QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
ON MONDAY 01 DECEMBER 2008
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
1. Mr Moutray ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what steps his Department is taking to prevent vandalism of road infrastructure in the Brownlow area of Craigavon following recent rioting in the area.
(AQO 1352/09)
2. Mr Bresland (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how many churches and community organisations, which are classified as non-domestic water users, have received or will receive a bill based on the rateable value of the property in 2008/09.
(AQO 1365/09)
3. Mr Savage ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what discussions he has had with the Minister of the Environment on improving the road safety of public transport, particularly in built-up urban areas.
(AQO 1464/09)
4. Mr Lunn ( Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to provide road signage outside playgroups which are not funded by the Department for Education.
(AQO 1444/09)
5. Mr Cree (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to introduce off-vehicle ticketing for Metro bus services.
(AQO 1465/09)
6. Mr Craig ( Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how many road safety schemes with flashing warning lights have been completed for primary schools in (i) Lisburn City; and (ii) Dromore.
(AQO 1405/09)
7. Mr G Robinson ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development to give a timescale for the rebranding of the Enterprise rail service.
(AQO 1448/09)
8. Mr Simpson ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what action he has taken to reduce the number of occasions on which the Belfast to Dublin train has been delayed.
(AQO 1351/09)
9. Mr McCallister (South Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what implications the proposed extension to the runway of the George Best Belfast City airport will have on the Good Practice Guide to the Assessment and Management of Aircraft Noise Disturbance in airports.
(AQO 1461/09)
10. Mr P Ramsey (Foyle):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development when it is expected that trains will start to arrive in Derry/Londonderry before 9am.
(AQO 1453/09)
11. Mr Boylan (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for a progress report on the major infrastructure projects on the A5 and A8.
(AQO 1451/09)
12. Mr Beggs ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of whether the proposed extension of the runway at George Best Belfast City airport will improve competitiveness in the all Ireland aviation market.
(AQO 1459/09)
13. Mr Storey ( North Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on work to upgrade the railway line between Ballymena and Ballymoney.
(AQO 1350/09)
14. Ms Anderson (Foyle):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how he is implementing guidance published by the Central Procurement Directorate and the Equality Commission, on how to integrate equality into the delivery of Department policy and operational activity, as outlined in the Programme for Government.
(AQO 1456/09)
15. Mr Attwood ( West Belfast):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what steps he is taking to upgrade bus stops to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users.
(AQO 1458/09)
16. Mrs Long ( East Belfast):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what action he has taken following the flooding in East Belfast last year.
(AQO 1442/09)
17. Mr W Clarke (South Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the ports policy review.
(AQO 1452/09)
18. Mr A Maginness ( North Belfast):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what consideration he has given to the recommendation in the Varney Report that ports should be privatised; and to outline his policy in relation to this recommendation.
(AQO 1460/09)
19. Mr Burns ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development to detail the revised plans in place to allocate £3.4 million to Translink to enhance safety features on school buses.
(AQO 1462/09)
20. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what monies have been spent on the Ballyquinton Road and Quarter Road in Portaferry over the last three years.
(AQO 1388/09)
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
1. Mr P J Bradley (South Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what discussions he has had with the UK Government over concerns about protecting the coastline and surrounding waters from nuclear power plants in Great Britain.
(AQO 1393/09)
2. Mrs D Kelly ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of the Environment to provide an update on his Department's actions against illegal dumping.
(AQO 1392/09)
3. Mr McNarry (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what plans are in place to create flood maps showing areas at risk in addition to the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea.
(AQO 1434/09)
4. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of the Environment how the new flood mapping system will be integrated into the planning system.
(AQO 1439/09)
5. Mr Savage ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of the Environment if his Department was represented at the UN Association United Kingdom Conference on Climate Change, held in Belfast on 6 November 2008.
(AQO 1446/09)
6. Mr W Clarke (South Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment when he will next meet with his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland; and to detail the items on the agenda for that meeting.
(AQO 1429/09)
7. Mr Gallagher (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of the Environment how many planning applications have been deferred pending the publication of the revised PPS14; and when the new policy will be announced.
(AQO 1370/09)
8. Mr T Clarke ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the length of time it has taken to recruit staff for MOT Test Centres.
(AQO 1411/09)
9. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment to outline the cost of the Red Grouse Project and to give his assessment of its value in retaining red grouse on moorlands.
