(AQW 1941/01)

Reply: The amount of money spent by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on external consultants and consultancy reports in each of the last three years is as follows:

The figure for 1999/2000 represents the cost amount spent after 2 December 1999 i.e. the period since devolution.

The figure for 2001/2002 records expenditure up to 21 February 2002.

(AQW 2046/01)

Reply: The costs of the Study on Obstacles to Cross Border Mobility, carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the North South Ministerial Council, were borne by the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat, the Department of Foreign Affairs and our department. The apportioned costs falling to the devolved administration amount to £41,000. This sum covers the initial project definition document, progress and final reports and professional fees.

(AQW 2052/01)

Reply: Our department’s policy is to use townland names when replying to correspondents who include this information in their addresses.

(AQW 2162/01)

Reply: Our department does not hold this information.

(AQW 1951/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): As I said in my Answer to the Member on 7 January, the elections to which he refers are entirely a matter for NIAPA. I am content that my relationship with the organisation is satisfactory.

(AQW 1964/01)

Ms Rodgers: The three Northern Ireland agri- environment schemes are the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme, Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) and Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).

Some 4,700 applicants have joined the ESA Scheme in the last 12 years. Over 400 applicants have joined the CMS since it opened in 1999, and a further 700 are expected to join this within the next few months. There are also currently 72 participants in the OFS.

Entry into these schemes, which are designed to reward participant farmers for responsible management of the countryside, is voluntary. Under the terms of each scheme, participants receive annual payments for the management of their holding in accordance with Scheme prescriptions. These payments are calculated on the basis of the additional costs and income foregone in complying with the appropriate Scheme requirements and prescriptions.

There are no specific grants available to encourage farmers to join these schemes. However my Department provides a range of promotional, information and education programmes for potential and actual scheme participants.

The ESA and CMS schemes are promoted through a range of measures, including:

Department Publications - promotional literature on the ESA and CMS is available from DARD Headquarters and all local Agricultural Offices;

Press articles/Television/Radio interviews - press articles, television and radio interviews were used to promote the ESA and CMS schemes when introduced;

Public meetings - when the ESA schemes were first launched in 1988, a series of farmers’ meetings were held to provide information on the newly introduced scheme;

Information/education programmes for existing agri-environment scheme participants - these include information sheets for each habitat, farm demonstrations/ walks, Newsletters providing regular update on changes/ progress of scheme, training programmes on, for example, hedge restoration, stonewalling and management of ancient monuments; and

Staff from DARD’s Countryside Management Division can be contacted by farmers for advice at the local agricultural offices and during on-farm visits.

The Organic Farming Scheme has been promoted through a range of measures, including: -

Business Management Programme, which includes the Northern Ireland Organic Conversion and Information Service. Farmers have telephone access to the organic development advisers based at Greenmount College and can seek advice on organic production and technical and business assistance associated with conversion planning.

Three Organic Development Groups have been formed and are facilitated by DARD organic development advisers: the Organic Dairy Group, Organic Vegetable Group, and Organic Beef and Sheep Group. Members meet regularly to discuss common interests. An organic bulletin is produced and circulated quarterly to members and others in the agri-food industry with an interest in organic production.

Promotional activities, literature and other publications: this has included displays at Balmoral Show, the Winter Fair and the Farmer’s Market in Belfast. DARD staff produce a series of press articles throughout the year, and a series of 17 advisory leaflets on organic production and a booklet on the Organic Farming Scheme are available from the DARD organic development team.

Education and training, which includes a popular short course ‘Introduction to Organic Production’. On-going training events are available to organic producers and others interested in conversion, for example, homeopathy, parasite control in organic livestock, management of clover swards, etc.

(AQW 1973/01)

Ms Rodgers: At the outset of FMD, in February 2001 the Department adopted the policy with respect to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland similar to that which the EU requested between Great Britain and any other Member State in that all imports of meat were subject to additional FMD controls in line with the relevant EC Decisions.

However, as a result of the OIE decision on 21 January 2002 to recognise UK FMD freedom and the improving situation, an amendment has been made to Commission Decision 2001/740/EC which will relax trade control measures between Great Britain and the rest of the European Union.

In conjunction with my officials, I am currently reviewing the full range of FMD controls, which were put in place in Northern Ireland. I will announce any decision on these matters as soon as the deliberations and consultations with the relevant stakeholders are completed.

(AQW 1979/01)

Ms Rodgers: It is planned to publish a draft Bill to ban fur farming in Northern Ireland in March.

