(AQW 19/02)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): My Department has no credit cards, nor has its Executive agencies (Roads Service and Water Service) or its non-departmental public bodies. Its agencies have 10 Government Procurement Cards (GPCs), which operate on the basis of credit in arrears, but in a much more restrictive manner involving a limited number of approved suppliers. This is a pilot scheme.

The Department’s Roads Service holds three GPCs and the expenditure on each card in the financial year ending 31 March 2002 was as follows: £20,924; £13,890 and £100,321, a total of £135,135.

Water Service holds seven GPCs and the expenditure on each card in the financial year ending 31 March 2002 was as follows: £58,125; £34,558; £2,826; £21,220; £1,734; £3,206 and £1,834 a total of £123,503 and thus for my Department as a whole £258,638.

In relation to bodies funded by my Department, NITHCo has five credit cards and total expenditure per card over the same period amounted to £4,891; £9,778; £4,793 and £2,598, a total of £22,060 – the remaining card is not in use. The Community Transport Association had two cards with expenditure over the same period being £2,656 and £1,474 totaling £4,130. Only one card is currently in use.

(AQW 21/02)

Mr P Robinson: The responsibility to provide specific parking accommodation for inner city dwellers does not rest with my Department. Available road space and off-street parking places are managed to cater for the needs of the community as a whole.

However, my Department recognises the difficulties experienced by car owning residents in towns and cities and has the power, in the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, to introduce on-street residents’ parking schemes. You will appreciate, however, that such schemes would only be of benefit to local residents if they are effectively enforced and in Northern Ireland this responsibility rests with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Regrettably, during discussions on this issue, the Police Service has advised that it is not in a position to undertake the necessary enforcement work in relation to such schemes.

Northern Ireland remains the only part of the United Kingdom not having the primary legislative power to decriminalise on-street parking offences. I have therefore initiated a process to rectify this position and, when the legislation is enacted, my Department will become responsible for the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions thus enabling the introduction of residents’ parking schemes. This process, necessitating the introduction of new primary legislation, is expected to take several years to complete.

(AQW 69/02)

Mr P Robinson: My Department, recognises the difficulties experienced by car owning residents in towns and cities and has the power, in the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to introduce on-street residents’ parking schemes. You will appreciate, however, that such schemes would only be of benefit to local residents if they are effectively enforced and in Northern Ireland this responsibility rests with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Regrettably, during discussions on this issue the Police Service has advised that it is not in a position to undertake the necessary enforcement work in relation to such schemes.

I have, therefore, initiated a process to introduce the primary legislative power necessary to decriminalise on-street parking offences. When this legislation is enacted, my Department will become responsible for the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions, thus enabling the introduction of residents’ parking schemes. It is expected that the process will take several years to complete.

(AQW 102/02)

Mr P Robinson: Much of the recent flooding in the Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey areas was caused by a combination of short duration, intense rainfall on already relatively wet catchment areas. Indeed, the Meteorological Office rainfall report for 21 June 2002 described the rainfall as a 50-year event. This resulted in exceptional storm water run-off which overwhelmed the capacity of existing drainage systems.

My Department’s Roads and Water Services, together with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rivers Agency and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, have carried out extensive investigations into the circumstances surrounding the flooding which occurred on 21 June 2002 and the effectiveness of their response to the situation. Reports have been prepared and are being carefully considered to establish the key lessons learned and where improvements can be made.

Through the Inter-Agency Flood Liaison Group, my officials have been working closely with their counterparts in the Rivers Agency, with the aim of identifying possible improvements to the infrastructure which may help to prevent or mitigate any similar occurrences in the future. In this context, the group plans to meet within the next few weeks to further discuss the events of 21 June.

The Whiteabbey area and the Joymount district of Carrickfergus have suffered a number of flooding incidents, which have been exacerbated by high tide levels. The Inter-Agency Flood Liaison Group has agreed to initiate a joint study which will consider the flood defences and drainage infrastructure within these two areas and seek to identify opportunities for improvement. The Rivers Agency is taking the lead in this project and is currently in the process of procuring the services of a consultant to carry out the work.

(AQW 226/02)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service, as part of its normal contract management duties, monitors contractor’s compliance with all relevant aspects of any Roads Service contract.

As regards planning legislation, Roads Service takes into account any planning aspects of roads schemes during the design process. Where specific planning conditions regarding any aspect of the scheme have been imposed by the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service, these conditions are reflected clearly in Roads Service’s contract documentation for the contractor to adhere to during the course of the works.

