(AQO 257/02)

Reply: We expect the Review Team to make its final recommendations to the Executive by the end of 2003.

The Review is being conducted in phases. The team is currently engaged in a process of pre-consultation to inform the development of a consultation document which will be published later this year. There will then be a formal 3-month consultation period, following which the Review team will present an interim Report to the Executive in the Spring of 2003.

The next stage will be the development of a range of different models of Public Administration, which will be the subject of a further round of consultation in the Autumn of 2003, leading to the identification of a preferred model.

Through this process we hope to build a consensus for a preferred option to be presented to the Executive by the end of next year.

(AQO 265/02)

Reply: It is important for the good working of the Executive that issues to be raised with, and exchanges between, Ministers should remain confidential.

The Department of Finance and Personnel are currently carrying out a review of office accommodation and we look forward to seeing the Report.

(AQW 469/02)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): I am very aware of the concerns farmers have in relation to the level of bureaucracy that they face. I am also mindful of the various obligations I must meet arising out of EU legislation relating to, for example, the administration of various producer support regimes. I am similarly conscious of the need to account properly for the expenditure of taxpayers’ money and to address societal concerns in areas such as environmental protection and food safety. In all of this, a balance must be struck which addresses these obligations and concerns without placing an unbearable bureaucratic burden on the industry. My Department is constantly striving to ensure that this balance is properly struck, to minimise the burden where feasible and to explain more fully to producers the nature of their obligations. As an example of this work, the Integrated Administration and Control System form, which is the basis of much of our direct producer support, was greatly reduced in size and complexity this year. In addition, livestock subsidy claims now make as much use as possible of data held on the Department’s Animal and Public Health Information System database and this has simplified the operation of the Extensification and Slaughter Premium Schemes. Next year, we hope to simplify further the Slaughter Premium Scheme by availing of an EU derogation which allows us to work without claim forms. These are just some examples of our on-going efforts in this broad area and we will continue to make progress as and when opportunities arise.

(AQW 470/02)

Ms Rodgers: Responsibility for implementing EU environmental legislation lies with the Department of the Environment (DOE). However I fully appreciate that the implementation of anti-pollution and water quality legislation will have an effect on the agricultural industry as well as other economic sectors. To that end, officials from my Department and from the Department of the Environment have been working closely together to ensure that decisions on the scale and scope of implementation are based on scientific research and data. Officials have also considered the full range of practical issues associated with implementation, including the likely economic impacts on the farming community.

My Department continues to provide practical advice and training to farmers in relation to pollution prevention and good farming practice. Revised Codes of Good Agricultural Practice are being finalised to help farmers meet the requirements of impending legislation.

In addition I have secured £5.6 million 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 be targeted on those watercourses most severely impacted upon by agricultural pollution and will provide assistance towards the cost of building and improving waste handling and storage facilities.

I have also secured £0.9 million for a Nutrient Management Scheme. The proposed Scheme is aimed at encouraging farmers to plan the application of nutrients to their land in a systematic way with the particular objective of minimising the contribution of agriculture to the phosphate overload in soils, which is contributing to the eutrophication of fresh waters in Northern Ireland. It is likely that the Scheme will be targeted on farmers in parts of the Lough Neagh catchment.

Details of both Schemes will be announced as soon as State Aids approval from the EU Commission is obtained. Until then I am not able to give a definitive date for the opening of the Schemes or announce the first catchments to be targeted.

You should also be aware that as part of the action plan to implement the "Vision" report I have made bids for additional resources to extend the Farm Waste and Nutrient Management Schemes to help address water quality problems caused by agriculture.

(AQW 503/02)

Ms Rodgers: The following Key Targets were set for the Forest Service for 2001/2002 and performance against each one was as follows:

(AQW 522/02)

Ms Rodgers: The Department relies upon the Departmental Solicitor’s Office in respect of legal services. The procurement of other services by the Department and its Agencies are carried out either by the Procurement Service or in accordance with guidelines on tendering established by the Service which are incorporated in the Department’s Financial and Accounting Procedures Manual.

The criteria used to determine that an offer is the most economically advantageous include the period for completion or delivery, quality, aesthetic and functional characteristics, technical merit, after sales services, technical assistance and price.

(AQW 353/02)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The Committee of Experts, appointed by the Council of Europe, will consider the UK Government’s report on the implementation of the Charter and will publish an opinion. Prior to publication the Committee of Experts will visit the UK to take evidence from a variety of sources. It is expected that the opinion will be published next year.

There will be equity of treatment for the Irish and Ulster-Scots languages. It is not, however, appropriate to use the treatment of one language as a benchmark for the treatment of another because one is not comparing like with like, in terms of actions required to sustain and celebrate individual languages.

(AQW 386/02)

Mr McGimpsey: In answering this question it is assumed that the information sought relates to the funding provided over the last three years for the cultural promotion of language.

The North/South Language Body came into operation at devolution in December 1999.

The funding provision and funding drawn down by the Language Body in the past two years and for the current year is as follows:

*January to September 2002

Funding is also available from mainstream funding programmes, for objectives other than promotion, providing applicants meet the criteria.

(AQW 413/02)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department provided funding of £9.22m in 1999/2000; £9.58m in 2000/2001; and, £10.74m in 2001/2002 to the National Museums and Galleries Northern Ireland (known as MAGNI). You may also wish to note that my Department provided funding of £0.18m in 1999/2000; £0.21m in 2000/2001; and, £0.25m in 2001/2002 to the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) to support the work of local museums.

For the purposes of comparison the funding provisions made by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport; the Arts and Creativity Industries Policy Unit of the Scottish Assembly; and, the Culture and Welsh Language Division of the National Assembly for Wales are set out in the table below.

(AQW 437/02)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department has not commissioned any research of the nature that you suggest, and there are no plans to do so in the immediate future.

However, my Department fully recognises the importance of research in general as an aid to the development of policy. Indeed, the report of the Local Museum and Heritage Review Steering Group advocated more co-ordination and consistency in research for the museum and heritage sectors, so that a reliable pool of information may be created from which all in the sectors may draw. My Department accepts this, and will take the matter forward with the report’s other recommendations.

It is therefore likely that my Department will commission research into the economic, social and educational impact of museums and galleries in the future.

(AQW 450/02)

Mr McGimpsey: I have already forwarded my congratulations to the Secretary of the Armagh County Committee of the GAA. I also intend to mark the occasion by hosting a reception in Parliament Buildings on 29 October for the Team. The Derry Team will also be invited to the reception to celebrate its victory in the Minor All Ireland Football Final.

(AQW 451/02)

Mr McGimpsey: As a Main County Ground, the Athletic Grounds in Armagh was eligible to apply for funding as follows:

Total funding awarded to the Athletic Grounds is £231,320, made up as follows:

(AQW 457/02)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure currently leases outright one of the buildings which it occupies, namely 43 Queens Avenue, Magherafelt which is occupied by five Ordnance Survey for Northern Ireland staff. These premises were surveyed for asbestos in 1996 and no asbestos based material was found.

All other buildings currently occupied by the Department, which are leased from a private landlord, are leased on our behalf by the Department of Finance and Personnel Office Accommodation Branch and they will reply to you in respect of these buildings.

(AQW 425/02)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): In the case of teachers employed by Education and Library Boards or the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools these bodies refer details of all new teachers to PSNI for a Criminal Records Check prior to appointment. In the case of other schools the school refers details of the teacher proposed for appointment to the Department who deal with PSNI. The turnaround time for these checks is normally 5-10 working days there is no backlog.

PSNI has completed 3,460 checks for teaching and non-teaching staff in the past year.

In addition, the Department checks all newly appointed teachers against the list of teachers prohibited from teaching anywhere in the UK (List 99). List 99 checks have been carried out on 1,846 teachers during the past year and checks on all teachers appointed up to and including September 2002 are complete.

(AQW 350/02)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): Under the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Regulations, students who have previously attended a course of higher education will not generally be eligible for tuition fee support for a further course. However, there are exceptions to this rule and certain students may be entitled to support for all or part of their second course. It is a matter for the Education and Library Boards to determine students’ eligibility for support taking account of individual circumstances.

Even if a student is not eligible for fee support for a second course he/she will be eligible for a student loan and any supplementary grants that are appropriate.

The second part of the question is a matter for my ministerial colleague in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to answer.

(AQW 361/02)

Ms Hanna: The number of full-time postgraduate students enrolled on Computer Science related subjects at each campus of the University of Ulster and at Queen’s University in 2001/02¹ are outlined in the table below:

The number of part-time postgraduate students enrolled on Computer Science related subjects at each campus of the University of Ulster and at Queen’s University in 2001/02¹ are outlined in the table below:

(AQW 376/02)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): I have impressed upon Bombardier senior management the importance of continuing investment in people skills and research and development in Belfast. For its part Invest NI seeks to influence this through selective financial support for investment in research capability and training and development which will strengthen Shorts’ position as a centre of excellence within the Bombardier group.