(AQW 1980/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has responsibility for the following NDPBs:

(i) Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland

(ii) Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority

(iii) Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland

(iv) Pig Production Development Committee

(v) Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland

(vi) Drainage Council for Northern Ireland

Guidance on reporting fraud to the Comptroller and Auditor General has been issued to the NDPBs listed at (i) to (iii) above. These NDPBs follow that guidance. The Pig Production Development Committee (iv above) is in a different position in that it does not receive any public funds and is wholly funded by the pig industry. It is also supplied with the guidance. However, in accordance with the Pig Production Development Act (NI) 1964, the Pig Production Development Fund is audited by a private sector company auditor.

The Department does not consider that compliance with the guidance is applicable for the remaining two NDPBs as they do not administer funds.

(AQW 1981/01)

Ms Rodgers: Please see below a summary of Sheep Exports from Northern Ireland between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2001.

(AQW 2002/01)

Ms Rodgers: Over the years a wide range of conservation measures have been introduced with a view to assisting the conservation of fish stocks. These range from local measures to assist the conservation of scallops to the wide ranging Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98, as amended for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms. Whilst it is not possible to quantify the overall effect these measures have had it is worth noting that in respect of the specific measures that have been taken to assist the recovery of cod stocks in the Irish Sea, based on scientific advice it was possible to have the Total Allowable Catch for this stock increased from 2100 tonnes in 2001 to 3200 tonnes in 2002.

(AQW 2022/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2001 to 2006 is co-funded by the EU.

The value of the Programme over the period from 2001 to 2006 will be in the order of £80 million, and I anticipate that this support will lever additional private and public funds bringing a total investment of around £100 million.

The Programme will focus on disadvantage and, in particular, will encourage input and uptake by rural women, young people, farm families and the long term unemployed.

The key elements of the Programme are:

• Capacity Building (strengthening rural communities);

• Local Regeneration Projects and Programmes;

• Sectoral and Area Based Development Projects and Programmes;

• Micro-business development; and

• Natural Resource Rural Tourism

In addition to the support provided under the Rural Development Programme, some £200 million of EU- funded direct payments are made to farmers throughout Northern Ireland each year. These payments also provide significant support to many people living in rural areas.

(AQW 2095/01)

Ms Rodgers: The amount spent on Ministerial visits outside Northern Ireland since 2 December 1999 is as follows:

(AQW 2121/01)

Ms Rodgers: The practice within my Department is to use the town land address where this information has been used by the correspondent. Any change to an address would be the addition of a postcode where omitted.

(AQW 2146/01)

Ms Rodgers: Following the report of persons lost at sea HM Coastguard co-ordinates a search and rescue operation. The Coastguard in the area concerned may utilise vessels, including the Royal Navy, and other air/sea resources in the search to save life. The search and rescue operation will be called off, and air/sea resources stood down, when it has been determined that all life would be extinct.

Thereafter the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions takes responsibility for the investigation of serious incidents, including the loss of life, for UK flagged vessels. The MAIB does not have the remit to recover bodies nor does it have the resources to find or recover vessels.

However it is possible for the Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions to obtain Royal Navy resources to assist in the search for a missing vessel. This was done in the case of the missing Tullaghmurray Lass, as a result of my intervention with the DLTR Minister and following a plea for help from the Greene family from Kilkeel, to continue the search for 3 family members on board the Tullaghmurray Lass.

(AQW 2147/01)

Ms Rodgers: My Department does not have responsibility for the deployment of underwater equipment to search for those lost at sea.

HM Coastguard, on receipt of a report of person(s) lost at sea, will initiate and co-ordinate a search and rescue operation. As was the case in the recent search for the Tullaghmurray Lass and its crew of 3 members of the Greene family from Kilkeel, I authorised the participation of the Department’s Fishery Protection Vessel, the Ken Vickers, in that operation. The Ken Vickers has facilities to search with sonar and under such circumstances I was more than happy for them to be used in the search. In the unfortunate event of a future incident involving fishermen missing at sea, I would readily offer the facilities at my disposal to help in the search once I was assured by my officials that conditions did not present an unacceptable risk to the safety of personnel involved.

The responsibility for search at sea lies with the Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions and is a reserved matter. In the case of the Tullaghmurray Lass, I exercised my role as Northern Ireland Fisheries Minister to intercede, on behalf of the Greene family, with DLTR at Ministerial level to seek the deployment of all available resources to continue the search for those family members lost at sea.

(AQW 2171/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity (BSP) includes a measure providing for the payment of non-capital support to those engaged in the marketing of produce of agriculture or the products derived from such produce.

The aim is to encourage greater integration and collaboration between producers, processors and others in the food chain to produce and market quality products, to improve competitiveness through better marketing and to increase exports of quality products.

