(AQO 932/01)

Reply: The Executive continues to work to provide a stable Government for the people of Northern Ireland. It addresses a range of strategic and cross-cutting issues such as developing the Programme for Government, the Review of Public Administration, and agreeing the annual Budget. In particular the Programme for Government represents our commitment, as an Executive, to effective and accountable government which makes a real difference to the lives of the people in Northern Ireland.

This is evident in decisions which have been taken on key infrastructure projects relating to gas and roads. The Executive also has decided to fund free travel and nursing care for the elderly. The strength of the Programme for Government is that the choices are being made, on a cross-party basis, by an administration which understands and wants to respond to the difficulties and challenges which Northern Ireland faces.

(AQO 920/01)

Reply: As was stated during last week’s very constructive debate, the Executive is determined that this will be an open, transparent and inclusive process in which everyone has ample opportunity to participate and make their views known.

The initial consultation with the Assembly and others on the proposed terms of reference for the review is a clear indication of the way in which we intend to proceed.

Once the Review is launched and underway there will be many more opportunities for people to become involved and contribute their ideas. Everyone will have access to the review team via the website, which is currently up and running, as well as through more formal consultation exercises.

(AQO 915/01)

Reply: At 22nd February 2002 the cost of producing documents for consultation in our department over the last three years, including preparation, printing, distribution and all ancillary costs was £217,719.65.

(AQO 914/01)

Reply: This is a subject on which we appreciate and share the concern of Members and are determined that appropriate steps should be taken to address it as soon as possible. However, in our view the problem is not one that can be addressed in isolation from other community relations issues. Nor do we consider that it would be inappropriate to seek to deal with such a potentially sensitive issue in advance of the review of community relations policy, which is nearing completion, and the public consultation which will follow.

Therefore, we will bring forward proposals as part of our cross-departmental strategy and framework for the promotion of community relations and to ensure an effective and co-ordinated response to sectarian and racial intimidation.

(AQO 931/01)

Reply: We have plans to visit Washington next week as part of the events surrounding St Patrick’s Day. We hope to meet with President Bush during that visit.

(AQO 941/01)

Reply: In fulfilling our Programme for Government commitment we are developing a policy to tackle racial inequality with the assistance of departments, statutory agencies, including the Equality Commission and voluntary bodies through our PSI Working Group on Ethnic Minorities with a view to bringing it forward this year. The voluntary agencies represented on the Group are NI Council for Ethnic Minorities, Chinese Welfare Association, Indian Community Centre and Multi Cultural Resource Centre.

We intend to have a full and open consultation on the document, before it is finally agreed by the Executive Committee. This will include consultation with minority ethnic voluntary organisations.

(AQO 940/01)

Reply: Our Department established a Children’s and Young People’s Unit on 1st January 2002, to ensure that the rights and needs of children and young people are given a high priority within the Executive.

The branch’s main objectives are to take forward legislation to establish a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland, ensuring a Commissioner is appointed by the Autumn 2002 and also to develop a long-term over-arching strategy for children and young people in Northern Ireland. This is an important development that will help to ensure a joined up approach across the Executive to matters affecting children.

(AQO 938/01)

Reply: Obviously we want to learn from best practice elsewhere and also to avoid making mistakes from which others have suffered. Therefore the Review will look internationally at how best to organise public administration. We also intend to appoint independent external experts who can bring a different dimension to the Review drawing on innovative examples and ideas for the organisation and delivery of services.

The European Commission has been undergoing a major programme of reform which could also yield valuable lessons. During our recent visit to Brussels, Neil Kinnock encouraged us to look at their experience of significant culture change. The Review team will be asked to look at the European Commission experience as well as looking at other countries in the European Union and beyond.

(AQO 909/01)

Reply: The Executive is currently considering a paper providing a framework for an EU strategy. Much of the early focus is on ensuring that Departments are alert to EU developments relevant to their responsibilities and have the procedures in place to ensure they progress Northern Ireland’s interests appropriately. As the strategy develops, we will be identifying key policy priorities at a detailed level and the best means of taking these forward. It is at this point that the North South aspect will become important as issues are identified where there are distinct and common interests which would benefit from harmonised arrangements or co-operative working.

