Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to make a statement on the peace process.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon): The peace process, being a dialogue between the Northern Ireland political parties and the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland, relates to matters that are not devolved to this administration.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the number of applications received to head up the Northern Ireland representation in (a) Washington and (b) Brussels.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: Nine applications have been received for consideration for the post of Head of the Office of the Executive in Brussels.

There are no vacancies to be filled in the Washington office.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to advise of any progress in the development of a new Civic Honours List.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We have not considered a proposal to establish a new Civic Honours List.

Mr Tommy Gallagher asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps are being taken to ensure objective measures of deprivation for the purposes of New Targeting Special Needs (TSN).

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency has commissioned Mike Noble of the University of Oxford to develop new indicators of multiple deprivation which Departments will use to identify deprived areas for New TSN targeting purposes.

These indicators will be based on administrative data routinely collected by Departments and so it will be possible to update them.

Wherever possible, the focus will be on Electoral Wards, thus taking account of small areas of deprivation – the indicators will also take account of rural and urban deprivation.

These new indicators will replace the Robson Indicators which are now rather dated.

They will be available in Summer 2001. The Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will work with Departments on the implementation of the new indicators.

Ms Patricia Lewsley asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the progress made on the Executive Programme Funds and in particular, the Children's Fund and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: At its meeting on 25 January, the Executive agreed the process for assessing bids for Executive Programme Funds and reaching decisions on allocations. Departments have been provided with guidance on preparing bids for projects that might receive support through Executive Programme Funds and have been asked to submit proposals by mid-February. Following assessment of proposals, the Executive will reach and announce a decision on allocations.

In relation to the Children’s Fund, the Executive has agreed to put in place special measures to allow voluntary sector projects to benefit from the Fund. An inter-departmental working group is being established to consider and implement the arrangements needed for this.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give an assessment of the success of the policy to exclude Sinn Fein Ministers from participating in North/South Ministerial Council meetings and list what other sanctions he is considering.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: It is not appropriate to comment on the question of NSMC nominations in view of the current appeal against the recently published judgement on the Judicial Review proceedings brought by the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Minister of Education.

Mr George Savage asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail any further discussions with the Prime Minister or Secretary of State on the decommissioning of terrorist weapons and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We have not jointly discussed these matters with the Prime Minister, the current Secretary of State or his predecessor. Our respective parties have, however, met them to discuss these issues.

Mr Jim Wilson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline any discussions with the Prime Minister or Secretary of State on the future of policing and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We have not jointly discussed these matters with the Prime Minister, the current Secretary of State or his predecessor. Our respective parties have, however, met them to discuss these issues.

Mr Arthur Doherty asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline their intention as expressed in the draft Programme for Government to strengthen and re-organise the structure of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington D.C. to better serve Northern Ireland.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, is currently reviewing the future role of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington. The review will look at how the Bureau might best represent the interests of the Executive in North America. The review will include recommendations on staffing levels and location and consider how its activities might be co-ordinated with those of other organisations. We will then take a decision on the Bureau’s future role and advise the Assembly and the Committee of the Centre.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what programmes are in place to support the victims of terrorist violence.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has committed £320,000 in the current financial year to assist victims. Final decisions on the allocation of these resources have not yet been made, but the emphasis will be on providing practical help and support by contributing to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, commissioning research on victims’ needs and supporting specific projects undertaken by the four Trauma Advisory Panels and victims organisations.

Further significant support to victims has been and will continue to be available through the mainstream programmes run by each of the Departments in the devolved administration in such important areas as health and trauma support, retraining and reskilling, housing and social security.

The Victims Unit in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is currently in the process of finalising a strategic programme designed to meet the needs of victims which will supplement the commitments contained in the draft Programme for Government. This programme will be announced in due course.

The Peace II European Programme will include a specific measure for victims, with funding of approximately £6.67 million.

Rev Robert Coulter asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail any discussions with the French and German Governments.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: During the course of the European Marketing Campaign last week, we had discussions with President Chirac and with Pierre Muscovici, the French Minister for European Affairs, in Paris. The First Minister also met Joska Fischer, the German Foreign Minister, in Berlin. These meetings provided the opportunity to bring President Chirac, Mr Muscovici and Mr Fischer up to date with political developments and to highlight the progress made towards a stable and peaceful Northern Ireland with a growing and dynamic regional economy. We took the opportunity to emphasise that as a region Northern Ireland was determined to develop strong relations with other regions of the EU and in other parts of the world.

The visit also included a number of other meetings with politicians and industrialists in both countries, the purpose of which was to demonstrate to French and German investors the extensive and profitable business opportunities, which exist in Northern Ireland.

Mr John Fee asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the progress made in establishing the Northern Ireland Centre in Europe and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: It has been taken that the question relates to the opening of the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels. The new Head of office takes up post in March with his or her Deputy recruited shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, work is continuing on fitting out the premises for the office. A wide range of consultations have taken place to ensure the facilities provided by the office meet the needs of the Executive and fulfil all requirements. Officials are now waiting for the managing agents to produce tenders and costings for each aspect of the work, based on a comprehensive Schedule of Requirements provided to them. The fitting out of the office should be completed by May at which time the office will be fully operational.

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the programme of work agreed with the Civic Forum.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We understand that the membership of the Civic Forum has already put a considerable amount of work into developing their programme of work and has identified the following areas for initial consideration:- poverty, peace building (culture and citizenship), education and training, and public policy.

In addition, at our request, the Forum has produced a substantial response to the Draft Programme for Government.

As required by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, proposed arrangements for obtaining views from the Civic Forum on social, economic and cultural matters will be put to the Assembly for approval.

Mr Billy Bell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail any representations that have been received from groups representing widows of Royal Ulster constabulary officers murdered before 1982 and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: These matters do not fall within the competence of the devolved administration. However the First Minister has privately received several representations from groups representing widows of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Ms Mary Nelis asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the allocation of resources to Victims organisations and detail the criteria for the allocation of resources to these groups.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: A provision of £320,000 has been made for the Victims Unit this year. No decisions have yet been taken on the allocation of these funds but in general terms it is likely that monies will be directed towards the work of the four Trauma Advisory Panels, capacity building, the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund and research into the level of services provided to victims.

Applications from individual organisations will be judged primarily on the basis of their ability to provide practical help and support for victims, with due regard for equality.

Mr P J Bradley asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to put in place, under the Executive Programmes Fund, a support scheme to alleviate the short term and long term problems imposed upon the Mourne Sheep farmers as a result of the grazing ban at Silent Valley and to make a statement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We understand that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has met a number of deputations about this issue and has obtained additional information from the farmers affected. The Minister is currently considering the position, in light of these contacts, with a view to reaching a decision on the way forward, including the appropriateness of offering assistance.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee into the Rural Development programme and the problems identified therein and if she will outline the steps she is taking to address these difficulties and to make a statement.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): I fully recognise the responsibilities of the Public Accounts Committee in the protection of public funds and welcome the report on the Rural Development Programme. In particular I welcome the Committee's acknowledgement of the value of the Programme and the remarkable contribution of the rural community.

The first phase of the Rural Development Programme was breaking new ground in engaging rural communities. The recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee will be taken into account for the next Rural Development Programme 2001-2006 and my officials and I will be ensuring that the administration of the Programme is in accordance with best public sector practice.

The Department of Finance and Personnel will formally respond to the Report by means of a "Memorandum of Reply". It would not be appropriate for me to comment any further in advance of this response.

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if, in relation to Seed Potato Producers, she will detail (a) the level of assistance she can offer to offset their current marketing problems and (b) market research findings that will be of benefit for future seasons.

Ms Rodgers: I am very conscious of the difficulties facing seed potato producers in Northern Ireland at present. I am aware that the very wet autumn and the recent snow and frost have affected harvesting and that there may be damage to the crop still in the ground or tubers in uninsulated storage. I also appreciate that the strength of sterling has made trading difficult and that there is no EU support for potatoes.

At part (a) of your question, you asked me to detail the level of assistance I can offer to offset the current marketing problems.

In October 1999, my Department set up a seed potato strategy group, involving key industry players, to examine opportunities for supporting and developing the industry. My Department continues to liaise closely with the industry to advise on best practice and to explore what can be done to improve the competitiveness of the seed potato industry in Northern Ireland, both for home and export markets.