The scheme, which is due to open for applications during March 2002, is open to a wide range of those involved in the agri-food industry including individual producers or others wishing to set up a procurement group, groups of collaborating producers, food processors and industry bodies. Grants will cover the cost of projects and will be based on 50% of eligible expenditure subject to a maximum of £150,000.

As you may recall, £6.1 million has been allocated from Executive Programme Funds for a targeted Farm Waste Management Scheme. The proposed Scheme is aimed at minimising farm source pollution, which is contributing to water quality problems. It will give capital assistance towards repair projects to slurry tanks which are considered as being able to deliver a beneficial reduction in the risk of effluent escaping into watercourses.

My Department is currently engaged with the Department of Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service in establishing those rivers, tributaries or headwater catchments that are most in need of remedial action, and where pollution from agricultural sources is considered to be the greatest contributory factor.

It is anticipated that some 1,500 farmers will benefit initially from this Scheme. It is hoped, subject to the Scheme receiving favourable uptake and achieving its objectives, that it could be extended to further catchments in subsequent years as funding provision permits.

However, before the Scheme can be formally announced, my Department must obtain State Aids approval from the EU Commission, and whilst this work is at an advanced stage, I am not yet in a position to give a definitive date for the opening of the Scheme.

I will, of course, be advising the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in due course of plans to prepare the necessary legislation to enable the scheme to open.

(AQW 1982/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The NDPBs for which my Department has responsibility are as follows:

• Armagh Observatory

• Armagh Planetarium

• Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI)

• Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB)

• Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB)

• Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland (MAGNI)

• North-Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB)

• Northern Ireland Events Company

• Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC)

• South-Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB)

• Southern Education and Library Board (SELB)

• Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI)

• Western Education and Library Board (WELB)

All of these NDPBs have been advised to implement the guidance on reporting fraud to the C&AG as required under Government Accounting Procedures:

• Chapter 37 of Government Accounting Northern Ireland (GANI).

• DAO (DFP) 5/96 Notification of Frauds.

• Management of Risk - A Strategic Overview - HM Treasury - January 2001.

(AQW 2039/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has overall responsibility for the promotion and development of sport in Northern Ireland. The Sports Council has recently been working closely with the Governing Bodies of Motorsport, namely the Motorcycle Racing Association, the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland and the Association of Northern Car Clubs, on a Strategic Plan for 2 and 4 wheeled motorsports.

It is anticipated that this Strategic Plan, which will shortly be subjected to public consultation, will map out the Governing Bodies’ vision for the sport’s future, and include facility provision for the promotion, development and future sustainability of each sport. It is anticipated that this planning process will be completed by April. This Strategic Plan will provide the backdrop against which the Sports Council will further consider the future of motorsport facility provision in the province.

(AQW 2053/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Golden Jubilee Schools Poetry Competition was launched in October 2001 at Buckingham Palace by the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion. I attended the launch with a representative group of teachers from across Northern Ireland. Local press releases were issued from my office, subsequent to this visit.

Buckingham Palace has issued the application forms and posters directly to the schools, including those in Northern Ireland, and entries are to be returned to the Palace. My Department’s Golden Jubilee Unit has acted as a point of contact for Northern Ireland schools. As such, a reminder of the closing date of 31 March for the competition has been forwarded to the Department of Education for circulation to all schools.

My Department has also been active in circulating information about the competition to Lord Lieutenants, the Local Government Golden Jubilee Forum and other organisations which they have briefed about the Jubilee. It is one of a number of national activities which is being organised for the Golden Jubilee, and the Department has regularly updated these groups on arrangements for celebrating the Golden Jubilee.

(AQW 2096/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The details which include all expenses incurred by officials travelling with me (Permanent Secretary, Private Secretary, Press Officer and Departmental officials) are as follows:

(AQW 2111/01)

Mr McGimpsey: There are currently 389 non-industrial and industrial staff employed by the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure. There are no current plans to decentralise between January and December 2002.

A Strategic Review of Civil Service Office Accommodation, which includes an examination of the scope for decentralisation of Civil Service jobs, is currently ongoing. Pending the outcome of the review, opportunities to relocate Civil Service jobs will continue to be examined on a case by case basis, as particular needs and issues arise. Where there are considered to be pressing accommodation needs or where short-term decisions are required, business cases are prepared taking full account of the current relocation policy.

