QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
ON WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2008
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Questions to the Minister of Education
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
Questions to the Minister for Social Development
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
1. Mrs D Kelly (Upper Bann):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister how much money has been spent on the Changing Times Stormont magazine.
(AQW 8848/08)
2. Mr Kennedy (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister how much funding it is allocating to the 2008 Belfast Gay Pride Parade.
(AQW 8860/08)
Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
1. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what strategies she is considering to encourage young people to stay at work on the farm.
(AQW 8890/08)
2. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many wind turbines have broken and caused damage; and what steps she is taking to prevent further damage and possible injury.
(AQW 8901/08)
Questions to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure
1. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for his assessment of the desire for mixed leisure and sporting activities, based upon the Northern Ireland Life and Times Surveys and other reports.
(AQW 8866/08)
2. Mr Kennedy (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much funding his Department is allocating to the 2008 Belfast Gay Pride Parade.
(AQW 8861/08)
Questions to the Minister of Education
1. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Education what proportion of pupils enrolled in Controlled schools are from (i) a Catholic background; and (ii) a mixed religious or other religious background.
(AQW 8864/08)
2. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Education what proportion of pupils enrolled at integrated schools are from (i) a Protestant background; (ii) a Catholic background; and (iii) a mixed religious or other religious background.
(AQW 8865/08)
3. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 8048/08, what further information has been requested from the South Eastern Education and Library Board; and on what date it was requested.
(AQW 8867/08)
4. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Education when the South Eastern Education and Library Board is due to be re-instated.
(AQW 8882/08)
5. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Education the total cost to date of the Commissioners at the South Eastern Education and Library Board.
(AQW 8883/08)
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
1. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many people have been killed and injured in accidents on farms in each of the last 3 years.
(AQW 8887/08)
2. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many people have been killed by bulls or cows on farms in each of the last 3 years.
(AQW 8888/08)
3. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many people have been injured by bulls or cows on farms in each of the last 3 years.
(AQW 8889/08)
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
1. Mr T Clarke (South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of the Environment to explain the delay in adopting the Ards and Down Area Plan 2015; and what steps his Department is taking to have the plan finalised and adopted.
(AQW 8859/08)
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
1. Mr Durkan (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to the answer to AQW 3437/08, for an update on the implementation of the new civil service payroll system, which will make the salary sacrifice childcare voucher scheme available to civil service staff.
(AQW 8858/08)
2. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what understandings were given to district councils on how the lost revenue, from the rates cap of £500,000 during the 2007-2008 financial year, would be funded.
(AQW 8868/08)
3. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel how the lost revenue from the rates cap of £500,000 during the 2007-2008 financial year is being funded.
(AQW 8869/08)
4. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action his Department is taking to address the under representation of protestant males in lower grades of the Civil Service.
(AQW 8880/08)
5. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action his Department is taking to address the under representation of females in senior grades of the Civil Service.
(AQW 8881/08)
Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
1. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what proposals his Department has to meet the increasing fuel costs incurred by Health and Social Care Trusts.
(AQW 8894/08)
2. Mr Bresland (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what funding has been provided by his Department for people with learning disabilities, broken down by Health and Social Services Board, in each of the last four financial years.
(AQW 8855/08)
3. Mr Easton (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for a breakdown of current nursing vacancies, by (i) Grade Band; (ii) Health Trust; and (iii) specialty.
(AQW 8898/08)
4. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many hospital admissions there have been for stab wounds, in each of the last 5 years.
(AQW 8886/08)
5. Mr Irwin (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what areas are covered by the Home Start organisations in the Newry and Armagh constituency.
(AQW 8891/08)
6. Mr Irwin (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to include the Poyntzpass area in the Home Start remit.
(AQW 8892/08)
7. Mr McGlone (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he is aware of the results of the survey carried out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists into communication needs of stroke patients, published on 5 March 2008; and what measures are being put in place as a result of the survey's findings.
(AQW 8885/08)
8. Mr Newton (East Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) what action he is taking in relation to perceived health problems due to air quality within Sydenham district; and (ii) what are the causes of the air quality problems.
(AQW 8871/08)
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
1. Mr Burns (South Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the current level of traffic congestion at Sandyknowes roundabout and on the M2.
(AQW 8895/08)
2. Mr Burns (South Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the work taking place to upgrade the M2, including an estimated completion date.
(AQW 8896/08)
3. Mr Hilditch (East Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development when the new road linking Ballyhampton to the Antiville Road in Larne will be completed.
(AQW 8854/08)
4. Mr Newton (East Belfast):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what measures are in place as part of an ongoing programme to monitor the quality of air in proximity to the George Best Belfast City Airport.
(AQW 8870/08)
5. Mr Newton (East Belfast):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what steps he has taken to reduce the potential scale of flooding in East Belfast as experienced on 12 June 2007.
(AQW 8873/08)
6. Mr G Robinson (East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of (i) the adequacy of a four hour rest between shifts for Northern Ireland Railways' employees; (ii) the possibility of such a short break posing a danger to public safety; and (iii) whether a break of this length complies with the European Union Working Time directive.
(AQW 8863/08)
Questions to the Minister for Social Development
1. Mr Lunn (Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Social Development what bids she has submitted for additional funding for improvements to housing under the management of the Housing Executive.
(AQW 8872/08)
2. Mr Lunn (Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Social Development for her assessment of the shortfall in funding for the Housing Executive, against the expected budget forecasts for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years.
(AQW 8874/08)
3. Mr Lunn (Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Social Development what assets the Housing Executive can release through sales of land and housing.
(AQW 8875/08)
4. Mr Lunn (Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister for Social Development what the timetable is for a review of the Warm Homes Scheme.
(AQW 8876/08)
5. Mr McClarty (East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister for Social Development if she has any plans to announce a new Co-Ownership Scheme.
(AQW 8897/08)
6. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Social Development what action her Department is taking to increase benefit uptake by pensioners.
(AQW 8879/08)