The measures currently being taken forward by my Department in assisting the seed potato industry include:

• The development of a seed potato marketing strategy
• The establishment of a seed potato export group
• Missions to seed potato export outlets
• Amendments to current Seed Potato Marketing Regulations
• The establishment of seed potato development groups
• Improvements in seed potato quality standards
• Development of business planning.

We will also be reviewing, as a matter of policy, the current promotion and marketing arrangements within the industry.

Further assistance is available through Marketing Development Scheme support. The Marketing Development Scheme is a non-capital grant scheme which aims to help the industry develop efficient marketing structures and seeks to improve marketing and commercial expertise. Support is available for projects which encourage greater integration and collaboration between producers and others in the supply chain. Under the Scheme 50% funding is provided towards the costs of setting up, recruiting members and the salaries of key staff. Projects in the seed potato sector may benefit provided they comply with the scheme rules.

At part (b) of your question, you asked me to detail market research findings that will be of benefit for future seasons.

My Department is in regular contact with the commercial desks within the Foreign and Commonwealth office of the major countries that import seed potatoes from Northern Ireland merchants. While the commercial activities are the responsibility of the trade in Northern Ireland, our contacts are a valuable source of market intelligence in relation to e.g. climatic conditions in that region, industry outlook and competitor activity. Information from these sources is available to exporters of Northern Ireland seed potatoes from my officials. Information disseminated complements market information available to the trade from journals, import agents and from bespoke reports commissioned through private sector marketing specialists.

The commissioning of specific commercial market research within new or existing markets would be the responsibility of either individual exporting merchants or the trade in collaboration with Seed Potato Promotions (Northern Ireland) Ltd (SPP). This commercial activity would best be undertaken by companies within the private sector specialising in conducting specific market research. My officials will assist where requested with the interpretation of appropriate data gathered by the industry from these marketplaces. Notwithstanding these commercial arrangements, Seed Potato Promotions (Northern Ireland) Ltd (SPP) are the grower levy funded body that is responsible for promoting the image and product of the seed potato sector.

My Department is actively supporting the efforts of local exporting companies to sustain their business through establishing networks of contacts within importing countries through participation at trade fairs at Potato 2000 Emmeloord, Holland and the demonstrations in Portugal and Morocco.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has recently had discussions with Insurance representatives on the subject of flooding and to make a statement.

Ms Rodgers: I have not had discussions with Insurance representatives on the subject of flooding.

I am conscious of the damage caused by recent flooding incidents in Northern Ireland, and the need for property owners to have access to adequate and appropriate insurance cover against flood risk. I therefore recognise the legitimate interest of the insurance industry in flooding issues in Northern Ireland. To this end officials in Rivers Agency, within my Department are prepared to provide information as far as is reasonable and practical on flood risk and to meet insurance representatives in response to recent correspondence from them on the subject.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the action she is taking to persuade the European Commission and other European Union Member States to lift the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) related ban on the export of live calves from Northern Ireland and to make a statement.

Ms Rodgers: I remain fully committed to obtaining a relaxation of the beef and live animal export ban as soon as the timing is conducive. The current adverse climate in Europe over BSE, and beef in general, does not lend itself to submitting a formal case to the European Commission now or in the immediate future. After taking account of concerns expressed by other Member States about an approach from Northern Ireland, it became clear that if I were to press ahead with negotiations it might not be in the best interests of farmers or producers and indeed could prove counterproductive.

I will continue to monitor developments throughout the Community with a view to submitting a proposal to the Commission and Member States when they are likely to be more receptive.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if in relation to Gosford Castle, she will outline her plans for (a) the lease on the building (b) the prevention of any further deterioration to the building (c) the restoration of the building, which is of national architectural importance and (d) the protection and preservation of the conservation area in which the Castle is set.

(a) The lease on the building - the Department is drafting an advertisement, which will invite development proposals.

(b) The prevention of any further deterioration to the building - the Department has secured the building to the best of its ability. The Castle is inspected regularly to "block up" areas where vandals have forced entry.

(c) The restoration of the building, which is of national architectural importance - the Department will consider development proposals against the qualities of the building.

(d) The protection and preservation of the conservation area in which the castle is set - proposals will have to be in harmony with the other Forest Service activities and business needs at Gosford and in particular with the continued use as a Forest Park to the general public.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if, in relation to the Salmonid Enhancement Programme, she will detail how Tranche 3 of the fund has been allocated by River and District Council area.