(AQW 2148/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure released notification of two rounds of non lottery funding for the Golden Jubilee celebrations in November last. This information was circulated to community groups, schools, churches and network organisations offering a small grant of £500 to £5000 to groups organising events to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

It was stated in the Assembly on 19 February, that 258 applications for the second round of non lottery funding have been received and are being processed. The amount of money which has been applied for is nearly 6 times the amount of money which is available in the budget. Therefore, until the assessment exercise is complete, I will not be in a position to judge whether another round of funding would be appropriate.

The early closing date ensures that events which are planned for June have been adequately organised. However, the Lottery scheme Awards for All will accept applications for Golden Jubilee projects, provided they fit the existing criteria. This is an ongoing grants scheme. Some Councils will also make funds available for groups wishing to host a Golden Jubilee event.

The important feature of this occasion, as I stated in the Assembly, is that it is not about money. People want to celebrate, whether they get a grant or not and they will do so. The Jubilee is about small events, people coming together and celebrating and a sense of community. The grants scheme in itself will not be an indicator of how many events take place. Ultimately there will be far more events than awards, because that type of enthusiasm is in the province.

(AQW 2149/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure secured a budget of £200k for Golden Jubilee celebrations in the year 2001/02. This budget funds only grants and administrative costs.

In the first round of funding which closed at the end of November, 11 applications were received, and the Golden Jubilee Advisory Panel have agreed to support 10 of these applications, which meet the criteria laid down for assessment. Approximately £24k has been allocated in Round 1.

A further 258 applications were received for the second round which closed on 1 February and these totalled nearly £800,000. These applications are now being assessed and until they are completed, and the Golden Jubilee Advisory Group has had an opportunity to consider them, it is not possible to say what the total allocation will be for the second round.

However, as I said in my statement to the Assembly on 19 February, I am prepared to seek additional funding to support the applications which the Department has received.

(AQW 1903/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): As the information requested is extensive, I will arrange to have it placed in the Assembly Library. I enclose a copy for your personal use.

In line with the Department’s policy on release of statistical information, numbers smaller than five have been suppressed in order to avoid potential disclosure of personal information.

Please note also that comparisons between individual schools based solely on these figures are likely to be unreliable, since they would not take account of pupils opting out of the tests, or of background factors such as entitlement to free school meals.

(AQW 1954/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Department of Education’s expenditure on external consultants and consultancy reports in each of the last 3 years is:

(AQW 1987/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Non-Departmental Public Bodies under my control are:

• The five Education and Library Boards

• The Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

• The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

• The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

• The Youth Council for Northern Ireland

All these Public Bodies follow the guidance on reporting fraud as required under Government Accounting procedures.

(AQW 1988/01)

Mr M McGuinness: While the final figures are not yet available my Department expects to receive approximately 13,480 successful applications for Threshold payments of which it will be responsible for processing approximately 10,885. By the end of February 2002, it expects to have processed 9,800 (90%) of these.

Applications from full-time, part-time and temporary (or supply) teachers, are being processed together and the Department is making every effort to process the remaining applications by 31 March 2002.

(AQW 1999/01)

Mr M McGuinness: In 1998/99 95% of Year 12 pupils in Grammar Schools and 33% of Year 12 pupils in Secondary Schools achieved 5+ GCSEs Grades A* - C/GNVQ Intermediate Part 1 Passes.

The percentage of the relevant age group achieving equivalent examination results in 1966/67 is unavailable. In 1966/67, 3% of Secondary School leavers and 75% of Grammar School leavers had achieved 5 or more GCE Ordinary Level Passes, or higher qualifications.

(AQW 2005/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The enrolments are as follows:

(AQW 2006/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is as follows:

(AQW 2032/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of young people leaving Parkview Special School over the next five years is as follows:

(AQW 2054/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The cost of producing the video for parents of children with autism is expected to be less than £20,000; the CD-ROM for teachers will cost over £20,000, (subject to competitive tender). Development and administration costs will be around £45,000.

My Department will meet the entire cost of the autism project.

In a reciprocal arrangement, the costs of the dyslexia video and CD-ROM will be met by the Department of Education and Science in the South of Ireland.

(AQW 2078/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I shall be considering the school for a place in this year’s capital programme in the light of the resources available.

(AQW 2079/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Membership of the Inter Board Numeracy Strategy Steering Group is as follows:

Ready, Set, Go-Maths, a practical handbook for teachers, a CD Rom and game sets have been produced. The cost of the research and the materials was some £137,000. The 10 participating schools are as follows:

(AQW 2080/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Membership of the Inter Board Numeracy Strategy Steering Group is as follows:

Ready, Set, Go-Maths, a practical handbook for teachers, a CD Rom and game sets have been produced. The cost of the research and the materials was some £137,000. The 10 participating schools are as follows: