Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the progress made in meeting the targets for the year 2005 for making government information and services electronically available and to make a statement.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon): In March 2000 the Prime Minister announced revised targets for the electronic delivery of government services. These were 25% of all services to be capable of being delivered electronically by 2002 and 100% by 2005. The Prime Minister’s targets apply to all Whitehall Departments, but each of the Devolved Administrations has the opportunity to develop their own targets for electronic service delivery.

In the draft Programme for Government, the Executive gave an undertaking to set local targets for electronic service delivery and to monitor progress. Our officials, in consultation with the other Northern Ireland Departments have been considering the Whitehall targets as to their appropriateness to Northern Ireland. Decisions on the targets for the electronic delivery of government services in Northern Ireland and an appropriate monitoring regime will be taken by the Executive Committee in the coming weeks. An announcement will be made in due course.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail representations it has made to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the retention of military watch towers along the border.

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

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail discussions it has had with other Ministers in the Executive Committee regarding the implications of the Queen's speech for the people of Northern Ireland.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Executive has approved a legislative programme and a draft Programme for Government. In contributing to both of these documents, Ministers will have considered any relevant implications of the Queen's speech for the people of Northern Ireland.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the initiatives it has suggested the Secretary of State should consider when dealing with violence and criminal acts in Northern Ireland.

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

Ms Monica McWilliams asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline proposals for the North South Consultative Forum referred to in paragraph 19, Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: At the North South Ministerial Council plenary meeting on 26 September 2000, it was agreed to initiate a study on the North South Consultative Forum. Progress on the study will be reported to the next plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council following which we shall make a further statement to the Assembly.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the cost of fuel in Northern Ireland and to outline the outcome of those discussions.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: We wrote to the Chancellor in November 2000 and at a subsequent meeting with him on 24 January 2001 registered our continuing concern over the high level of fuel excise duty. As a follow up to our discussion with the Chancellor, a meeting took place this week with the Chairman of HM Customs and Excise and contacts will continue.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister if, pursuant to AQW 1108/00, it will confirm that Christmas cards were sent to the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Health and the Leader of Sinn Fein.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety were sent a Christmas card from the First Minister. The Deputy First Minister did not send a card to any Minister.

Neither of us sent a Christmas card to the leader of Sinn Féin.

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister how the report to the United Kingdom Government on the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People can be obtained.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: This report to the UK Government was prepared by a Home Office-led Working Group. The Home Secretary published the report on July 26.

Copies of the report were placed in the libraries of the United Kingdom Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly on the day of publication. The report is also on the Home Office website, and printed copies are available from the Home Office on request.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail representations she has received regarding the economic situation of farmers and to make a statement.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): I receive frequent personal and written representations on matters relating to the economic position of farmers from a wide range of sources, including farmer representative bodies, Councils, MPs, MEPs, MLAs, political parties and individual farmers. Many of these representations arise during the course of discussions, both formal and informal, and in correspondence relating primarily to other topics and it would be impossible to detail every instance where this has occurred.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has considered alternatives to the incineration of cattle which are slaughtered as a measure against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

Ms Rodgers: This is not considered necessary. To maintain public confidence that no suspect cases can enter either the human or animal feed chains, incineration is the most appropriate method of disposal.

All BSE suspect animals are moved directly to DARD’s Veterinary Science Laboratory where the brain tissue is removed for examination and diagnostic testing. The remainder of the carcase is destroyed by incineration.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to explain why regulations governing animal waste by-products do not include the hydrolysis process as an approved method.

Ms Rodgers: The EC Animal Waste Directive 90/667/EEC, which is implemented in Northern Ireland by the Animal By-Products Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 (as amended), sets out the permitted disposal routes for animal by-products. When the Directive was adopted in 1990, the hydrolysis process had not been developed as a disposal route for animal by-products and therefore could not be included. The Directive is under review and the European Commission is seeking the advice of the EU Scientific Steering Committee on whether hydrolysis should be a permitted disposal route in future.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the extent to which following the incineration of cattle, residual ash may still contain proteins.

Ms Rodgers: Residual ash from incineration of cattle must contain no more than a maximum permitted level of 5 mg of protein or amino acid per 100g ash. This maximum level has been accepted by SEAC as being the acceptable level to ensure that any risk from residual BSE prion protein is negligible.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of cattle which have been slaughtered as a measure against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, (BSE) and which are held in cold storage and to give the cost for that storage.

Ms Rodgers: To date almost 700,000 cattle have been slaughtered in Northern Ireland as a measure against BSE. No carcases are held in cold storage and therefore there are no costs involved.

This figure comprises 2,295 BSE suspects, 65 offspring animals, 695,609 OTMS cattle and 1,485 selective cull cattle.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail discussions she has had with experts about Alkaline Hydrolysis for the disposal of infected cattle carcasses and what conclusions she has drawn about its use in Northern Ireland.

Ms Rodgers: I have not been involved in discussions with experts about Alkaline Hydrolysis for the disposal of infected cattle carcases. However, the primary EU legislation governing disposal of this type of waste (the EC Animal Waste Directive 90/667/EEC) is under review and in this respect the European Commission has sought the advice of the EU Scientific Steering Committee on whether the hydrolysis process should be a permitted disposal route in future. I will consider that advice when it becomes available.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the proposed funding to be made available to the fishing industry and how it will be allocated.

Ms Rodgers: Under the Community Support Framework, the European Commission has approved 29m ecus for assistance to the Northern Ireland fishing industry. However details of how this funding is to be allocated between the different fisheries measures have still to be agreed by the Commission as they are contained in the overall Northern Ireland Transitional 1 Programme. At present, I am therefore not in a position to indicate how the funding will be allocated.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure the quota of de-commissioned fishing vessels will be retained for the Northern Ireland fishing fleet.

Ms Rodgers: It is my hope that the quota attached to decommissioned vessels under a Northern Ireland scheme can be retained for use by the Northern Ireland fishing fleet. I am currently exploring this possibility.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to advise when the new ice plant in Portavogie will open.

Ms Rodgers: Currently completion of the new ice plant at Portavogie harbour is scheduled for early July.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the European Agriculture Commissioner's recent call for further measures to limit European Union Beef production and the implications for Northern Ireland Beef Producers.