Ms Rodgers: The Salmonid Enhancement Programme (SEP) was launched in December 1995 and was aimed at improving the economies of rural communities and fostering reconciliation by encouraging the development of game angling. Most of Northern Ireland’s fishing rights for salmon and trout are controlled by angling clubs, which have, however, limited resources to develop the fisheries. This programme offered angling clubs the opportunity to implement projects to improve fish populations, access and angling facilities. While most of the funding came from European and National resources, the clubs contributed voluntary labour and importantly committed themselves to make available enhanced numbers of angling permits at reasonable cost to visiting anglers.

Tranche 3 was launched in 1999 with 40 clubs and associations awarded funding of £1.7m. The majority of the applications under Tranche 3 have been aimed at improving in-river habitats, increasing salmonid stocks and some coarse angling development, and in providing much needed publicity, a key element in the Water Based Tourism Measure. The Programme is due to complete in June 2001.

For your assistance I have placed a table in the Assembly Library, outlining the Clubs awarded funding under Tranche 3, the rivers on which they carried out improvement works and the district council areas concerned.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline what discussions she has had with the Anglo-Irish Fish Producers Association about the future of the sea fishing industry in Northern Ireland.

Ms Rodgers: I met with representatives of the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation, when I attended the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 14/15 December. Previously I had met with them at a pre Council meeting Chaired by Mr Morley, in London on 13 December and also during my visit to Kilkeel on 6 December. The main item of discussion was the 2001 Total Allowable Catches which are obviously relevant to the future of the local industry.

I have not received a request from the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers' Organisation for a further meeting since the December Fisheries Council.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail discussions she has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to protect Northern Ireland beef producers from the effects of beef imported from outside the United Kingdom.

Ms Rodgers: I have both regular and ad hoc meetings with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at which we frequently review the beef market situation, though not specifically the issue of imports. I must point out, however, that it would be illegal under EU law, and contrary to the ideals of an open, internal EU market, to ban imports from elsewhere in the EU on the grounds that they are cheaper than the domestically produced equivalent. Similarly, imports from outside the EU are controlled by common EU rules and not by individual member states or regions.

Import restrictions introduced on the basis of a perceived threat to the health status of the domestic beef herd would need to be supported by evidence of the existence of such a threat, and there are EU mechanisms to facilitate this. I am unaware of any such current threat.

Protection of consumers is a matter for the Food Standards Agency.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail any compensation or decommissioning schemes currently under consideration for fishermen and fishing boat owners in Northern Ireland.

Ms Rodgers: Currently work is ongoing on developing the detail of a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels which forms part of a range of measures in the Northern Ireland Transitional Objective 1 Programme currently with the European Commission for approval. I am however unable to make any announcement until this Programme has been agreed in Brussels.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline discussions she has had with the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in connection with the labelling of meat imported from the European Union and processed in Northern Ireland.

Ms Rodgers: I have had no discussions with the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food about the labelling of meat imported from the EU and processed in Northern Ireland as general responsibility for food labelling lies with the Food Standards Agency which, the member should be aware, reports to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. I understand that last year guidance was issued to the food industry about labelling of food which was intended to ensure that consumers were not misled about the origin of food products.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the contribution of football clubs at Intermediate, Junior and Youth levels to the Football Task Force.

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): Last October I announced plans for an initiative, "Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland". This involved the setting up of an Advisory Panel to help guide the process along the way and the appointment of business advisors to undertake an extensive consultation exercise across the province, to take the views of a wide range of interested groups and individuals on the issues facing the game of football in Northern Ireland today.

From the outset, the process has been an open and inclusive one and I can confirm that all football interests, have been, and continue to be, involved in the process.

The consultation exercise, carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Department, involved widespread consultation and so far has consulted over 2,500 people including:

• a postal survey of senior, intermediate, junior and women’s clubs which involved a total of some 600 questionnaires.
• a postal survey of players at senior, intermediate, junior and youth levels as well as female players. This involved some 900 questionnaires.
• a survey of league bodies, 18 at intermediate and junior level and 15 at youth level.
• in-depth, as well as telephone, interviews across the different levels.
• key informant interviews with a range of organisations involved in the administration of the game at all levels.
• focus group discussions with managers and coaches. This included participants from each senior, intermediate, junior and youth levels.
• workshop sessions with district councils, education and library boards, the voluntary youth sector, the media and senior club chairmen.
• both a street survey of the general public and a series of five Open Meetings held in different locations spread across the province.