Paragraph 17 of Strand Two of the Agreement provides for the North South Ministerial Council to consider the European Union dimension of relevant matters, including the implementation of EU policies and programmes and proposals under consideration in the EU framework. At its meeting in institutional format on 17 December 2001, the Council agreed that further work, building on preliminary discussions between Ministers, should be undertaken to consider the most effective way of pursuing this role. A Working Group has been established for this purpose, and will report back to the next meeting of the Council in institutional format.

(AQO 919/01)

Reply: On 27 September last year, Sir Reg Empey and Seamus Mallon wrote to Members to inform them of the legislative programme for the 2001/2002 session comprising 23 Bills, including 4 carried over from the previous session. To date, 3 Bills have been enacted, a further 3 have completed their Assembly passage, and the Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill has reached Consideration Stage. In addition, the Railway Safety Bill was introduced on 18th February, while the Health and Personal Social Services and Children Leaving Care Bills are at Introduction stage.

It had been expected that a higher proportion of Bills in the Programme would have been introduced to the Assembly by this stage in the session. However, a great deal of pre-introduction work on legislative proposals has been carried out, particularly with Committees. A substantial amount of public consultation has also been undertaken. All of this should help to ensure that our legislation truly reflects our needs and circumstances.

(AQO 951/01)

Reply: There is no specific initiative aimed at promoting St Patrick as a symbol which all communities in Northern Ireland can embrace. However, a number of District Councils (including Newry & Mourne) are organising cross-community events in association with St Patrick’s Day which are part-funded by our department under the District Council Community Relations Programme.

(AQO 937/01)

Reply: During the reception to launch the Brussels Office we met many of the 140 guests who attended, including Vice-President Kinnock, Commissioners Barnier, Schreyer, Byrne and Bolkestein, the British and Irish Permanent Representatives to the European Union, the British and Irish Ambassadors to Belgium, the Minister- President of the Brussels Region and many Members of the European Parliament.

We also took the opportunity of the visit to Brussels to hold additional meetings with President Romano Prodi, Vice-President Kinnock, Commissioner Fischler, Secretary-General O’Sullivan of the European Commission, and with President Pat Cox of the European Parliament and a number of other Members of the European Parliament.

Invitations to visit Northern Ireland were extended to President Prodi of the Commission and to President Cox of the European Parliament, and we are pleased to confirm that both Presidents willingly accepted.

(AQW 2169/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NI) 1997 it falls to individual employers and the self- employed to report accidents, which result in either major injuries or more than three days away from work, to the Health and Safety Executive (NI). My Department’s responsibility in this area thus relates only to its employees. During the last three years six accidents were recorded at lairages, all of these in abattoirs.

(AQW 2187/01)

Ms Rodgers: I am conscious of concerns regarding coastal erosion and flooding resulting from recent high tides.

There is no statutory provision in Northern Ireland for funding of compensation to those who have lost land through coastal erosion.

I am advised however that there were long- bestablished inter-Departmental arrangements agreed in 1967 for undertaking essential coastal protection works arising as a consequence of erosion. Under this agreement Departmental responsibility was based on the material asset at risk. I have recently written to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Development, Sir Reg Empey and the Minister of Regional Development, Mr Peter Robinson whose Departments share that responsibility with my Department to re-affirm the understanding and continued operation of that agreement under Devolution.

I would add that my Department’s Rivers Agency is responsible for the provision and maintenance of sea defences designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland, which protect low-lying coastal areas from tide-related flooding.

(AQW 2209/01)

Ms Rodgers: The annual Cabinet Office Publication, "Public Bodies" provides a range of information including expenditure for Northern Ireland Non Departmental Public Bodies. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Assembly Library and are also available on the Cabinet Office website. (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango)

(AQW 2210/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The annual Cabinet Office Publication, "Public Bodies" provides a range of information including expenditure for Northern Ireland non-Departmental Public Bodies. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Assembly Library and are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

(AQW 2263/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The total amount spent on promoting the bid as of 1 March 2002 is £574,551.14 with £302,431.90 spent on marketing, detailed below. The difference of £272,119.21 was spent on Administration and equipment.