Ms Rodgers: I am aware that Commissioner Fischler has called for a further package of measures to control future beef production in the EU. In itself this is an understandable Commission reaction to the recent marked fall in beef consumption in many EU Member States. Nonetheless any proposal that might have adverse financial implications for Northern Ireland is unwelcome news for the industry here.

At the moment it is not at all clear what proposals the Commission may bring forward to the Agriculture Council or where their major effects might be felt. Most beef related proposals would have some impact on beef producers here but some are likely to have greater impact than others. For instance individual quotas for BSP producers allied to a reduction in the overall ceiling available would affect all our producers directly whereas a reduction in stocking density thresholds would affect some beef producers but not all since we have a relatively high proportion of extensive producers. It is not inconceivable that some measures could even benefit the local industry, if they resulted in a better balance between supply and demand in the European beef market.

It is therefore not possible for me to give you a realistic assessment of the implications until more is known about the details of any proposals.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the impact on Agriculture by European Union regulations in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ms Rodgers: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will amend the 2001 Less Favoured Compensatory Allowance Scheme to address the £20 per hectare reduction imposed upon farmers who share clearly defined areas (as distinct from commonage) of mountain or moorland.

Ms Rodgers: As common land carries with it less in the way of management and financial burdens, a lower rate of aid has been applied to avoid over-compensation. This principle applies to any shared land, even where it has a clearly defined external boundary. The full rate of aid is payable only on land which is recorded as being for the sole use of one farmer.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what proportion of cattle found to be tuberculosis reactors were subsequently confirmed by autopsy to have contracted the disease.

Ms Rodgers: Approximately 40% of reactor animals show signs of infection on post mortem examination.

Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her strategy for the harvesting of shell fish in Belfast Lough.

Ms Rodgers: There is no formal strategy for the harvesting of shellfish from Belfast Lough. Development is industry led, with full Departmental input when licence applications are received. The Department’s long-term aim however is to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry in Northern Ireland with minimum additional environmental impact. To this end, the Department has licensed 11 sites covering some 750 hectares of seabed in Belfast Lough for the culture of bottom dredge mussels. These sites have been re-laid with seed mussels using purpose built mussel dredgers. The mussels are harvested once they have reached marketable size and by the end of this year it is expected that some 2,000 tonnes will have been harvested mainly for the Dutch and French markets. Due to marketing considerations, harvesting tends to take place during the winter months.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his plans to assist local authorities in improving their cultural facilities.

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): My Department has initiated a process of engagement with District Councils, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Education & Library Boards, the aim of which is to produce guidance to local authorities on the development of local cultural strategies. My intention is that this guidance will assist Councils to plan for cultural services and will encourage a strategic approach to the provision and improvement of cultural facilities.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his plans to increase investment in football facilities at a local level.

Mr McGimpsey: I should explain that I announced the introduction of the interim Safe Sports Grounds scheme in August 2000. The scheme, administered by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland was funded initially by the Sports Lottery Fund and the Sports Foundation. I then secured additional funding of £2m under the Agenda for Government for the 2000/01 year for priority safety improvement works at all sports grounds in Northern Ireland. I recognise the fact that further major investment is needed to carry out all the safety improvement work required and funding secured for 2001/02 will enable the scheme to continue. I will be considering how longer term problems can be addressed and the outcome of the work I put in place to develop a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland will also be relevant in dealing with the problems of facilities at all levels.

You may wish to note that soccer clubs may also apply to the Sports Lottery Fund, through the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, under the club sport programme.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if funding is to be made available for community groups to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Act of Union.

Mr McGimpsey: Appropriate funds from my Department have already been fully committed to the planned programme of bicentenary events, which I outlined at the inaugural event at the Ards Arts Centre/Town Hall, Newtownards on 22 January 2001. Therefore, I cannot offer any financial assistance to community groups wishing to commemorate the bicenentary of the Action of Union.

However, community groups may wish to approach the Community Relations Council (CRC) to see if it would be willing to grant aid any locally-produced bicentenary events. CRC runs a cultural Diversity Programme, which aims to develop understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity through the arts, history and language.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline (a) the Northern Ireland alternative to the United Kingdom New Opportunities Fund which has made £100 million available to enable public libraries to offer online services and (b) his plans to introduce funding to enable all public libraries in Northern Ireland to offer on-line services.

Mr McGimpsey: The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) was established as a Lottery Distributor by the National Lottery Act 1998 to make grants to health, education and environment projects. NOF is a UK-wide body and distributes 4.5% of its allocations to Northern Ireland.

Within the Fund’s Community Access to Lifelong Learning Programme £100m has been reserved for the development of the People’s Network across the UK including £4.5m for Northern Ireland. The People’s Network aims to link every public library in the UK to the Internet and the National Grid for Learning by 2002.

The five Education and Library Boards are currently working on a project Electronic Libraries for Northern Ireland. An important element of the project will be the connection of all libraries to the National Grid for Learning, and through that to the University for Industry. The Department funds the Public Library Service at 100% through the Education and Library Boards.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail discussions he has had with Government officials in relation to events to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Act of Union.

Mr McGimpsey: Senior officials within my Department have been in touch with their counterparts in the Department of Education (DE) in order to seek co-operation as regards the Act of Union Bicentenary education initiative, ie, workshops for ‘A’ level History students to be held in the NTL Studio, Belfast Waterfront Hall, Tuesday, 16 October 2001. As a result DE has agreed to make available to the organisers a contribution of £3,000 to help cover the cost of the fees, expenses and accommodation of academics engaged to run the education workshops.

Discussions have also taken place with officials in the Devolution Unit, Cabinet Office, who have signalled their support for bicentenary activities, in particular, the acquisition of space within the Palace of Westminster in which to display the travelling version of the Act of Union Bicentenary exhibition.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the steps he is taking to assist local authorities to improve their cultural services.

Mr McGimpsey: My Department has initiated a process of engagement with District Councils, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Education & Library Boards, the aim of which is to produce guidance to local authorities on the development of local cultural strategies. My intention is that this guidance will assist Councils to plan and improve their cultural services.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail, by education and library board area, the cost of educating a child with special care needs in a mainstream school as opposed to the cost in a special education unit.