The next and vital stage in the process is a Conference Workshop planned for 10-12 February 2001, to which some eighty participants have been invited, again representing all the key interests in football. Those taking part in the Conference Workshop will have every opportunity to debate the issues facing soccer in Northern Ireland and develop ideas and recommendations for the future.

It is anticipated that further work will be necessary after the Conference to develop these ideas, working with those involved in the conference and others. It is hoped that a draft strategy document will be available for public consultation by this Summer.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail any representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in relation to statutory requirements for the provision of subtitling, signing and audio description services on digital terrestrial television.

Mr McGimpsey: Last month the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published the report of its review of the statutory requirements for the provision of subtitling, sign language and audio description services on digital terrestrial television (DTT). The report concluded that:

• the target for the provision of subtitling on DTT should be raised from 50% of programmes by the tenth anniversary of the start of the service to 80% by the tenth anniversary;

• the targets for sign language and audio description services should remain unchanged, but will be kept under regular review as part of the two yearly reviews for the switchover to digital; and

• the requirements on DTT should be extended to digital cable and satellite services when legislation permits. The regulator should have the power to exempt certain categories of channels (for example, new/niche channels until they have built up audience share/revenue).

In July 2000 a consultation paper was sent directly by DCMS to 39 organisations including the ITC, broadcasters, those who provide subtitling, signing and audio description services and consumer groups representing people with sensory impairments. There was a two month deadline for responses. Prior to issuing the consultation paper, DCMS held a series of meetings with key groups, including: the Independent Television Commission; those broadcasters who provide DTT programme services; the companies who provide subtitling, signing and audio description services; and organisations representing viewers with sensory disabilities.

Given the extensive consultation undertaken by DCMS, neither I nor my Department made any representations to the Secretary of State during the review.

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to list the schools that receive funding from Pre-School Education Advisory Groups.

The Minister of Education (Mr McGuinness): The following nursery schools/units have been established under the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme which is planned at local level by Pre-School Education Advisory Groups:-

In addition the following nursery schools/units, established under other initiatives are receiving recurrent funding under the Expansion Programme:-

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to detail the pre-school places planned for 2001/2005 by Education and Library Board area.

Mr McGuinness: Details of the number and location of pre-school places to be funded by my Department's Pre-School Education Expansion Programme may be found in the annual Plans drawn up by the Pre-School Education Advisory Group in each Education and Library Board and approved by my Department. The Programme commenced in 1998 and the current expansion phase - during which new places are identified for funding - will run to the end of the 2001/02 financial year. The ultimate aim of the Programme is to provide one year of pre-school education for every child whose parents wish it, with places for at least 85% by 2001/02.

Planning figures for new statutory nursery places and funded places in the voluntary and private sector for 2001/02 are as follows.

Copies of approved Plans may be obtained from the Boards' PEAGs. The 2001/02 draft Plans submitted by the Belfast, North Eastern and South Eastern Board PEAGs have been approved: those for Western and Southern are still under discussion with their PEAGs, but I anticipate that they will be approved shortly.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of permanent specialist mathematics teaching vacancies in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area since 1990 as compared to the other education and library boards.

Mr McGuinness: The information requested is not held by the Department of Education nor collated by the relevant employing authorities.

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Minister of Education to outline his targets for the provision of pre-school education in Northern Ireland and to detail how current provision meets these targets.

Mr McGuinness: In October 1997 there were funded pre-school places for 45% of all children in their final pre-school year. As a result of my Department’s investment of £38 million in the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme over four years from 1998/99, I expect that, by 2001/02, over 9,000 new pre-school education places will have been secured, making places available for at least 85% of all children in their final pre-school year. The additional pre-school provision is being created by the establishment of new statutory nursery units and, for the first time, the funding of places in existing voluntary/private settings which meet the standards of the Programme. In the current academic year places are available for some 75% of children in their final pre-school year.

The ultimate long-term aim of the Programme is to provide one year’s pre-school education for every child whose parents wish it.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Education to outline his current policy in relation to the funding of school transport for pupils living within the Western Education and Library Board.