(AQW 2264/01)

Mr McGimpsey: I am unable to supply figures relating to future spending on promotion of the bid. This will be determined when the Board of Imagine Belfast have agreed their Business Plan for 2002/03.

(AQW 2271/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has responsibility for the development of sport within the province. I understand curling is not practised in Northern Ireland on a regular basis but if this position were to change and a Governing Body was formed, the Sports Council would be happy to discuss with the Governing Body how the sport could be developed.

(AQW 2098/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): The total amount spent on such visits is as follows:

These costs include all supporting officials who accompanied me on the visits and cover the period since of devolution, excluding periods of suspension.

(AQW 2151/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The numbers of male and female teachers in Principal and Vice-Principal grades at (a) primary school and (b) secondary school level are as follows:

(AQW 2164/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Although the number of males entering primary teacher training is still low relative to the number of women, their number has increased by 36.8% between 1998/1999 and the 2001/02 academic year, which is an encouraging trend. When the General Teaching Council is established later this year, it will have a role in promoting male primary teaching as a career, alongside the ongoing work of Stranmillis and St Mary’s University Colleges, the employers and school careers advisors in challenging gender stereotyping.

(AQW 2172/01)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department, together with DHSS&PS, is funding research into the educational experiences of looked after children. The research is being undertaken by Save the Children and the report is expected in the summer.

(AQW 2174/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I recently announced plans for a third phase of a pilot initiative which is designed to allow schools flexibility to provide a work-related learning programme for selected pupils at Key Stage 4 by permitting the disapplication of aspects of the statutory curriculum. Pupils may spend up to 2 days per week on vocational activities, which may include study at a further education college or training organisation, together with work-related experience.

(AQW 2181/01)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department uses the guidance in the DfEE Building Bulletin 77 ‘Designing for Pupils with Special Educational Needs - Special Schools’. This is adapted to suit local circumstances after consultation with individual schools, Boards officers and the Education and Training Inspectorate.

(AQW 2203/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Report 'The Effects of the Selective System of Secondary Education in Northern Ireland' includes two volumes of research papers. In addition, the body of the main report includes references to other relevant published research; these are clearly denoted and copies are obtainable from the sources quoted.

(AQW 2211/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The expenditure figures for non- Departmental Public Bodies under my responsibility in each year since 1995 are as follows:

* The 2000/01 accounts are currently under audit.

Expenditure figures are made up of Department of Education grant, examination fees, and other income generated by the Council.

The Audited Accounts for the Education and Library Boards are published each year as Command Papers and are available in the Assembly Library. The net expenditure for each Board for the periods 1995/96 to 1998/99 are as follows, together with unaudited figures for 99/00 and 00/01:

Note 1.

With effect from 1 April 1998 and the introduction of FE Incorporation the Boards do not have responsibility for expenditure in this area and as such is not reflected in Boards’ expenditure figures from 1998/99 onwards. Figures prior to 1 April 1998 also include expenditure relating to the Youth Training Programme.

Note 2.

With effect from 1 December 1999 and the onset of devolution, Boards’ expenditure is mainly funded by DE, DCAL and DEL and therefore the expenditure specified above reflects expenditure incurred by the Boards from funding provided by all funding Departments.

Note 3.

The accounts for 1999/00 and 2000/01 were completed on an accruals basis and the expenditure includes depreciation and notional costs. To date they are unaudited and should be treated as provisional.

Note

The Accounts for the Staff Commission are prepared on a cash basis, therefore the expenditure above is cash.

All grant-aid from the Department of Education to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools is payable under paragraph 15 of the Education Reform Order (NI) Order 1989.

(AQW 2216/01)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department is currently reviewing the administrative arrangements relating to the medical needs of pupils in schools. After consultation with the teachers’ unions, the Department intends to issue appropriate guidance to employing authorities and schools, similar to that produced by the Department for Education and Skills for use in England and Wales.

(AQW 2248/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Money is not set aside as such for the education of blind and sight impaired, or deaf and hearing impaired children. Instead Education and Library Boards assess and respond to need on an individual basis in line with the Code of Practice on the Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

The Education and Library Boards were unable to detail the exact amounts of funding over the last five years within the timescale of the answer.

Details of approximate funding for sensory impaired pupils are as follows;

* represents a figure for Sensory Impaired pupils ie a combined figure for both Deaf and Hearing impaired and Blind and Visually impaired pupils.

Note: 
i) The above figures may not include all the costs of equipment used in mainstream schools.

ii) The N.E.E.L.B. figures include costs for Jordanstown School excluding travel costs, which are included in the other E.L.B’.s figures.

(AQW 2249/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Money is not set aside as such for the education of blind and sight impaired, or deaf and hearing impaired children. Instead Education and Library Boards assess and respond to need on an individual basis in line with the Code of Practice on the Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

The Education and Library Boards were unable to detail the exact amounts of funding over the last five years within the timescale of the answer.

Details of approximate funding for sensory impaired pupils are as follows;

* represents a figure for Sensory Impaired pupils ie a combined figure for both Deaf and Hearing impaired and Blind and Visually impaired pupils.

Note: 
i) The above figures may not include all the costs of equipment used in mainstream schools.

ii) The N.E.E.L.B. figures include costs for Jordanstown School excluding travel costs, which are included in the other E.L.B’.s figures.

(AQW 2250/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Report 'The Effects of the Selective System of Secondary Education in Northern Ireland' includes two volumes of research papers. In addition, the body of the main report includes references to other relevant published research; these are clearly denoted and copies are obtainable from the sources quoted.

(AQW 2272/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The percentages of boys and girls receiving fewer than 5 GCSEs A*-C or equivalent qualifications for regions with an ILO unemployment rate greater than 6.0% at Spring 2000 are as follows:

(AQW 2292/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils leaving school without a GCSE Grade G or above in a modern language is as follows:

A proportion of these pupils may, however, have achieved certification through Graded Objectives in Modern Languages (GOML), which is offered by CCEA in five languages at either three or four levels. Figures for pupils qualified through GOML are not available, however; it is therefore not possible to provide the number of pupils leaving secondary/grammar school with no qualifications in a modern language

It is important that we should do all we can to encourage people of all ages to become familiar with at least one language other than their own. The statutory curriculum here requires all secondary-level schools to offer pupils the opportunity to study one of the main European languages in order to prepare them for living and working in an increasingly global and European- based economy.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment will be specifically addressing the issue of language provision as part of the current Curriculum Review.

(AQW 2293/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils who left school at the minimum age in each of the last 5 years is as follows:

These figures do not include pupils at special or independent schools.

(AQW 2309/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Allocation of funds to projects procured under the Private Finance Initiative only commences from the date the school becomes operational. The allocation for unitary payments in the 2001/02 financial year is £1,492,451.

(AQW 2346/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The South-Eastern Education and Library Board has confirmed Mr Forster was appointed to the Board of Governors of Andrews Memorial Primary School in 1997 to serve for a term of 4 years, which ended in 2001.

When reconstituting boards of governors the Board’s Committee for the Management of Schools takes into account several factors including, the need to appoint new representatives, the retention of a proportion of existing representatives, the attendance record of governors and the requirement to achieve a reasonable gender balance. As a result of these considerations it is inevitable that some governors will not be re-appointed. This was the case at Andrews Memorial Primary School when it was decided not to re-appoint Mr Forester.

In view of representations made regarding the appointment process, the Board have confirmed that it will be re-examining their procedures for appointment of board representatives in the future.

(AQW 2377/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I am consulting about future post- primary arrangements and I have invited comments on the Burns proposals, suggestions for modifications to those proposals or for alternative arrangements. The consultation end on 28 June 2002 and I will not be making any decisions about future arrangements until I have considered the comments received.

(AQW 1841/01)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): The following table shows the total funds surrendered from the Student Loans budget for each of the last 2 financial years. Figures for 1998/99 (pre- devolution) are held by the Department of Education.

(AQW 1977/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department issued the consultation paper on 25th January 2002 and the closing date for responses is 22nd March 2002. There was an extensive list of consultees, including major organisations and interested parties involved in the hotel and catering industry. It is important that all those with an interest respond to the consultation process. The consultation will inform the final outcome as to whether or not the proposed merger will proceed.

(AQW 2055/01)

Ms Hanna: All formal guidance issued by DFP relating to financial operations, including fraud, is issued to NDPB’s by the Department. Each of the Departments NDPB’s has confirmed that they follow procedures laid down in Government Accounting in relation to fraud.

(AQW 2059/01)

Ms Hanna: It is usual practice in my Department for officials to reply to correspondence using the address supplied by correspondents.

(AQW 2083/01)

Ms Hanna: Latest figures available from the Student Loans Company show that the average amount a Northern Ireland student borrows through student loans in an academic year is £3,033. To reduce the levels of student debt, non-repayable bursaries of up to £1,500, with a commensurate reduction in the student loan, will be introduced from September this year for students from low-income families.

(AQW 2123/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department provides a range of programmes to help long-term unemployed people (male and female) aged 50 and over to gain employment. These programmes include New Deal 50plus, Focus for Work (incorporating New Deal 25+, Bridge to Employment, Worktrack, Training for Work and Jobclubs). The Task Force on Employability and Long -Term Unemployment, which I chair, is currently examining the issue of long term unemployment.

(AQW 2136/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department has allocated £467k to the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education in the last two financial years to enhance access for people with disabilities. Of this funding, £39k has been spent at the Strabane campus and the Institute has plans for further minor upgrades from its 2002/03 budget allocation.

(AQW 2137/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department has provided the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education with funding of £14.9m in the 2000/2001 financial year to support its activities. How these funds are used, within the broad purpose for which they were allocated, is a matter for the Governing Board having regard for the educational needs of its community.

(AQW 2188/01)

Ms Hanna: I have no plans to introduce a scheme of the nature described. The professional development of employees is a matter for the employer. However all employees, especially low paid, have access to the range of learning opportunities offered through Further Education Colleges and Learndirect, each of which carry a public subsidy. In the future when Individual Learning Accounts are reintroduced a further source of learning support will become available.

(AQW 2193/01)

Ms Hanna: Northern Ireland students attending courses at publicly funded colleges in the Republic of Ireland have their tuition fees paid by the Irish Government. The Education and Library Boards pay an additional charge for registration, examination fees and student services. Students also have access to income contingent loans and supplementary grants.

(AQW 2194/01)

Ms Hanna: Currently I have no plans to undertake a further review of the student loan system. However, I will consider the implications of any outcomes emerging from the current DfES review into student finance.

(AQW 2220/01)

Ms Hanna: The development of high quality technology is an integral part of much of the research being undertaken in the universities and, in addition to its mainstream grant, my Department is providing a number of special funding streams designed to assist the universities with this aspect of their work.

(AQW 2260/01)

Ms Hanna: There have been two New Deal clients who have been employed by MLAs under the New Deal Programme. No NI Minister or Member of the House of Lords has employed a New Deal client.

(AQW 2297/01)

Ms Hanna: This department collects information on subjects studied by students graduating from NI Higher Education institutions and their subsequent employment. The area of study is categorised into subject groups and employment is categorised by industrial classification. These categories apply across the UK. While it is possible to produce both, there is no agreed method by which industrial classification can be directly associated with a specific area of study.

I have placed this information in the Assembly library. The tables provide details of the subject of study against the industry classification in which the graduate is employed for 1995/96 to 1999/00. It should be noted that the subject groups were revised in 1998/99.

(AQW 2437/01)

Ms Hanna: An Outline Business Case (OBC), is currently underway and will be presented, in due course, to the Department. The issue of a letter of offer relating to the Private Finance Initiative Project for the campus, is dependent on approval of the OBC and is due to be presented to my Department in April 2002. The OBC will address the issues you raise and the Letter of Grant will issue when the OBC has been approved.