The Minister of Education (Mr McGuinness): The Education and Library Boards inform me that the average costs of educating pupils with moderate learning difficulties in special education units attached to primary and secondary schools are as follows : -

It is not possible to give average costs for a similar pupils attending mainstream classes in primary and secondary schools since this varies according to the amount of additional support each pupil requires, as detailed in their statement of special educational needs.

The average costs for pupils in special units, as shown above, fluctuate according to the number of pupils attending each unit and this applies both within Board areas as well as between them.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the capital funding programme for schools in the Strangford constituency for 2001/2002.

Mr McGuinness: I shall be announcing the next capital programme for schools later this month

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to list the dates of all the statements issued in his name condemning attacks on schools or the use of schools by proscribed organisations in Northern Ireland.

Mr McGuinness: I issued statements on the following dates about attacks on schools.

25 January 2001

30 November 2000

27 November 2000

24 November 2000

11 October 2000

30 August 2000

19 July 2000

15 June 2000

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Education to detail his plans to (i) improve school performance in under-achieving schools and small primary schools and (ii) increase the availability of out of school learning opportunities.

Mr McGuinness: The School Improvement Programme is a comprehensive programme to raise the standards of pupils’ attainment in all schools. It includes the School Support Programme which provides additional support for low and underachieving schools. There are no support programmes specifically for small primary schools but the School Improvement programme impacts on them and a number of these schools are included in the School Support Programme. My officials are currently reviewing the operation of the School Support Programme in consultation with the Education and Library Boards and CCMS.

Individual schools decide whether they wish to offer out of school hours learning opportunities. Such provision is funded either from the school’s own budget or from resources currently being provided by the New Opportunities Fund.

Under the literacy and numeracy strategy my Department provides resources to support summer literacy and numeracy schemes. I am pleased to be able to inform the member that the resources available in 2001 will enable up to 150 schemes to operate compared to 106 in 2000.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Education to explain why his Capital Spend for the year 2000/2001 reflects a three to one ratio in favour of that sector of education which predominately provides for the Roman Catholic community.

Mr McGuinness: I do not accept that the capital programme announced last year reflects any such ratio and I again refute any suggestion of inequality in the allocation of capital resources. The allocation of capital funding is not determined on any school sector basis but rather on an objective assessment of educational needs across all schools sectors.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Education if in view of the recent budgetary allocation to his department he will indicate what funds will be made available to education and library boards to enable them to transfer term-time staff to fifty-two week contracts and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Details of the proposals in relation to 52 week contracts continue to be the subject of negotiation. The cost implications of implementing any agreement are not yet known. However, as indicated to the Assembly on 28 November, I will look sympathetically at helping schools meet the associated costs.

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Education to outline the steps he is taking to promote the teaching of European languages in primary and post primary schools and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: The statutory school curriculum here requires all secondary schools to offer pupils the opportunity to study one of the main European languages. There is currently no official requirement to teach a language in primary schools, many schools choose to do so, on an informal basis. 2001 has been designated European Year of Languages: I have expressed my support for that initiative and recently took part in its launch here.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children, in each education and library board area, who are being tutored at home and the reasons for each case.

Mr McGuinness: The number of children in each Education and Library Board area currently receiving home tuition provided by the relevant Board is as follows : -

Home tuition is provided because of medical problems, pregnancy or the young person is awaiting a suitable alternative educational placement. The numbers in each category in each Board area are as follows : -

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children in Primary and Post Primary Schools in Northern Ireland who have English as a second language.

Mr McGuinness: The returns from schools at October 2000 indicate 846 pupils in primary schools (including nursery and reception classes) and 443 pupils in post primary schools as having English as an additional language. In addition in Irish medium schools English is taught as a second language and the numbers were 1159 pupils in primary (including reception classes) and 332 pupils in post primary schools.

Mr Nigel Dodds asked the Minister of Education when he is next due to attend meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council.

Mr McGuinness: I am due to attend the meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Plenary session which is scheduled for 2 March 2001.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the percentage of teaching graduates who have gained permanent teaching posts in their first year after qualifying in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr McGuinness: Forty nine percent of student teachers qualifying in 1993 obtained permanent teaching posts that year. The equivalent percentages for each of the years from 1994 to 1997, the last date for which figures are available, are 49.7, 37.1, 28.1 and 26.3.

Mr David Ford asked the Minister of Education to outline his policy to combat homophobic bullying in schools and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Bullying, for whatever reason, including homophobic bullying, has no place in schools. It is unacceptable behaviour and as such falls to be dealt with under a school’s discipline policy.

All schools are required by law to have a discipline policy and to implement it.

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Minister of Education to detail his plans for training for school governors prior to the introduction of the new Local Management of Schools (LMS) formula.

Mr McGuinness: The proposed common funding formula does not change the financial management responsibilities of school governors. The Consultation Document containing the new proposals will be published soon and will explain the formula, as will the common LMS Scheme which will be prepared on foot of the consultation process. Existing training arrangements should therefore be sufficient. Any new governors appointed to schools in due course will of course receive appropriate training.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Education to detail his capital spending proposals for the 2001/2002 financial year.

Mr McGuinness: The schools capital budget for 2001/2002 is some £95 million. The largest part of that budget will be directed to major capital works across all sectors, but substantial funds will also be available for minor capital works. I shall be announcing details of the new starts programme later this month.

Dr Ian Adamson asked the Minister of Education to detail what actions he is taking to promote the Ulster Scots language in the education system and to make a statement.

Mr McGuinness: Responsibility for the promotion of Ulster Scots lies with the Ulster Scots Agency, set up as part of the North/South Language Implementation Body. The Agency hopes to appoint an Education Officer by December 2001 to develop resources for use in the classroom. Scope already exists within the statutory curriculum for schools to introduce aspects of Ulster Scots language, literature and culture as part of the Cultural Heritage and Education for Mutual Understanding cross-curricular themes and resource material is available from the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council.

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Minister of Education to consider good practice in post-primary education in the Republic of Ireland to inform his decisions for post primary education here.