Mr McGuinness: Assistance with home to school transport is provided where it is considered necessary to facilitate the attendance of pupils at grant-aided schools.

Education and Library Boards provide transport assistance, under arrangements approved by my Department, where a pupil is unable to gain a place in a suitable school within statutory walking distance of his or her home. Statutory walking distance is two miles for primary school pupils and 3 miles for others, measured by the nearest available route.

The definition of a suitable school relates to the established educational categories of controlled, Catholic maintained, Irish-medium and Integrated and, in the grammar sector, denominational and non-denominational schools.

These arrangements were introduced from the beginning of the 1997/98 school year and apply equally to all five education and library boards. They also permit boards to exercise discretion in exceptional circumstances in relation to the rule governing statutory walking distance.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Education to confirm that a uniform policy exists in relation to school transportation assistance across all the education and library boards and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Assistance with home to school transport is provided where it is considered necessary to facilitate the attendance of pupils at grant-aided schools.

Education and Library Boards provide transport assistance, under arrangements approved by my Department, where a pupil is unable to gain a place in a suitable school within statutory walking distance of his or her home. Statutory walking distance is two miles for primary school pupils and 3 miles for others, measured by the nearest available route.

The definition of a suitable school relates to the established educational categories of controlled, Catholic maintained, Irish-medium and Integrated and, in the grammar sector, denominational and non-denominational schools.

These arrangements were introduced from the beginning of the 1997/98 school year and apply equally to all five education and library boards. They also permit boards to exercise discretion in exceptional circumstances in relation to the rule governing statutory walking distance.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to outline the data he collects on the numbers and circumstances of children who are not on school rolls.

Mr McGuinness: A pupil’s name may not be removed from a school roll unless the school is advised that the pupil has registered at another school, has died, moved to another country or been expelled. The responsibility for pursuing such cases and ensuring that the individual receives efficient education lies with the Education Welfare Services of the Education and Library Boards. My Department does not collect data on the numbers and circumstances of children who are not on school rolls.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of temporary teachers used in the North Education and Library Board schools as compared to the other area boards in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

Mr McGuinness: The table below gives details of the number of temporary teachers who were employed in the Education and Library Boards during each of the last ten years.

Where in any year, a temporary teacher was employed in more than one Education and Library Board, he or she is included in the number shown for each Board in which he or she worked.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the average class size in (a) primary schools (b) post primary schools in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area as compared to the other area boards in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

Mr McGuinness: The information for (a) is only available in the same form from 1993/94, as follows:

The information requested at (b) is not held by the Department, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of teachers who were employed in primary and post primary schools in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area as compared to the other area boards in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

Mr McGuinness: The following table details the numbers of permanent teachers employed in primary and post primary schools in the five Education and Library Boards during the month of October in each of the last ten years.

Fluctuations in the permanent workforce throughout the year would be minor.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of permanent specialist science teaching vacancies in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area as compared to the other education boards in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

Mr McGuinness: The information requested is not held by the Department of Education or collated by the relevant employing authorities.

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the procedures adopted by the Southern Education and Library Board in the sale of Glaskermore Primary School since 24 November 2000.

Mr McGuinness: Responsibility for the disposal of Glaskermore Primary School rests with the Southern Education and Library Board. The Board used the services of the Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) to handle the sale of Glaskermore and two other school properties. The Agency appointed an agent to advertise the properties and to receive offers by private treaty sale. I understand that the procedure regarding the precise time for the submission of offers was not followed and that all interested parties had to be advised of an extended deadline for receipt of bids. The Board has advised my Department that it will be consulting the VLA about appropriate action to ensure that its agents issue precise details to prospective bidders in future cases.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail the progress achieved in increasing the number of nursery school places since May 1997.

Mr McGuinness: As the table below shows, at the time of the 1996/97 school census there were 8,522 pre-school children in nursery schools and nursery units attached to primary schools. As a result of the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme and other initiatives such as Making Belfast Work, the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative and the EU Special Support programme for Peace and Reconciliation, this figure had increased to 9,999 in 1999/2000 (the last year for which complete figures are available). The table also shows that in 1999/2000 there were 2,330 reception pupils, and in addition the Expansion Programme had provided for the funding of 3,407 places in voluntary and private settings.