(AQO 1385/09)
10. Mr Poots ( Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister of the Environment when Planning Service expects to receive the findings of the Planning Appeals Commission on the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.
(AQO 1475/09)
11. Mr McElduff (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of the Environment for an update on the revised PPS14.
(AQO 1428/09)
12. Mr Brady (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of the Environment for an update on co-operation between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency in the Republic of Ireland.
(AQO 1432/09)
13. Mr G Robinson ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of the Environment for an update on the work of the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.
(AQO 1360/09)
14. Ms Ní Chuilín ( North Belfast):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what action his Department is taking to discourage drink-driving over the Christmas period.
(AQO 1426/09)
15. Mr McCallister (South Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what plans are in place to create flood maps showing areas at risk in addition to the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea.
(AQO 1437/09)
16. Mr Moutray ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what priority he will give to efficiency and value for money when designing service delivery models under the Review of Public Administration.
(AQO 1371/09)
17. Mr Brolly ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what action his Department is taking to encourage the public to use renewable energy in their homes.
(AQO 1422/09)
18. Mr McCarthy (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment how current planning policy complies with EU directives for sustainable development.
(AQO 1466/09)
19. Mr McCartney (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what discussion he has had with the Minister for Regional Development in relation to targets in the Climate Change Bill; and how his Department will ensure these targets are met.
(AQO 1425/09)
20. Mr McGlone ( Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what plans he has to review the consultation process on the proposed designations of Areas of Special Scientific Interest.
(AQO 1389/09)
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
1. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what consideration he is giving to a small business rates relief scheme.
(AQO 1368/09)
2. Dr McDonnell ( South Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action he has taken to advance the case for a 12.5% rate for corporation tax, since taking up office.
(AQO 1375/09)
3. Mr Dallat ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel if, as a result of the Treasury reclassification of Northern Ireland Water from a public corporation to being within central government, there is effectively a new charge on the Northern Ireland block this year of £130 million; and what action he is taking to address this.
(AQO 1394/09)
4. Mr McKay ( North Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the problems that face the construction industry.
(AQO 1407/09)
5. Mr Durkan (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what is his current estimate of the cost of the equal pay issue in the Civil Service (i) in this financial year; and (ii) in each of the next two financial years.
(AQO 1399/09)
6. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to provide an update on the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit.
(AQO 1356/09)
7. Mr Gallagher (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action he is taking to ensure that the procurement system is fit for purpose, in light of the recent successful court action by businesses in relation to major Government construction projects.
(AQO 1387/09)
8. Mr Brolly ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel how he will take forward the recommendations in the Report on the Review of the Location of Public Sector Jobs.
(AQO 1420/09)
9. Mr McQuillan ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what his policy is on diversity and equality in the Civil Service.
(AQO 1361/09)
10. Mr Attwood ( West Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel, in light of the downturn in property values and other issues, if he will bring a Budget for 2009-10 before the Assembly.
(AQO 1398/09)
11. Mr McNarry (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to provide details of any recent discussions he has had with HM Treasury.
(AQO 1364/09)
12. Mr McCarthy (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to report on the monitoring of the delivery of efficiency savings.
(AQO 1435/09)
13. Mr Simpson ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to provide an update on the ministerial initiative to tackle fuel poverty.
(AQO 1348/09)
14. Mr Moutray ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the initiatives he is taking on rate reform.
(AQO 1349/09)
15. Mr Storey ( North Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what progress is being made on the Civil Service equal pay claim.
(AQO 1347/09)
16. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the arrangements for, and purpose of, the strategic stock-take exercise.
(AQO 1358/09)
17. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to report on measures being taken to improve the performance of the Land and Property Service.
(AQO 1430/09)
18. Mr McLaughlin ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action he has taken following the report, 'Access to Benefits on take-up of Rate Relief and Disabled Person's Allowance’, produced by A2B; and what progress has been made to ensure a better take-up of these benefits.
(AQO 1413/09)
19. Mr Neeson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to report on the projected income from the regional rate for the 2008/09 financial year.
(AQO 1431/09)
20. Mr P Ramsey (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of essential roads maintenance being dependent on money from the December monitoring round; and what steps he is taking to guarantee funding for roads maintenance.
(AQO 1390/09)