Mr McGuinness: I understand the Review Body on post-primary education will be considering arrangements and structure in a range of countries including the Republic of Ireland. Extensive knowledge and expertise on post-primary education on these arrangements is already available to the Review Body from within its own membership and from the Panel of Education Advisers.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail discussions he has had with other Departments to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses.

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): I attach great importance to reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses. All Government Departments are required to carry out Regulatory Impact Assessments for any legislation affecting business. These are required to be signed off by the Department’s Minister.

I have instigated recently a series of consultations with business representatives about the aspects of regulation most in need of action and I intend putting a paper with my recommendations to the Executive within the next few months.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to ensure the energy market is open to greater competition.

Sir Reg Empey: My Department’s policy is to promote competition in the Northern Ireland energy market within the wider all island and European context. Competition already exists in the well established coal and oil sectors. Action has been taken to implement the EU Directives on the liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets. The required level of opening up of the electricity market will be achieved two years before the April 2003 deadline. The gas market is already open to competition beyond the level required by the EU Gas Directive.

Current action aimed at extending competition in the energy sector includes: a further stage in opening up the electricity market on 1 April 2001; the securing of EU financial assistance for the construction of the Moyle electricity interconnector with Scotland with 75% of the capacity open to immediate Third Party Access and the further strengthening of the links between the NIE and ESB networks; the Regulator’s invitation for applications for gas licences outside the Greater Belfast area; the ongoing discussions with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on North/South gas interconnection; and the support for the development of renewable energy sources and Combined Heat and Power projects.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he has taken to support the development of a knowledge based economy in Northern Ireland.

Sir Reg Empey: My Department is entirely committed to assisting the development of a knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland.

IDB’s activities in attracting inward investment now target the knowledge-based sectors of software, telecommunications, network services and e business. Significant recent achievements include the investments by companies such as Acer Inc, CMAC, Avalanche Technology, Gem.com and TeleTech, which together represent a total investment of £50 million and offer the prospect of 2089 new jobs.

IDB and LEDU encourage existing businesses, including those in traditional industries, to develop their capabilities by embracing technology. They do this by providing support that will enable local companies to achieve the highest standard of business excellence, to embrace e-business and to expand sales overseas.

New programmes such as Enterprise Excellence and Fast Forward Finance have been developed to ensure that those small knowledge based businesses which offer high growth potential are provided with appropriate development assistance and financial support.

I was also delighted recently to be able to launch an industry trade guide for the NITB promoting the introduction of e-commerce among the SME sector of the tourism industry.

The Department has also made significant progress with its Leapfrog to the Information Age Initiative which aims to increase the use of ICT by business and to encourage the development of NI’s ICT sector. The results of DTI’s annual ICT benchmarking survey for the year 2000 show that Northern Ireland has moved from bottom of the list in terms of businesses going online, to equal 6^th within the 12 UK regions. Businesses accounting for 75% of NI employees are now online, and NI has shown the fastest growth of any UK region.

My Department is also continuing to improve the infrastructure for a knowledge-based economy. IRTU is currently developing a strategy for the provision of a world class telecommunications service in Northern Ireland. IRTU is also taking the lead in the development of co-ordinated regional research and development and innovation strategies which will provide the appropriate framework to deliver a knowledge-based economy successfully. These include R&D programmes of support, the Science Park Development, the creation of R&D Centres of Excellence, and the expansion of the Teaching Company Scheme.

DETI have also been working closely with the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to ensure that our education and training systems produce the skills that businesses need in the knowledge based economy.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail discussions he has had with the management of Harland and Wolff relating to the securement of a Ministry of Defence contract and state what assistance his Department has afforded Harland and Wolff to help secure this contract.

Sir Reg Empey: I continue to follow events closely in relation to progress of this conditional contract between Harland and Wolff and AWSR Shipping Ltd for construction of two RoRo ferries at the shipyard. I recently met senior management at Harland and Wolff to discuss a number of aspects with regard to the company’s continuing negotiations with AWSR. I and the Secretary of State have also made representations on the company’s behalf to Ministers at the Ministry of Defence and Department of Trade and Industry. My Department has made an outline offer of shipbuilding intervention aid grant to the company towards the estimated build costs of the 2 vessels and is also assisting with costs of a benchmarking and performance review study at the shipyard in preparation for work on the building project.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the financial assistance given to the shipyard to retain and encourage apprenticeships in the financial years 1998/1999 and 1999/2000.

Sir Reg Empey: Harland and Wolff have a contract with the Training & Employment Agency to deliver modern apprenticeships within the Jobskills programme. Apprentices recruited by the company in 1998/99 and 1999/00 are continuing in training at the shipyard. Relevant payments made to the company amounted to £117,649 in 1998/99 and £118,549 in 1999/00.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of job losses in the textile industry by each parliamentary constituency area for the year 2000.

Sir Reg Empey: In the year to December 2000, there were 2,019 redundancies within the Textiles and Clothing industry confirmed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Information by parliamentary constituency area is not currently available. However, the 2,019 redundancies can be shown by Job Centre area (see table1 below):

Table 1

Confirmed redundancies in the textile and clothing
industry during 2000 *

* under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 companies are only legally

required to notify the Department of impending redundancies of 20 or more employees.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he is aware of plans by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to introduce several broadband lines into Donegal and to make a statement.

Sir Reg Empey: Recent press releases from the Department of Public Enterprise in Republic of Ireland show that a number of projects have been approved to install new broadband connections in Donegal. These developments were also highlighted in the report "Telecommunications for e-Business" published in November last year which was sponsored by the CBI, the Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation, the Department of Public Enterprise in Ireland and my own agency the Industrial Research and Technology Unit. This report showed current and projected broadband connections for the whole of Ireland including enhancements to Northern Ireland's telecommunications network. The draft Programme for Government recognises the importance of broadband services to the progressive development of a knowledge intensive business based economy.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the number of visits he has made to the Strangford constituency in the last twelve months in comparison to other constituencies and (b) how many of those visits were related to inward investment.

Sir Reg Empey: I have made 2 visits to the Strangford constituency in the last twelve months, both of which were inward investment related.

