(AQW 2774/01)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): I am pleased to advise that the Comber By-Pass scheme is making good progress. The objection to the vesting order has been withdrawn, thus avoiding a public inquiry and the associated delay. This means that all statutory procedures are now complete.

Further ground testing has been undertaken and the design and tender documents are being adjusted in accordance with the findings.

My Department’s Roads Service has commenced the tender process and a list of tenderers has been compiled. The exact dates for each stage of the tender programme have yet to be finalised, but I will be making an announcement in due course.

(AQW 2987/01)

Mr P Robinson: I can advise the Member that the construction of Stage II of the Strabane By-pass from Melmount Road to Bradley Way is progressing as programmed.

However, as might be expected with a major scheme of this nature in an urban area, my Department’s Roads Service has received and responded to a number of representations from householders adjacent to the new route. These cover a variety of matters ranging from the security of their boundaries to road safety issues.

If the Member is aware of a particular difficulty in relation to the scheme and provides me with the relevant details, I will be happy to have it investigated.

(AQW 2989/01)

Mr P Robinson: The existing wastewater treatment works at Clady was constructed in the late 1960s. Due to population increases in the area, the Works is now significantly undersized and is unable to treat the current volume of wastewater from the catchment effectively.

Although the effluent discharge from the Works is presently failing to meet the regulatory consent standards set by the Department of Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service, there is no evidence of pollution being caused to the River Finn.

Water Service proposes to construct a new wastewater treatment works on a new site on the Urney Road, to the south of the village. The new Works will be designed to cater for the estimated growth in population in Clady up until the year 2025. The project will also include the provision of new sewers and the upgrading of the existing wastewater pumping station. Work is scheduled to commence in the 2004/2005 financial year. It is expected to take one year to complete at an estimated cost of around £400,000. The commencement date is subject to the availability of funding, planning approval, and land acquisition.

In the interim, Water Service is considering options to effect minor improvements to the operation of the existing Works, in order to improve the quality of the effluent.

(AQW 2975/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The information that you requested is as follows:

(AQW 2988/01)

Mr Dodds: I am not aware of any factors that would militate against new housing development in Clady. There is still a considerable amount of development land available for housing use.

As far as social housing is concerned, the number of people in housing stress is relatively low. North and West Housing Association proposes to start work in the current financial year on the provision of 5 new houses on a portion of land that is owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and which it is in the process of transferring to the Association.

These houses will be sufficient to satisfy immediate housing need in the village.

(AQW 2990/01)

Mr Dodds: Just over 75,000 Pensioners receive the Minimum Income Guarantee. The Department does not hold figures for the number of eligible pensioners who have not applied for the Minimum Income Guarantee but continues to actively encourage uptake of the Minimum Income Guarantee to ensure that all pensioners claim and receive all the help to which they are entitled.

(AQW 3006/01)

Mr Dodds: There are currently 3 cases under investigation about inappropriate e mails involving 3 different people. The e mails were all sent during working time over the Housing Executive’s network and breached the terms of its Code of Practice, which specifically prohibits staff from sending, forwarding or storing e mails containing inappropriate material. In such cases, which are internal matters for the Housing Executive, I am advised that it treats a breach of its Code of Practice as a serious matter and deals with it through its Internal Disciplinary Procedures.

(AQW 3007/01)

Mr Dodds: The Department for Social Development is presently monitoring developments in England and Wales and elsewhere with a view to considering whether changes to the existing Northern Ireland charity legislation would be desirable. Any proposed changes will, of course, be the subject of public consultation as well as consultation with interested bodies.

(AQW 3029/01)

Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive treats damage to property or personal belongings as a public liability claim and seeks to complete the claim process as soon as possible. No time-scales have been set, given the constraints imposed by the diversity and complexity of claims.

Factors affecting time lapse include:

• Accuracy and completeness of information provided by the claimant.

• The need for further research into all claims to establish any negligence.

• The involvement of 3rd parties.

While time-scales vary, all claimants are notified within seven days of receipt, that their claim has been received.

Where claims are legally contested, the time taken to settle the claim is dependent upon the Courts.

(AQW 3030/01)

Mr Dodds: I can confirm that the Department for Social Development’s estate is used exclusively for departmental or related ancillary purposes.

(AQW 3048/01)

Mr Dodds: There is currently no target for people claiming Incapacity Benefit returning to work.

(AQW 3067/01)

Mr Dodds: Responsibility for new social house building has progressively been transferred to Registered Housing Associations (RHAs). The information contained in Table 1 shows the number of units started in each District Council area by RHAs and Northern Ireland Housing Executive over the period requested.

In Table 2, the forward planning information for 2002/03 and 2003/04 is provided on the basis that current budget allocations remain in place.

Note: - RHA - Registered Housing Associations

NIHE - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Note: - All will be provided by Housing Associations

(AQW 3068/01)

Mr Dodds: On 20 March 2002 a decision was made to defer the implementation of the child support reforms as the new IT system was not yet ready. A new date for the introduction of the new scheme has not yet been announced.

