices currently qualify for rate reductions. There is legislation in place to enable a scheme to provide rate relief to such premises in small rural settlements. Progress on implementing this scheme is subject to the outcome of Equality Impact and New Targeting Social Need assessments. NICS Jobs Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of Civil Service jobs located within the (a) Derry City Council area (b) Strabane District Council area and (c) Omagh District Council area; and to make a statement. (AQW 1861/01) Dr Farren: The information on the number of NICS jobs in the 11 Departments in these areas at January 2001 is as follows:
The current Strategic Review of Civil Service Office Accommodation includes an examination of the scope for decentralisation of Civil Service jobs. The factors which will be taken into account in deciding the destination of any relocated jobs which might flow from the Review include the total number of Civil Service jobs in an area in relation to the total workforce; New TSN indicators including unemployment levels; the regional development strategy; the effects on equality of opportunity and, not least, service delivery, business efficiency and cost. NICS Jobs Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of Civil Service jobs located within the (a) Derry City Council area (b) Strabane District Council area and (c) Omagh District Council area as a percentage of Civil Service jobs throughout Northern Ireland. (AQW 1862/01) Dr Farren: The information on the number of NICS jobs in the 11 Departments in these areas as at January 2001, expressed as a percentage of the Northern Ireland total for those Departments, is as follows:
2001 Census Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to make a statement on the progress of the 2001 census, and the commencement date for publication of census data. (AQW 1891/01) Dr Farren: Much of the effort of the census operation is being directed towards processing the returned census forms. The Northern Ireland census is being scanned, captured and coded using highly automated state of the art computer technology. Once the initial processing is complete the emphasis will switch to data validation and a series of systematic checks on the quality of the data. The first census based outputs – detailed population counts by age and sex – will inform the 2001 mid year estimates of population. It is planned that these will be released in late summer 2002 in parallel with results for England, Wales and Scotland. These will be followed in late 2002 by a Key Statistics report which will provide frequency counts on each of the census questions. In early 2003 more detailed census outputs will be released which will provide crosstabulations of all the census results. Results will be provided for a range of geographic area levels such as district council, ward and at sub ward level. Census results will be made available in a range of formats including a series of printed reports, electronic supplements on CD and via the Internet. Monitoring Rounds Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the total bids for each Department in the June, September and December monitoring rounds in the current financial year. (AQW 1897/01) Dr Farren: The information requested is set out in the attached tables. The figurework is based on pressures declared within Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) for each Department during the June, September and December monitoring rounds. Total Bids by Department for 2001-02 Monitoring Rounds
Note: Due to roundings, the figures may not add to the totals shown. Consultancy Costs Mr Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how much money has been spent on external consultants and consultancy reports in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 1939/01) Dr Farren: The amounts spent on external consultants and consultancy reports in each of the last 3 years are as follows:
Senior Civil Service Review Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 1580/01, when the report by the independent team reviewing appointments and promotions will be completed. (AQW 1949/01) Dr Farren: I understand that it is the intention of Lord Herman Ouseley, Chairman of the independent team undertaking the review of appointment and promotion procedures to the Senior Civil Service, to present his report to me at the end of February. I will then consider the report and bring it to the Executive for final decisions. External Link Disclaimer: The Northern Ireland Assembly does not exercise any editorial control over the websites listed above and therefore cannot be held responsible for the information, products or services contained therein. |
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