(AQW 3176/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): In response to the first part of your question, I can advise that while on-farm burial has been a permitted method of disposal of fallen stock this option may be significantly constrained when the EU Animal By-Product Regulation comes into force, probably in the first half of 2003. The introduction of the Regulation will have significant implications for Northern Ireland in that it will ban on farm burial except in remote areas. At best only very limited parts of Northern Ireland could qualify as being remote. You will appreciate that this is a UK-wide issue, which will need to be addressed by key stakeholders.

In relation to the second part of your question, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), together with the devolved administrations, held a meeting in London on 3 April 2002, of key stakeholders to discuss options for the disposal of fallen animals and various funding mechanisms. The Ulster Farmers’ Union was represented.

Following discussion of the issues there was general agreement that, recognising that various factors had changed which impacted on the issue, there was a need for a new system or approach to the collection and disposal of fallen animals. It was also agreed that any system should be national rather than regional in its approach, although, given the geographical separation Northern Ireland will likely have to implement its own system. You will not be surprised to learn that funding was the critical issue identified.

On funding it was agreed that there was a need to quantify the cost likely to be involved taking account of the numbers of the different species, start up costs for any new facilities required to fill in the gaps in the coverage of the existing network of disposal facilities and the sources of the necessary funds. These issues are to be taken forward by a smaller stakeholder group which DEFRA will convene.

My officials will obviously be keeping in close touch with DEFRA developments, especially on funding, and will seek to be actively involved in the stakeholder group.

You will appreciate that I will wish to await the outcome of any discussions of the stakeholder group before formulating a sustainable solution to the problem of fallen animals in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3267/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Rivers Agency’s scheme to upgrade drainage infrastructure at Glenkeen Avenue/Jordanstown Road, Newtownabbey is now complete. In my response to your earlier question I explained that remaining site reinstatement works were affected by concurrent private development, and would be done with the agreement of the property owners concerned. The agreement with the two property owners, whose garden reinstatement was to be completed in Spring 2002, has now been waived, as the property developer who purchased both properties has commenced building operations on the site. As a result it is no longer necessary for Rivers Agency to complete the reinstatement.

(AQO 1348/01)

Ms Rodgers: I am conscious of growing concerns about the implications of climate change although the effects are difficult to measure with any certainty at the present time. I can assure you that my Department’s Rivers Agency has an ongoing programme of flood and sea defence projects to protect areas currently prone to flooding, where it is economically viable to do so. The Agency is actively monitoring the results of research on climate change in its area of responsibility and is taking account of the potential effects on its design standards for flood defences, and for designated sea defences which it maintains.

(AQW 3035/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): It is anticipated that a network of football development centres will be established at football clubs across Northern Ireland over the next two-three years using the monies available under the youth football development programme. Each development centre is expected to house a full time development officer who will be responsible for leading the programme on behalf of his or her respective club. It is envisaged that development officers will be in post by September 2002. The Sports Council ultimately hopes to bring 10,000 children and young people into the programme on an annual basis.

(AQW 3037/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Northern Ireland Events Company plays a crucial role in contributing to the Programme for Government and to DCAL’s corporate strategy commitment to contribute to a positive image of Northern Ireland at home and abroad.

Every application for funding is assessed for economic benefit, social cohesion, and the projection of a positive image through media coverage. The company is also required to secure private sector sponsorship to a level of at least 50% of total Events Company spending on events.

(AQW 3085/01)

Mr McGimpsey: This information is not available as the education and library boards do not keep separate accounting records for these categories of materials.

A new library management system is being procured under the Electronic Libraries for Northern Ireland project and it will then be possible to obtain information on the amount spent by the education and library boards on books by Irish authors and on items purchased in the Irish language. It is intended that all libraries will be linked to this system by July 2003.

(AQW 3086/01)

Mr McGimpsey: There has been no direct Sports Council funding awarded in respect of the Milk Cup during the last five years. However, I understand that as a condition of grant from the Sports Council, the Irish Football Association provided financial support of £5,000 per annum for the tournament from its own funds up to 2001. In addition, the Northern Ireland Events Company has provided funding of £90,000 for the tournament in 2001 and is currently assessing an application for funding in 2002.

The Sports Council has provided Exchequer funding to the Foyle Cup as follows:

An application for funding to the Northern Ireland Events Company for 2002/03 is currently being assessed.

I am aware that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) provided a total of £21,750 from its Events Support Scheme to both events between 1998 to 2001. This is detailed in the table below. The NITB contribution to the 2002 events has still to be confirmed. In addition the NITB co-hosts and presents 2 trophies at a Welcome Reception in conjunction with Coleraine Borough Council. The NITB contribution to the 2001 reception totalled £1,404.40.

(AQW 3087/01)

Mr McGimpsey: It is not possible to provide an absolute assurance in the terms requested. I am satisfied that my Department operates a rigorous policy of ensuring that public funds are not misused through the normal requirements of financial accountability, control and audit. The agencies which are the responsibility of my Department take all reasonable steps to prevent the activities in question, including clear and detailed policies and procedures on child protection. Child sexual abuse and the distribution of pornographic material are most likely to be detected by co-workers of the perpetrator and by the families, friends, teachers and others who know the victim or victims of such abuse. I would strongly urge anyone in possession of information regarding this kind of activity to bring it to the immediate attention of the appropriate authorities.

(AQW 3088/01)

Mr McGimpsey: As I outlined in my response to AQW 1719/01 the Sports Council for Northern Ireland has been working with the Irish Football Association on its community relations programme ‘Football for All’.

I also informed you that the issue of community relations was one of those identified as being central to the development of a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland. I would refer you to chapter 10 of the report ‘Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland’. I hope to be in a position to publish a draft strategy as soon as possible.

Although there is much work to be done, I believe that the ‘Football for All’ programme, along with the proposed soccer strategy and the broader equality agenda, has the potential to contribute to an improvement in community relations in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3099/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The introduction of the Sportsmatch scheme is a matter in the first instance for the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. When the scheme was introduced in England and Wales, the Sports Council considered that there were insufficient sponsorship opportunities in Northern Ireland to ensure the success of the scheme. The Council will, however, be reviewing the matter and other potential avenues for private sector funding.

(AQW 3100/01)

Mr McGimpsey: I have not carried out such an assessment. I understand, however, that since 1992 when the scheme was introduced, Sportsmatch has distributed some £28m to over 3,400 projects in 72 sports throughout England. The projects which attract sponsorship include one of the following elements:

• increased participation at grass roots and/or improved skills;

• new activities or extended/enhanced existing activities;

• links to the local community;

• long term benefits.

(AQW 3149/01)

Mr McGimpsey: I am unaware of the existence of any report called the MAGNI Report, but I assume that you are referring to the Wilson Report, which led to the establishment of MAGNI. The Wilson Report was completed under Direct Rule, and it has no direct relevance for museums in the Foyle constituency as it deals in the main with Northern Ireland’s national collections.

However, the Wilson Report recommended a review of local authority museum provision, and this was taken forward through the Local Museum and Heritage Review. My Department has now completed a first draft of a response to the Review, which has to be agreed by the DOE before discussion with key stakeholders. The document will then be published for consultation.

(AQW 3186/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Safe Sports Grounds Scheme has been in existence for two years and details of the funding awarded to football, rugby and Gaelic games are attached. The Scheme will continue for a further year and while there is still a long way to go before all the major sports grounds are up to a satisfactory standard, I am pleased to report that all venues requiring immediate and urgent works have now been dealt with.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the amount of grant received by (a) rugby stadiums; and (b) Gaelic grounds, in each of the last 4 years, through the Safe Sports Grounds Programme.

(AQW 3209/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Safe Sports Grounds Scheme has been in existence for two years and details of the funding awarded to football, rugby and Gaelic games are attached. The Scheme will continue for a further year and while there is still a long way to go before all the major sports grounds are up to a satisfactory standard, I am pleased to report that all venues requiring immediate and urgent works have now been dealt with.

(AQW 3106/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): Parent governors are not required by law to resign from a Board of Governors when their child ceases to attend the school. They may serve out the remainder of their term of office and no procedures have therefore been established for the removal of parent governors in these circumstances.

(AQW 3107/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The following figures set out the net expenditure per primary school pupil for 2000/01 and have been taken from the latest available out-turn statements.

The figures include –

Amounts made available under LMS Formulae

Centre funds held by Boards and the Department and distributed to schools in the course of the year to meet certain costs arising from items of expenditure such as teacher substitution, contingency funds and initiatives funded by both the ELBs and the Department.

Integrated figures include both controlled integrated and grant maintained integrated schools

The figures exclude centrally held resources, such as Home to School Transport, CASS, School Meals and Central Administration, as these are not costed to individual schools.

(AQW 3135/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I have been advised that there were 4, 843 classroom assistants employed in schools in Northern Ireland in 2001/02.

(AQW 3136/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The future of controlled grammar schools in the Western Education and Library Board area is a matter in the first instance for that Board. However, my Department is aware that the Board is actively considering the future of Strabane Grammar School. Discussions with school representatives are, however, at a very early stage. The Board is not, therefore, in a position at present to make any proposals for the future of the school to my Department.