There are currently some 35,819 Parents with Care in Northern Ireland. When the new scheme is implemented it is anticipated that most Parents with Care in Northern Ireland could be better off than at present. In the main this will be due to the fact that most Parents with Care receiving Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance could benefit by up to £10.00 per week from the Child Maintenance Premium. Currently some 58% of Parents with Care are in receipt of these benefits.

Under the new scheme there will be changes in the way earnings will be calculated and revised arrangements on the treatment of cases where care of children is shared between both parents. Some Non resident Parent’s liabilities will be less under the new scheme as a result of these changes. However, it is difficult to be precise about the numbers of Parents with Care, those not on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance, who will benefit or be disadvantaged by the reform of child support. A key factor in determining whether they will be better off or disadvantaged lies in the value of their current maintenance assessment coupled with the extent of the Non Resident Parent’s compliance with the determined level of child support.

(AQW 3083/01)

Mr Dodds: The Department for Social Development’s Equality Scheme contains a list of around 350 groups and individuals representing the 9 categories of section 75 groups. The 9 categories concern religious belief, political opinion, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, dependants and disability.

In consulting on equality impact assessments the Department draws from this list, making sure that it consults with all those considered to be affected by the policy. This is in line with the commitment contained in the Equality Scheme.

In particular, the Department ensures that its consultation process embraces representatives of each of the 9 section 75 groups even where there is no evidence that a particular section 75 group would have an interest in the policy being consulted on. In doing so the Department ensures that all section 75 groups have an opportunity to influence the process.

The Department also publishes equality impact assessments in the three Belfast newspapers and posts them on the Internet so that anyone else who wishes to contribute to the consultation process can do so. The Department’s consultation list is already a fairly comprehensive one but it can be amended at any time by groups or individuals asking to be added or removed from the list.

In consulting on new or revised policies, even where this is not in the context of the statutory equality duty, the Department would consult the list in its Equality Scheme and would ensure that representatives of all section 75 groups are covered in the consultation exercise, in addition to those known to be affected by or who have an interest in the particular policy.

(AQW 3117/01)

Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive has appointed specialised contractors to clean void properties in all of its District Offices.

The purpose of the contracts is not solely to remove rubbish from properties but to carry out a specialised cleaning service that includes sanitising and cleaning all hard surfaces, ceilings, walls and floors within the property. This is necessary because of the health and safety implications for incoming tenants and for Housing Executive staff who need to enter the property.

In instances where only household rubbish has been left by an outgoing tenant, there are provisions within existing building contracts that allow the Housing Executive’s nominated building contractor to remove household rubbish, when completing remedial repairs. This contract also caters for removal of rubbish from unadopted areas. Rubbish removal from green areas is carried out under existing Grounds Maintenance contracts.

(AQW 3123/01)

Mr Dodds: There is no reduction during the first 6 weeks in hospital and then a limited reduction is made. After 6 weeks in hospital, a person with a standard basic rate pension receives £58 a week, or £44×20 if he has no dependants.

However, although it is considered that the reduction in benefit after 6 weeks strikes a fair balance between what the state should provide financially and the provision individuals should make for themselves, it is also recognised that people have on-going financial commitments while in hospital. Therefore, it has been decided that the period before benefits are downrated will be extended by a further 7 weeks. This will mean that people previously affected by the 6 week rule will be able to keep their benefits untouched if their stay in hospital is under 13 weeks. This change will be introduced to coincide with the introduction of State Pension Credit in October 2003

(AQW 3126/01)

Mr Dodds: I am advised that the work is being carried out by the Rivers Agency.

(AQW 3148/01)

Mr Dodds: Winter Fuel Payments are paid to older people who are most at risk from the effects of cold weather. Disabled people who satisfy the qualifying conditions are already included in the scheme. There are no plans to extend the scheme further.

Disabled people can already receive disability benefits, and the disability premium in income-related benefits, in recognition of their extra costs which could include heating costs. Also, Cold Weather Payments are made to vulnerable groups, including people who get disability premium in their Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance regardless of age, when there is severe weather in their area.

(AQW 3179/01)

Mr Dodds: In general anyone who applies for Incapacity Benefit is subject to the Personal Capability Assessment, which has replaced the All Works test. There are however, exceptions in respect of people with certain disabilities, the terminally ill and others suffering from specific medical conditions. Following the first Personal Capability Assessment, a decision-maker will take into account the advice from the approved doctor and then decide when the customers incapacity should be reviewed again.

(AQW 3200/01)

Mr Dodds: The recommendations of the Working Party on illegal encampments will be part of an Equality Impact Assessment on Traveller Accommodation which it is proposed will issue for consultation in May 2002. The consultation period will be about 2 months, after which a decision will be made on the question of whether to proceed with legislation.