The number of visits to other constituencies and those relating to inward investment are attached in Annex A.

The figures include announcements of new inward investment projects or expansions; visits to externally-owned companies or related promotional events and meetings at which inward investment would have been raised

ANNEX A

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the level of investment made by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) in each District Council area in the last financial year.

Sir Reg Empey: IDB’s expenditure over the last financial year on Selective Financial Assistance (grants, loans and shares) and on property capital works is set out in the attached tables.

Similar analysis of Trade International expenditure could only be attempted at disproportionate costs.

PROPERTY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY DISTRICT COUNCIL AREA 1999/2000

NOTE: While most items of expenditure in relation to IDB’s property portfolio are recorded on a District Council area basis a number of areas of work- expenditure related to contracts for factory maintenance, for example - cannot be readily identified in this way and are not included. The breakdown above by District Council area is therefore not a fully comprehensive analysis.

SELECTIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EXPENDITURE 1999/2000

NOTE:Payments of SFA are made to the NI headquarters of the company concerned and are therefore recorded against the District Council area in which the HQ is located. Where a company has a number of production units in different District Council areas, this may not offer a true reflection of which Council areas actually benefitted from the expenditure.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail, with particular reference to Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry, the work and achievements of "Intertrade Ireland".

Sir Reg Empey: InterTradeIreland, the Trade and Business Development Body has carried out a number of activities to promote cross-border trade and business development throughout the island of Ireland. A major e-commerce event `Building Your E-Business’ was held in Enniskillen in June 2000 and a Road Show event was held in Londonderry in November 2000. The two events together attracted almost 300 business people drawn primarily from the West and Northwest.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he proposes to replicate the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) initiative "Into the West" in counties Antrim and Down.

Sir Reg Empey: "Into the West" is an excellent example of a group of Councils coming together with a statutory organisation, LEDU, to address particular needs identified through the experience of all parties concerned. I am aware that a number of the Councils in Antrim have come together in an organisation known as CORE and in Counties Down and Armagh a similar organisation known as SEED exists. Both CORE and SEED are at different stages of development from Into the West and also may not exactly follow its model. However they are examples of council groupings that are working in partnership with agencies such as LEDU to allow experience and best practice to be shared and maximise the use of public funds.

For this reason I currently have no proposals to replicate this particular initiative in Antrim or Down. However I would encourage the Councils to continue to work on areas of collaboration and I would assure the member that LEDU will promote this and seek to identify opportunities from initiatives such as "Into the West" with a view to further collaboration in the future.

Ms Carmel Hanna asked the Minister of the Environment to detail what representations he has received on the Safe Routes for Schools schemes and to give his assessment of the initiative.

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): I have received one written representation from two organisations and one Assembly Question about the Safer Routes to Schools initiative. To the best of my knowledge, these are the only representations I have received on this subject.

From the evidence available in Great Britain, I am of the opinion that there may be considerable merit in this initiative. I therefore intend to promote, through the aegis of the School Travel Advisory Group and in conjunction with other Northern Ireland Departments and external organisations, at least five Safer Routes to Schools pilot projects across Northern Ireland.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of specimen trees which have been subject to Tree Protection Orders in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Foster: Over the last five years my Department has placed two Tree Preservation Orders on individual trees considered worthy of special protection. These were a Redwood tree at Dergmoney House in Omagh and a Horse Chestnut tree at the junction of Woodburn Road and Upper Road, Carrickfergus.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (a) the number of prosecutions brought against developers for breaching Tree Preservation Orders and (b) the number of prosecutions that have been successful in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Foster: There have been no prosecutions brought for breaching Tree Preservation Orders in any of the last five years.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of trees, protected by Tree Preservation Orders, which have been removed or damaged by developers in each of the last five years within the Borough of Newtownabbey.

Mr Foster: The Department does not compile overall figures on the number of trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) nor does it have figures for the number of trees which have been removed or damaged by developers.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of planning applications for apartments and town houses which have been approved within the Borough of Newtownabbey in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Foster: The information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Department does not routinely record separately the precise nature of dwellings proposed in housing developments involving a range of house types. To identify accurately the information requested would require a manual scrutiny of all planning applications for housing development submitted in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area in each of the last five years. There are currently around 600+ planning applications per year in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of planning applications for apartments and town houses that have been submitted for sites within the Newtownabbey Borough Council area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Foster: The information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Department does not routinely record separately the precise nature of dwellings proposed in housing developments involving a range of house types. To identify accurately the information requested would require a manual scrutiny of all planning applications for housing development submitted in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area in each of the last five years. There are currently around 600+ planning applications per year in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of planning applications for apartments and town houses that have been refused within the Newtownabbey Borough Council area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Foster: The information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Department does not routinely record separately the precise nature of dwellings proposed in housing developments involving a range of house types. To identify accurately the information requested would require a manual scrutiny of all planning applications for housing development submitted in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area in each of the last five years. There are currently around 600+ planning applications per year in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to identify and extend, in conjunction with Newtownabbey Borough Council, areas of townscape within the Borough of Newtownabbey.

Mr Foster: There are at the moment two Areas of Townscape Character within the Newtownabbey Borough Council Area. These are the Lenamore Area of Townscape Character and the Lenamore (Extended) Area of Townscape Character (designated on 5/10/92 and 20/7/98 respectively), both of which are located in the Jordanstown area of the Borough.

I have recently launched the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, which will involve a widespread consultation exercise. This will offer the opportunity for the public to make suggestions with regard to areas within Newtownabbey, and indeed throughout the Belfast Metropolitan Area, which may merit special protection because of their heritage value.

It is not possible to anticipate the outcome of that exercise, as it will affect Newtownabbey or any specific proposals for designations, which may be brought forward. My Department will, however, address any proposals on their planning and heritage merits.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to outline his plans to assist local authorities to segregate waste at source.

Mr Foster: One of the key requirements of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy is for district councils to prepare Waste Management Plans. The Plans must ensure that there are adequate facilities available for recycling and recovery to allow the targets in the Strategy to be met.

These Plans will determine the nature, extent and systems of segregation which represent the Best Practicable Environmental Option for meeting materials recycling targets.