(AQW 3138/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The figures below set out the net expenditure per secondary school pupil for 2000/01 and have been taken from the latest available out-turn statements.

The figures include –

Amounts made available under LMS Formulae

Centre funds held by Boards and the Department and distributed to schools in the course of the year to meet certain costs arising from items of expenditure such as teacher substitution, contingency funds and initiatives funded by both the ELBs and the Department.

Integrated figures include both controlled integrated and grant maintained integrated schools

The figures exclude centrally held resources, such as Home to School Transport, CASS, School Meals and Central Administration, as these are not costed to individual schools.

(AQW 3187/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The above table sets out the number of appeals and the number of successful appeals against primary school admissions in each Education and Library Board area over the past 5 years.

(AQW 3188/01)

Mr M McGuinness: There have been no claims lodged against the Department resulting from school trips undertaken by pupils. I understand that the number of claims lodged against the Boards is as follows.

(AQW 3189/01)

(a) The number of teachers employed in controlled and maintained primary schools is currently 8,416.

(b) The number of male teachers employed in the primary sector, as indicated by the numbers paid in October of each of the past 10 years, is as follows:

(c) I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2164/01.

(AQW 3190/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I have been advised that the information requested is as follows:

(a) The categories are -

• General Classroom Assistants;
  

• Classroom Assistants employed as a result of the Department’s ‘Making a Good Start P1 Initiative’;
  

• Special Needs Classroom Assistants.

(b) Number of classroom assistants in each Board area:

(AQW 3195/01)

Mr M McGuinness: A draft of an economic appraisal prepared by the South-Eastern Education and Library Board which examines various options for improving the accommodation at Newtownards Model Primary School has just been received in my Department. When this document has been examined and agreed with the Board, a scheme will be planned and considered, along with others, for inclusion in a future school capital programme. However, given the number of schemes competing for a place in the programme and the limited available financial resources, it is not possible to state when the school will be included in any future capital funding announcement.

(AQW 3211/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The following table sets out the number of appeals and the number of successful appeals against primary school admissions in each Education and Library Board area over the past 5 years.

(AQW 3221/01)

Mr M McGuinness: There is a statutory requirement for all school authorities to provide drugs (including alcohol) education for all pupils throughout their compulsory schooling (age 4-16). This is delivered mainly through the cross-curricular theme of Health Education but also through programmes of study such as Science where, at key stages 3 and 4, pupils learn about the requirements to maintain healthy bodies and healthy babies during pregnancy, and the effects of alcohol, smoking and drugs. The topic is also being explored in approximately half of the School Age Mothers (SAMs) projects running this school year. Within the Personal and Social Education element of the SAMs programme, the current emphasis is on the effects of alcohol and smoking during the antenatal stage.

(AQW 3271/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Department of Education’s expenditure on external consultancy firms/consultants within these categories was as follows:

* Period 2 December 1999-31 March 2000.

(AQW 3295/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils in P1-P7 with dyspraxia in their statement of special educational needs is 29.

(AQW 3362/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I do not use either the DFP Centralised Transport Unit or a contracted-out Service. My Department provides me with a car for Ministerial use. It does not have an in-house chauffeur service nor does it contract-out this service.

(AQW 2998/01)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): Widening community access to all forms of adult education is at the heart of my Department’s lifelong learning policies, including the development of the learndirect network, the Access and Partnership initiatives in the further education sector and new arrangements for Individual Learning Accounts to be announced later this year.

Decisions regarding the Dundonald Adult Outreach Centre are entirely a matter for the Governing Body of Castlereagh College. The College has retained an extensive outreach programme in Dundonald, including activities with groups such as Tullycarnet Family Project, Torbank Special School, the Dundonald Family Centre and the Ballybeen Women’s Centre.

(AQW 3089/01)

Ms Hanna: I refer the member to AQW/1195/01 previously placed by Mr Mark Robinson MLA.

It is not possible to say why individual students leave before completing their course; it can be for a variety of reasons.

(AQW 3110/01)

Ms Hanna: In line with its Equality Scheme commitments, this Department consults all those listed on its approved list of consultees. The consultation list was, itself, consulted upon as part of the public consultation on the Department’s draft Equality Scheme.

A recent review exercise indicated that the majority of our consultees wish to continue to be consulted as our Equality Impact Assessment programme progresses.

(AQW 3116/01)

Ms Hanna: At present thirty-two out of the thirty-five offices in the JobCentre Network hold the Charter Mark Award, which is a national standard that acknowledges the current quality of the services that JobCentres offer to the public. It is intended that the remaining three JobCentres will apply for the Award this year.