(AQW 426/02)

Sir Reg Empey: Both Government and the insurance industry have set up Working Groups to examine the scope for addressing present difficulties. My officials are closely involved in both; and I propose to discuss the issue again, very soon with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

My departmental research, which still continues, has identified a range of reasons for current difficulties, includes, inter alia, the combined impact of long-term unprofitability in the industry; the particular problems of insuring industrial diseases; the need for some level of cyclical market readjustment; the current stock market downturn and the difficulty of raising capital in these circumstances; problems with re insurance caused by September 11 disaster and increasing societal expectations and consequent litigation.

(AQW 449/02)

Sir Reg Empey: Broadband is the term used to describe a wide range of technologies that allow high-speed, always-on access to the Internet including: private circuit leased lines; asymmetric digital subscriber line (adsl); cable; satellite; and wireless. Broadband can be provided throughout Northern Ireland, albeit at a price. The provision of broadband telecommunications however is a commercial decision for telecommunication companies.

As indicated in my statement to the Assembly of 19 February 2002, to stimulate the rollout of affordable broadband services across Northern Ireland, my Department is taking forward a number of initiatives. These include support for broadband pilot actions, the development of broadband applications and services, assistance to companies wishing to take up Satellite broadband, and a range of demand stimulation actions. In addition my officials are developing a call for proposals addressing local access to broadband.

(AQW 474/02)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department has not provided grant assistance to any retail shopping centres in the Foyle Constituency. One of the criteria to be met for Selective Financial Assistance is that of National and Regional Benefit (ie the efficiency criterion). Local consumer-type service activities such as retailing will generally not satisify this criterion, particularly National Benefit, and therefore does not qualify for assistance.

(AQW 228/02)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt): It should be noted that there is no lift shaft at the Principal’s house. However, there is one at the left side of the rear courtyard associated with the main Union Theological College.

The approved work (ie the introduction of a lift shaft) accords with the internationally recognised principles as defined in the Burra Charter – ie

And the overall ‘package’ is seen as a reasonable balance between preservation and the need for new investment and work to secure a sustainable long-term future for this important listed building which was seen as a ‘Building at Risk’.

Planning Policy Statement, (PPS6) Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage, sets out the Department’s planning policies for the protection and conservation of archaeological remains and features of the built heritage and advises on the treatment of these issues in development plans. These planning policies outline the main criteria that the Department will employ in assessing proposals that affect the archaeological or built heritage. These policies however should not be read as the only tests of acceptability for such development proposals. In making its decisions the Department will assess proposals against all planning policies and other material considerations that are relevant to it. It is generally recognised that occasionally there will be circumstances where other material considerations may outweigh these policies.

In assessing this application Planning Service consulted Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) who, after seeking and gaining improvements to the original application for works to the listed building, accepted the scheme. EHS acknowledges that the top of the new lift shaft at the college is visible above the roof level from the principle/front view of the building, and that it introduces an asymmetrical element into an otherwise symmetrical façade. It is preferable – though not always possible – that such ‘intrusions’ should be avoided. However, efforts have been made to reduce the visual impact of the shaft and associated roofing, and aspects of the design reflect other features of the building. The lift shaft is an essential requirement to comply with Art. 19 of the Disability and Discrimination Act 1995. Policy BH 8 subsection 6.18 of PPS6 - ‘The needs of people with disabilities’ - also refers.

It is worth noting that the roof over the building remains a dominant feature and has retained its original shape, pitch, cladding and ornament. Other locations for the lift were considered but the actual location is by far the best to facilitate access for people with disabilities.

(AQW 306/02)

Mr Nesbitt: Under the Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (NI) 1992 the display of an advertisement irrespective of whether it is fixed or mobile, is an offence unless the express consent of the Department has been granted or is deemed to be granted. In assessing whether to grant consent for an advertisement, the Department is guided by considerations of amenity and/or public safety as outlined in Policy DES 9 of ‘A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland’. There is a general presumption against the display of advertisements in the open countryside, in order to protect the unique quality of the rural landscape.

Without express consent the display of an advertising hoarding on land alongside public roads is an offence and in assessing whether to initiate court action the Department will be guided by legal advice, the impact ofthe advertisement on visual amenity and any road safety issues identified by the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service.

When, after such assessment, the Department considers that the advertisement is unacceptable it will normally pursue court action. On summary conviction the landowner and others are liable to fines with the potential for further daily fines. On some occasions removal can be achieved by persuasion.

In recent years the Department has successfully taken action to have a number of such advertisements removed, either through persuasion or through direct summons action through the courts and the Department will continue to take such action against this type of advertisement where considered necessary.

(AQW 387/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The budget allocation of individual district councils for cultural facilities (including cultural activities) for the period 1999/2000 to 2001/2002, is set out in the Table below.