	1996/97	1997/98	1998/99	1999/00	2000/01
Funded places in Pre-School Centres	Not applicable	Not applicable	1,945	3,407	Not yet available
Nursery schools	5,496	5,533	5,501	5,952	5,965
Nursery Classes in Primary Schools	3,026	3,008	3,349	4,047	5,966
Reception	2,544	2,575	2,521	2,330	1,990
Total	11,066	11,116	13,316	15,736	Not yet available

After School Clubs

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail the steps he is taking to improve the regulation and funding of after school clubs.

Mr McGuinness: Many schools offer a wide range of activities in after school clubs which they may fund from within their budget allocations. Apart from the normal requirements regarding the vetting of staff and volunteers involved in any activities in schools, my Department has no specific regulations governing their operation and I have no plans for any changes to the arrangements for the regulation and funding of after school clubs.

Resources to support a range of out of school hours learning activities are available to schools from the New Opportunities Fund; the amounts of these awards and the conditions and requirements relating to them are determined by the Fund.

My Department allocates resources to the Education and Library Boards for summer literacy and numeracy schemes in each Board area. Such schemes operate in accordance with working guidance issued by my Department.

Ms Monica McWilliams asked the Minister of Education to detail the support available for young mothers to return to education or training courses.

Mr McGuinness: All post-primary schools with female pupils have been advised that pregnant schoolgirls and school age mothers should be supported to complete full-time mainstream education and to continue beyond the age of 16 if they wish. The school’s Education Welfare Officer, acting as ‘lead’ worker, will work with the young woman, her carers and the school staff to prepare an education plan covering the later stages of pregnancy, the immediate post natal period and the longer term. Support may also be available before and after the birth through her school, through home tuition, group tuition or participation in a School Age Mothers Project.

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Education to give a breakdown of results in English and Mathematics in Key Stage 3, at Level 5 for each individual Education and Library Board in the years 1996/7, 1997/8, 1998/9 and 1999/2000.

Mr McGuinness: Data for 1996/97 are not available. The data for 1997/1998, 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 are as follows:

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of funding paid to schools in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area compared to other Board areas and to give a breakdown of spending per head on pupils in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area compared with other Board areas.

Mr McGuinness: The table below details allocations to schools under the Local Management of Schools (LMS) formulae by the five Education and Library Boards in the 2000/2001 financial year in total and on a per pupil basis. It excludes voluntary grammar and grant maintained integrated schools which are funded directly by the Department.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail any discussions he has had with Youth Organisations about the future development of his policy on Education.

Mr McGuinness: Since taking office I have met a wide variety of Youth organisations, including the Youth Council, and while the main focus of such discussions is normally on the youth service, organisations may of course raise with me other issues from the wider education sector.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of teacher recruitment and retention and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Teacher recruitment is a matter for the various employing authorities and I have received no formal representation about difficulties in recruitment.

The proportion of teachers leaving employment through resignation in the last school year was 1.6% of the total teaching workforce.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of performance related pay for teachers and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: On 23 January both Sides of the Teachers’ Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) reached agreement on a revised pay structure for teachers here. The agreement is most welcome and covers new threshold assessment arrangements, a new leadership group salary spine and a performance management system. This is not directly analogous to a performance-related pay scheme.

Under the agreement, teachers at the maximum of the main pay scale for one year, who choose to apply for threshold assessment and who are successful, have access to a new upper pay spine. Other teachers will continue to progress up the main scale each year unless they are subject to the unsatisfactory teachers’ procedure. The leadership group restores vice-principals to the same salary spine as principals and introduces a new post of assistant vice-principal. The performance management scheme will support all teachers to agree and review objectives for improvements within the context of school development plans and inform decisions on progression up the pay scales for post-threshold teachers and leadership group posts.

Urgent steps to implement the agreement are now being taken by Management Side in consultation with Teachers’ Side.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Education to detail expenditure on education, excluding capital spending and European monies, for the years 1990 to present in the parliamentary constituency of West Belfast.