(AQW 2524/01)

Ms Hanna: Part I of the Review has been completed. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. The Report has been made available to the members of the Assembly Committee for Employment and Learning.

The purpose of Part 1 was to establish whether there was a continuing need for the services provided by the Labour Relations Agency and, if so, to consider a range of options for delivering those services.

The views of a wide range of stakeholders and interest groups, including among others trade unions, employers’ organisations, voluntary bodies and district councils, were sought. Other options for delivering the services – through privatisation, contracting out/market testing, merger with another public body or reallocation of services to another public body – were examined. The Review concluded that there was a continuing need for the services and that an NDPB remained the best vehicle for delivering them. The main ground for the latter conclusion was that NDPB status offered the best guarantee of the independence and impartiality that a conciliation/mediation body must have, and be seen to have, if it is to have the full confidence of all its users.

Part II of the Review will begin shortly. It will examine how the Agency operates and make recommendations for how delivery of its services might be improved. I will inform the Assembly of the outcome.

(AQW 2129/01)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The total amount spent on Ministerial visits outside Northern Ireland in each of the last 3 years is as follows:

The information provided has been calculated during periods of devolution and has been based on financial year returns. It includes all Ministerial travel outside Northern Ireland ie Overseas and GB/ROI. Costs for attendance at BIC and NSMC have been taken into account.

The amounts also include costs incurred to the Department by the Private Secretary, Press Officer, Special Advisor and Departmental Officials and represent air fares, rail, taxi, subsistence, hotel accommodation but excludes salary costs.

(AQW 2185/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The areas of the Northern Ireland economy that are most vulnerable to the current global downturn are foreign direct investment (particularly aerospace and Information and Communication Technologies), exports and tourism. Future employment prospects, in these areas, will be largely dependent upon a global economic recovery and the restoration of confidence in the airline industry. The view expressed in HM Treasury’s Pre-Budget Report (November, 2001) is that the global recovery will gather pace in mid-2002.

On the positive side, the Northern Ireland economy is better placed than most economies to withstand the current global slowdown given its reliance on the Great Britain economy and the significance of the Republic of Ireland as both a key-trading partner and source of foreign direct investment. These two economies are forecast to outperform most of their global competitors in 2002. The International Monetary Fund and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development expect the UK to be the fastest growing Group of seven (G7) economy in 2002, while economic growth in the Republic of Ireland, although slowing, remains above most of its international competitors. Two notable exceptions are China and India, markets that my Department and its Agencies are actively encouraging NI exporters to develop. Public expenditure will also help to sustain jobs and incomes during the next few years.

(AQW 2213/01)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department has responsibility for four Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies.

The Health and Safety Executive (NI) was set up as a Crown Status Non-Departmental Body on 1 April 1999.

The Minister also has the responsibility for two Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies namely Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland (Advisory Board) and Industrial Research and Technology Unit (Advisory Board) neither of which are funded directly by this Department.

Further detailed information on Non-Departmental Public Bodies can be found in the annual Cabinet Office Publication, "Public Bodies". Copies have been placed in the Assembly Library and are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

(AQW 2233/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The Republic of Ireland is one of the most important tourism markets for Britain. It is one of seven markets currently being targeted by BTA as part of its UK-OK campaign, which aims to recover the inbound tourism industry from the losses sustained as a result of the Foot and Mouth Disease and the events of September 11th in 2001. The BTA’s brochure Hidden Britain (which is part of the enquiry fulfilment pack for the campaign) includes a number of Northern Ireland destinations as part of this campaign.

The British Tourist Authority (BTA) exists to build the value of inbound tourism to Britain, generating additional tourism revenue throughout Britain, throughout the year. Promoting Northern Ireland is an important part of BTA’s efforts to promote Britain as an attractive destination. BTA enjoys a close and continuing relationship with Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

(AQW 2359/01)

Sir Reg Empey: In the 12 months period subsequent to Mr Roy Bailie’s appointment as Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on 1 July 1996, the firm of W&G Baird was awarded contracts to the value of £160, 000. The total value of contracts in the 24 months subsequent to his appointment was £ 392,000. Details are as noted in the table below