Plans are currently in preparation by 3 council groupings covering all 26 District Council areas in Northern Ireland. My Department has provided financial assistance to support these joint planning partnerships.

My Department will also make available an extra £3.5m for waste management in the incoming financial year. The distribution of these funds, including any assistance for waste segregation, will be informed by the Waste Management Plans which district councils submit.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of the Environment to outline his plans to introduce new legislation for licensing bus services in Northern Ireland.

Mr Foster: I have no plans at present to amend the Transport Act (NI) 1967 which provides for the regulation and licensing of bus services in Northern Ireland.

However the European Commission is currently pursuing proposals for a Regulation on public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport. The United Kingdom government has broadly welcomed the thrust of this proposal.

I will therefore be keeping the matter of the legislation governing the licensing of bus services in Northern Ireland under review in the context of developments on the proposed European Regulation.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to ask his Republic of Ireland counterpart if the European Directive 86/278/EEC in relation to sewage sludge has been fully implemented in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Foster: Compliance with European Directives is a matter between individual Member States and the European Commission in the first instance. It is ultimately for the European Court of Justice to decide if a Directive has been properly implemented.

It would not be appropriate for me to raise, with my counterpart, matters that lie between the Republic of Ireland and the European Commission and in which Northern Ireland does not have a direct interest.

I would also refer Mr Robinson to the answers that I gave, on 8 December 2000, to AQWs 799/00, 800/00, 801/00 and 802/00 and, on 26 January 2001, to AQWs 1171/00, 1174/00 and 1254/00.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to establish a Task Force to study the impact of apartment and town house developments in residential areas.

Mr Foster: I have no plans to establish a specific Task Force for this purpose.

The most comprehensive way of dealing with these developments is through clear planning policy and associated planning guidance, the preparation of which follows the actual experience of the impact of these developments. Planning policy and guidance will reflect this experience within its recommendations for the integration of future proposals within the urban fabric.

My Department is currently finalising, following public consultation, a Planning Policy Statement to provide a policy context against which the design of proposed housing developments both on greenfield lands and within existing urban areas can be considered including their locational context. The Department is also preparing, for consultation, supplementary Planning Guidance in the form of a Development Control Advice Note giving design guidance specifically related to proposals for small-unit housing within existing residential areas. I hope to publish both documents in the spring.

The Department for Regional Development will be preparing a Regional Planning Policy Statement entitled ‘Housing in Settlements’. This will go through the normal consultation arrangements for the preparation of planning policy which afford the opportunity for specific issues to be raised for consideration.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to confirm that the European Directive 86/278/EEC in relation to sewage sludge is implemented in the border regions of Northern Ireland.

Mr Foster: The use of sewage sludge in agriculture is regulated under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995, which implement EU Directive 86/278/EEC. The Regulations place a responsibility on sludge producers to maintain registers of sewage sludge use in agriculture. They are complemented by a UK code of practice for the agricultural use of sewage sludge.

Within Northern Ireland, the only sludge producer under the terms of the Directive is the Department of Regional Development's Water Service. The Water Service is required to ensure that sludge provided to farmers for spreading, and the fields to which it is to be applied, meet the requirements of the Regulations.

Audit checks undertaken by the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department indicate that the procedures and records kept by Water Service conform to the requirements of the Regulations.

The Regulations are enforced, not only in the border regions, but across all of Northern Ireland.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister of the Environment to detail by District Council area for the last five years for which figures are available, the percentage of domestic waste which is recycled under the following categories; (a) paper (b) glass (c) plastic and (d) fabric.

Mr Foster: Information on the levels of recycling of individual waste types by District Council area is not held by my Department.

My Department carried out a survey of municipal waste in all District Council areas for the 1998/99 financial year. The survey revealed that the average domestic waste recycling rate is 4.9% with a total of 42,300 tonnes being recycled.

My Department has now commissioned another study of the waste arisings to provide further information to support District Councils in the development of their Waste Management Plans.

Mr Donovan McClelland asked the Minister of Environment to undertake to promote a paper recycling scheme in local schools.

Mr Foster: Recycling is principally a responsibility of District Councils. All Councils now employ recycling officers who liaise closely with schools in their area to promote recycling. Magherafelt District Council has set a good example by introducing a paper recycling scheme for all schools in its district. I would encourage all other Councils to consider similar action.

One of the aims of my Department’s Waste Management Strategy, published in March 2000, is to effect a cultural shift towards recycling. To achieve this it will be necessary to motivate all members of society, not least school children.

Recycling is promoted as an important aspect of sustainable development by my Department’s Environment and Heritage Service. The Service’s educational strategy aims to promote good environmental practice, including recycling, through partnerships with district councils, community groups and environmental bodies.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to list the organisations he met in his official capacity during (a) September 2000 (b) October 2000 (c) November 2000 and (d) December 2000, detailing the number of occasions on which he met each organisation.

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): In my official capacity, I have met the following organisations:-

September

• NICVA, Barbados, Save the Children Fund, NSPCC, Child Care in NI
• Economic & Social Research Council
• Polish Monitoring Committee
• Derry City Council Marketing Committee
• Regional Policy Directorate, European Commission

October

• Delegation from Committee of the Regions
• Construction Industry Forum for NI
• Arthur J McCabe & Associates PC
• Construction Employers Federation
• Consultation Seminar on Robson Indicators *
• Confederation of British Industry
• Services Industrial Professional Technical Union
• Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
• Lady Chair’s Reception, Federation of Small Businesses
• Working Group on Delivery Mechanisms Peace II with representatives from District Councils, Intermediary Funding Bodies, District Partnership Board, District Partnerships and NICE

November

• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Royal Society of Arts
• Building Control Group Committee
• Omagh District Council
• Community Evaluation NI, NICVA, University of Ulster *
• Quarry Producers Association
• Changing the Face of Public Purchasing Conference - Reps from small & medium sized enterprises in NI & ROI (clients of LEDU, IDB, & Enterprise Ireland)
• Budget Equality Conferences *

December

• Strabane District Council
• Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
• Peace Monitoring Committee including representatives from the Equality, Environment, Voluntary & Community, Business, Agriculture & Rural Development & Fisheries Sectors, Trade Union and Sub-Regional & Local Government
• Peace II and the Voluntary Sector Seminar *
• Human Rights Commission
• Community Support Framework Monitoring Committee including representatives from the Equality, Environment, Voluntary & Community, Business, Agricultural & Rural Sectors, Trade Union and Local Government
• Intermediary Funding Bodies including representatives from Co-operation Ireland, Community Relations Council, Educational Guidance Service, NIPPA, NIVT, PROTEUS, Playboard, Rural Community Network, Rural Development Council, Training for Women Network and Youthnet

* - Includes representatives from the various sectors within the community which the Minister has met on more than one occasion.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline discussions he has had with representatives of the private sector on the impact of the regional rate.