Mr McGuinness: The information requested is not recorded by constituency. Expenditure by schools, as recorded in Local Management of Schools Outturn Statements published by the Belfast Education and Library Board and the South Eastern Education and Library Board for financial years 1991/92 to date, is as follows:-

£

1991/92 35,202,677

1992/93 39,731,913

1993/94 41,575,990

1994/95 43,164,100

1995/96 48,191,603

1996/97 51,862,526

1997/98 52,281,436

1998/99 53,381,198

1999/00 (provisional) 56,430,146

As the Local Management of Schools Scheme was first implemented in April 1991 the information in respect of 1990/91 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It should also be noted that expenditure figures in respect of those funds retained centrally by Boards and provided in-year to schools for central teacher substitution costs, special initiatives etc are only available and included from 1995/96 onwards.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister of Education to detail, by education and library board, the number of (a) children with hearing impairments attending mainstream schools and (b) interpreters available for those children.

Mr McGuinness: Figures are currently available only for hearing impaired pupils in secondary schools. The situation at October 2000 in those schools was as follows : -

I will write to you again when the figures for nursery and primary schools become available.

My Department is not aware of any Sign Language Interpreters being employed to support hearing impaired pupils in mainstream schools. The only local school to use sign language on a regular basis is Jordanstown Special School (for the hearing and visually impaired) where signing is provided by the teachers and classroom assistants. This would also be the case for any pupils requiring signing in mainstream schools.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of recruitment levels for teacher training and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Places on initial teacher training courses are usually over-subscribed and attract sufficient higher calibre candidates so that almost all are filled by the Higher Education Institutions. The outcome of the annual recruitment process, now underway for the 2001/02 academic year, is monitored by my Department, which sets the intakes at levels based on a statistical forecast of teacher vacancies.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of the gross financial benefit to the economy of having armed forces based in Northern Ireland.

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The stationing of HM Forces in Northern Ireland has been associated with an injection of resources into the local economy in terms of wages and salaries and associated expenditures on supplies and sub-contracting work. As the expenditure on the armed forces comes out of Ministry of Defence expenditure, any reduction in the military presence in Northern Ireland will lead to a reduction in expenditure from this source.

Assessing the gross impact of the military presence in Northern Ireland is difficult to do with any precision due to difficulties in measuring the related expenditure and multiplier effects. However various attempts at estimating the impact of military and related expenditures in Northern Ireland have been made. For example, Bew, Patterson and Teague (1997) cite figures from the House of Commons Library which suggest that, in 1996 prices, the cost of military operations rose from a negligible amount in the early 1970s to around £500m in 1994-95. To this needs to be added associated expenditures on law and order, other protective services and compensation. However, due to the improvements in the security situation since then, this injection into the local economy has fallen back. Furthermore, the scale of this inflow needs to be set against the overall scale of the ‘subvention’ from the GB taxpayer to the local economy equal to £3.5 billion (as measured in 1993-94).

Likewise, the Northern Ireland Economic Council (1995) suggest that the expenditure associated with maintaining law and order and defeating terrorism together (the Law and Order and Protective Services budget (LOPS)) in Northern Ireland was equivalent in total to 12.7% of total public expenditure in Northern Ireland between 1988-89 and 1994-95. This made law and order and security related expenditure the fourth largest element of local public expenditure after Social Security (27%), Health and Personnel Social Services (19%) and Education, Arts and Libraries (18%). The NIEC suggested that 40% of the total LOPS budget would be incurred in NI in any case under more normal levels of security. Therefore NIEC estimated that security related expenditure to counteract terrorism accounted for 60% of the Law and Order and Protective Services budget or 7% of total public expenditure in 1994-95. These figures are broadly consistent with those suggested by Teague above and give an indication of the gross benefits of the stationing of UK military personnel in Northern Ireland.

As a consequence, while there has been, and remains to a lesser extent, a significant injection of resources into the Northern Ireland economy as a result of the stationing of armed forces here, this is only a minor element in the overall level of public expenditure in the province. At the same time, even allowing for a settled security situation, there will always be an on-going necessity, as there is elsewhere in the UK, for military personnel to be based in Northern Ireland.

Against this needs to be set the adverse impact that the stationing of large numbers of military personnel have had on the perception of Northern Ireland to tourists and inward investors. While it is difficult to place a figure on this it is highly likely that a significant military presence, in conjunction with the terrorist threat, has reduced the appeal of Northern Ireland as a place to visit or do business. As a result, any reduction in terrorist activity and the associated military