In relation to aggregate tax, HM Customs and Excise is responsible for the implementation and policing of this tax. Roads Service officials, during the course of the works ensure, as far as is possible, that aggregates come from a reliable source. The contracting industry is of course expected to comply fully with this legislation.

Ensuring compliance with Health and Safety legislation is an integral part of Roads Service contracts at all levels. For the larger contracts, which are awarded through "Restricted Lists", the quality assessment of contractors wishing to be included on such lists includes health and safety management capabilities as one of the main areas of consideration. Contractor’s adherence to health and safety issues is also very much at the forefront of consideration when Term contracts are being awarded in respect of smaller schemes. Performance reports carried out on contractors during and at the end of contracts record adherence to Health and Safety issues for future reference.

As to industrial pollution and environmental matters, environmental impact assessments are carried out for Roads Service capital works schemes. The findings of the assessment and any associated remedial or mitigation measures are reflected in the scheme development. Where impact measures are not all dealt with in the design of the scheme, the requirements on the contractor are detailed in the contract documentation. For smaller schemes, and indeed all roadworks generally, Roads Service adheres to good environmental practice and has developed an environmental handbook as a good practice guide for design and supervisory staff.

(AQW 18/02)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): There are no credit cards in use in my Department or its Executive agencies. However there were three credit cards in use by the Laganside Corporation, which is one of my Department’s non-departmental public bodies, in the financial year ending 31 March 2002. The total expenditure on each card in this year is as follows, £4,520.95, £8,763.29 and £847.28 respectively. However due to staffing changes two credit cards have been surrendered and there is now only one credit card in use at this moment of time by the Laganside Corporation.

(AQW 22/02)

Mr Dodds: I am keen to ensure that, as far as possible, while observing fairness and equality principles, potential disability related adaptations are not frustrated as a consequence of unreasonable means test provisions. I have, therefore, asked officials within my Department and the Housing Executive to carry out a review, with the twin aims of firstly, ensuring that the design of the means test takes due consideration of any extraordinary out-goings associated with the care of a disabled child and secondly, exploring the potential for a less complex administrative regime around the means test in DFG cases generally. Mr Brendan McKeever of the Family Information group has agreed to be part of the review group.

I will be in touch again when I have considered the outcome of the review.

(AQW 29/02)

Mr Dodds: Responsibility for the installation of smoke alarms and fire escapes in houses in multiple occupation falls to the owner of the property. The standards to which these must adhere are established by the Housing Executive whose powers, including those to enforce and prosecute for non-compliance, are set out in the 1992 Housing Order. The Housing Executive in conjunction with appropriate agencies including the Fire Brigade, has produced a comprehensive fire safety guide which sets out the relevant standards in detail.

(AQW 32/02)

Mr Dodds: The information you requested is as follows:

(a) The Housing Executive works closely with communities through its district offices to ensure that bonfires are not built on Housing Executive land, particularly sites where environmental improvements have taken place. It also works closely with environmental health officers of the local councils to ensure that any bonfires which contravene health and safety requirements are taken down. Additionally, it liaises with the PSNI with regard to any public safety implications which may arise.

(b) The Housing Executive does not attempt to recover the cost of damages, as it is not possible to attribute liability to individuals. However, the Housing Executive seeks to minimise damage to open spaces and in conjunction with local councils, district office staff endeavour to reinstate all open spaces as quickly as possible.

(AQW 34/02)

Mr Dodds: The information is not available in the format requested.

(AQW 41/02)

Mr Dodds: The information requested is not available by constituency. However the following table sets out the information by district council area at August 2002. The Housing Executive has developed a range of measures to deal with voids and their blight effects. These include selective demolition, disposal and installation of security measures such as alarms and use of neighbourhood wardens.

Operational voids are dwellings which are being held vacant to facilitate major works or in advance of being sold on the open market.

Long Term voids are dwellings which are difficult to let due to lack of demand. Included within this category are dwellings which have been secured to prevent vandalism and properties that have been fire damaged.

Voids Pending Demolition are properties located in redevelopment areas or purpose built stock which have received Board approval to be demolished.

(AQW 43/02)

Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive has no records on the level of paramilitary extortion or theft from public building sites.

(AQW 64/02)

Mr Dodds: The aims of the Registration of Clubs Order and the Accounts Regulations are to regulate the supply of intoxicating liquor in clubs and to place their accounting arrangements on a statutory footing. These apply equally to all clubs and it would be inappropriate, therefore, to differentiate between different types of clubs.