Mr Durkan: I have not had any discussions with representatives of the private sector. I have received written representations from Strabane Business 2000, the Association of Riding Establishments in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation on this issue. In addition I have been made aware of the objections of a delegation of independent retailers which lobbied the Assembly on 15 January 2001.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail his plans to raise the issue of designation of Radon affected areas with his counterpart in the Irish Government.

Mr Durkan: I have no immediate plans at present to raise the matter of radon designation with Ministers in the Irish Government. There are regular discussions at official level on radon and other environmental protection matters. When further considering the issue of designation and consulting on proposals for extending areas of designation I will consider relevant provisions in other jurisdictions in these islands.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if, in light of the recent report published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Central Statistics Office - "Ireland - North and South : A Statistical Profile", he will advise on those comparative socio-economic statistics which are not available and which are referred to on page (iii) of the above report and what plans he has to have this data produced.

Mr Durkan: "Ireland, North and South: A Statistical Profile" was jointly produced by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Through a process of elimination, they identified major policy areas for which comparable data were readily available for both jurisdictions. These are the policy areas covered by the Profile. NISRA is in regular contact with CSO to investigate (i) the potential to provide further comparable statistics for those policy areas already covered by the Profile, and (ii) the possibility of new comparable data being identified/produced. It is intended that future editions of the Profile will feature greater data coverage arising from these contacts.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency plans to update the 1997 report "Focus on Northern Ireland" and in particular its section entitled "The Two Communities".

Mr Durkan: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency plan to publish a new edition of "Focus on Northern Ireland" in Winter 2001. This will include an update of the material included in the section entitled "The Two Communities".

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the fiscal measures he is taking to relieve child poverty in Northern Ireland and to make a statement.

Mr Durkan: A focus on our young people is central to the Programme for Government’s vision for the future. The budget for 2001/02 approved by the Assembly on 18 December 2000 contains a number of measures to alleviate child poverty.

Parity with the social security system in Great Britain will be maintained to provide an overall framework within which poverty will be tackled. Nearly £16 million will be spent on the Welfare Reform and Modernisation programme which, amongst other things, will modernise the child support service for lone parents and simplify current assessment procedures.

Real terms increases in the DE, DHSSPS and DSD budgets will enable current programmes designed to alleviate child poverty to be maintained and developed. For example the budget provides a 10% increase in provision for Personal Social Services in 2001/02. This will maintain the improvements made to children’s services in 2000, expand the Sure Start coverage by almost 50% and provide some additional residential care places in response to the deficiencies identified in the "Children Matter" report.

In recognition of the special needs of children the Executive has also set up a £28 million Children’s Fund to provide targeted support for children in need and youth at risk over the next three years.

Mr Edwin Poots asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the amount of public money spent on behalf of (a) the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (b) the Minister of Education and (c) the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on legal costs associated with the court case taken by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety against the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Mr Durkan: The respective legal representatives of the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Minister of Education and Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety have not yet submitted a note of their costs in the court case taken by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety against the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. At this stage, therefore, no public money has been spent.

Ms Carmel Hanna asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail progress in relation to plans to overcome difficulties caused by deficits in Health Service Trusts.

Mr Durkan: At its meeting on 8 February the Executive agreed my proposals to resolve the Health Service deficits through an injection of £18m of additional funding. It was also agreed that DFP, DHSSPS and OFMDFM should oversee a joint consultancy exercise to examine the origins and consequences of the recent growth of deficits in HPSS Boards and Trusts and the effectiveness of new arrangements which DHSSPS is currently putting in place to ensure improved transparency and accountability. The conclusions of this review will be brought back to the Executive in the late Spring.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to give his assessment of how the budget will help the poorest pensioners in Northern Ireland.

Mr Durkan: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a range of tax and expenditure measures in his Pre-Budget Report which will be of benefit to pensioners. These include increases in the basic state pension, the minimum income guarantee for poorer pensioners, and the winter fuel payment. The Executive intends to implement these measures in full in Northern Ireland.

In the draft Programme for Government, published in October 2000, the Executive made a commitment to address fuel poverty and provide free transport for older people.

On the 22 January I announced that the Executive was allocating an additional £2 million to the Department of Social Development for action against fuel poverty.

Mr Alban Maginness asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail his plans to make representations to the Treasury regarding improved levels of resources allocated under the Barnett formula and to make a statement.

Mr Durkan: The First Minister and Deputy First Minister met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently to discuss a range of issues including the operation of the Barnett Formula.

My officials have also had a series of meetings with HM Treasury officials during the Spending Review process to discuss Northern Ireland’s Barnett determined funding allocations.

I will continue to seek changes in relation to the Barnett Formula and press for funding allocations which fully reflect the higher levels of need in Northern Ireland.

Mr Jim Wilson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if it is his intention to ringfence a portion of PEACE II funds for assistance to victims of terrorism.

Mr Durkan: Under the latest allocations for the PEACE II Programme, agreed by the Executive Committee, victims are specifically catered for within the Social Integration, Inclusion and Reconciliation Priority. The indicative allocation for carrying out actions for support for victims and survivors of violence under this Priority is some £6.67 million including matching Government funding.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail his plans for the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to provide socio-economic statistics on community differentials according to religion.

Mr Durkan: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency includes a question on religion in all major surveys and routinely includes analysis by religion in the published reports on these surveys. Publication of the Labour Force Survey Religion Report for 1999 and a Source Book of Fair Employment Statistics providing time series covering the period 1971 to 1999 is in progress. In addition, NISRA plans to publish a number of compendia publications over the year ahead including new editions of the Northern Ireland Social Brief and Focus on Northern Ireland, both of which will provide socio-economic statistics according to religion.

Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail progress in relation to the development of the partnership arrangements which will take forward Peace II.

Mr Durkan: The Executive has agreed upon a model for partnership working under PEACE II which will evolve directly from the existing District Partnerships, and build on their successes. Through District Councils, Social and Economic Partners and Statutory Agencies together developing integrated local area strategies, we aim to promote arrangements which will be sustainable after the Programme ends. We hope that these new arrangements will have taken root in all district council areas, by local agreement within a framework specified by the Executive, by the end of this year.

Mr Edwin Poots asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to confirm when funding will be available for District Partnerships to distribute under the Peace II programme.

Mr Durkan: Negotiations with the European Commission on the PEACE II Operational Programme should be completed by March 2001. Thereafter the availability of funding to District Partnerships will depend upon approval of the Programme Complement by the Monitoring Committee and the establishment of arrangements by each District Partnership to receive and evaluate applications for funding under Priority 3 of the new Programme.

Mr Paul Berry asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the monitoring procedures he follows in relation to expenditure by each Civil Service Department.

Mr Durkan: DFP conducts four monitoring rounds in the course of each financial year during July, October, December and February. Each Department writes to DFP setting out its proposals for changes in the pattern of Departmental allocations in response to spending patterns. These can be reductions, increases or reallocations between Departments. Proposals for reallocations are scrutinised jointly by DFP and the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the steps she is taking to ensure that the Health Service has sufficient resources to invest in new methods of treatment.

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): The historic underfunding of the health and social services here has created difficulties in ensuring the adequate provision of services, including new methods of treatment. My Department’s bids for additional resources in the last public expenditure round identified a range of needs including the additional costs of new methods of treatment and it is my Department’s policy to maximise the amount of available resources going to frontline care. The resources made available for health and social services, however, is determined by the Executive and approved by the Assembly and I will continue to press for additional funding.

Tá deacrachtaí cruthaithe ag an easpa maoinithe stairiúil sna seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta anseo maidir le soláthar sásúil seirbhísí a chinntiú, modhanna nua cóireála san áireamh. D’aithin éilimh mo Roinne ar áiseanna breise sa dreas caiteachais phoiblí deireanach réimse riachtanas, na costais bhreise a bhaineann le modhanna nua cóireála san áireamh, agus is é polasaí mo Roinne an méid is mó agus is féidir de na háiseanna a chur chuig cúram líne thosaigh. Bíodh sin mar atá, cinntear na háiseanna a chuirtear ar fáil do shláinte agus sheirbhísí sóisialta ag an Fheidhmeannas agus ceadaítear ag an Tionól iad agus leanfaidh mé de bheith ag tathant orthu maoiniú breise a chur ar fáil.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the suggested link between the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism in young children and to detail the number of diagnosed autism cases in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

Ms de Brún: I am aware of the weight of research evidence on this issue. The World Health Organisation, the Medical Research Council, the Committee on the Safety of Medicine and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have all stated that there is no link between MMR vaccine and autism and I have seen no credible evidence to the contrary.

Information about the annual numbers of diagnosed autism cases is not collected centrally.

Tá méid an taighde ar an cheist seo ar eolas agam. Mhaígh an Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Sláinte, an Chomhairle Taighde Míochaine, an Coiste ar Shábháilteacht Mhíochaine agus an Comhchoiste ar Vacsaíniú agus ar Dhionadh uilig nach bhfuil nasc ar bith idir vacsaín BPB agus uathachas agus ní fhaca me cruthú creidiúnach ar a mhalairt.

Ní bhailítear eolas go lárnach ar líonta bliantúla na gcásanna fáthmheasta le huathachas.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the provision for Speech and Language Therapy services in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and to make a statement.

Ms de Brún: There are 108.83 WTE (whole time equivalent) permanent and 5.3WTE temporary speech and language therapists employed by HSS Trusts in the Eastern Board area. The Board advises that at the end of December 2000 there were 304 people waiting for assessment and 131 waiting for treatment to commence. There are currently 27.65 WTE vacancies covering permanent, temporary and new initiative posts. Recruitment and retention of qualified therapists has proved problematical for Trusts. My Department is reviewing the number of speech and language therapists in training. Currently there is an annual intake of 22 students per year to the University of Ulster.

Fostaíonn Iontaobhais SSS 108.83 teiripí labhartha agus teanga buana CAI (coibhéis ama iomláin) agus 5.3 teiripí labhartha agus teanga sealadacha CAI i limistéar Bhord an Oirthir. Measann an Bord go raibh 304 duine ag fanacht ar mheasúnú agus 131 duine ag fanacht ar thús a gcóireála ag deireadh Mhí na Nollag 2000. Faoi láthair, tá 27.65 folúntas CAI a chumhdaíonn postanna buana, sealadacha agus tionscnaimh nua. Bhí fadhb ag Iontaobhais teiripithe cáilithe a earcú agus a choinneáil. Tá an Roinn s’agam ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar líon na dteiripithe labhartha agus teanga in oiliúint. Faoi láthair, glacann Ollscoil Uladh 22 mhac léinn in aghaidh na bliana.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to protect the former 'Workhouse' building within the grounds of Coleraine Hospital.

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to Written Question AQ 1582.

Luaim leis an Bhall an Cheist Scríofa AQ 1582.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her plans for the site of Coleraine Hospital following its closure.

Ms de Brún: When the new Causeway Hospital opens in April 2001, Coleraine Hospital will be surplus to the requirements of Causeway HSS Trust. In accordance with Government procedures for the disposal of surplus property, the availability of Coleraine Hospital has been circulated within the public sector. This produced no expressions of interest.

The next step in the procedure is to appoint an estate agent to deal with the disposal of the hospital on the open market. It is considered however that the decommissioning of the hospital to facilitate its disposal, will take approximately six months. Consequently the appointment of an estate agent will not take place until the autumn.

Meetings between officers of Causeway Trust and the Valuation and Lands Agency hav