(AQW 3142/01)

Ms Hanna: Since New Deal began in April 1998 a total of 60,365 participants had completed the programme by November 2001. Of those whose destination is known 36% found work. It is not possible to distinguish between those who found full-time employment and those who found part-time employment, therefore this figure includes both.

Percentage of New Deal participants who found work within 92 days of leaving the programme.

3. The end of an episode of New Deal is counted as when an individual has left a New Deal activity and not entered another New Deal activity within 13 weeks. Where an individual re-joins New Deal after a gap of less than thirteen weeks they are considered to have re-joined the previous episode.

4. Post New Deal employment is defined as where an individual finds employment within thirteen weeks of leaving an episode of New Deal.

5. Where an individual has had more than one spell of employment following a New Deal episode only the latest one up to the thirteen week point will be counted. (i.e. no participant can have more than one ‘found work’ attached to a New Deal episode).

(AQW 3143/01)

Ms Hanna: At present there is no legislation which specifically outlaws discrimination against older people seeking employment. A European Directive outlawing age discrimination is required to be implemented by 2006, and this is a matter for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

However, the former Department of Economic Development in June 1999 issued a non-statutory voluntary Code of Practice aimed at promoting good practice in the employment cycle in Northern Ireland. This Code sets the standard for non-ageist approaches in employment in relation to recruitment, selection, promotion, training, redundancy and retirement.

My Department is responsible for New Deal 50 plus which aims to help older people update their skills and equip themselves for a return to work. But it makes good business sense to base employment decisions on skills and abilities, rather than on preconceived ideas about age. Older workers often have talents and abilities that are in short supply, and employers who ignore them deprive themselves of a valuable resource.

(AQW 3154/01)

(a) The Department has not commissioned any economic appraisals of applications under the PEACE II programme.

(b) The Department is not responsible for selecting projects under the PEACE II Programme except for Measure 1.4. The selection process for this Measure has not yet been undertaken. So no projects have scored over the 65% quality threshold and been rejected by the Department for PEACE II.

(AQW 3427/01)

Ms Hanna: In keeping with the Executive’s Programme for Government, I am creating a new Union Learning Fund for Northern Ireland, and am making £250,000 available for it in this financial year.

The Fund will support and expand the role of the trade union movement in Northern Ireland in workplace lifelong learning. It will increase the capacity of trade unions to promote learning among their members and, with partners, to develop innovative projects to attract into learning those who are difficult to reach by traditional provision.

(AQO 1269/01)

Ms Hanna: Recent research indicates that, in spite of the recent downturn in the sector, there is a possibility of a shortage of electronic engineers, particularly at the graduate and technician level. My Department is addressing this issue by:

• increasing the number of higher and further education places;

• establishing centres of excellence in computing and electronics; and

• establishing a reskilling programme for existing engineers funded by Executive Programme Funds

(AQO 1292/01)

Ms Hanna: Students are advised in writing of their statutory maximum loan entitlement determined in accordance with the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland). It is a matter of personal choice for students to decide how much of a loan they need to borrow. It would not be appropriate for my Department to seek to influence them.

(AQO 1266/01)

Ms Hanna: The study consists of two stages. Stage one is a detailed examination of the source of recruits to two large Belfast based IT companies and Stage two examines recruitment to a number of IT companies throughout the rest of Northern Ireland. I understand that data collection for the first stage has now been completed and that an interim report will be available within the next few weeks once the analysis is complete.

(AQO 1272/01)

Ms Hanna: In the 1998-99 academic year there were 9,225 enrolments on GCSE courses at NI Further Colleges. This total decreased to 8,635 in 1999-00 and again dropped to 6,901 in 2000-01.

GCSEs are available in all Further Education Colleges, however my Department does not encourage GCSEs for students who have taken them already at school. Research by the Education and Training Inspectorate shows that there is no significant improvement in GCSE results when repeated. Consequently, Further Education Colleges offer a wide range of vocational qualifications including GNVQs at intermediate level and NVQs which are more appropriate for progression. Further Education Colleges will however, offer the new vocational GCSEs when introduced from September 2002.

(AQO 1263/01)

Ms Hanna: The NI universities are autonomous bodies with a statutory obligation, under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to promote equality of opportunity and good community relations. My Department has set aside additional funding of £155,000 in 2001/02 to assist the universities in meeting these statutory obligations.

(AQO 1285/01)

Ms Hanna: A Working Group set up by my Department is to produce a good practice guide for Further Education Colleges, which addresses issues of cultural diversity, and make recommendations on the development of the further education curriculum to promote community relations.

Universities, Further Education Colleges and University Colleges have a statutory obligation, under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to promote equality of opportunity and good community relations.

(AQO 1283/01)

Ms Hanna: I can give no commitment to increase overall provision for research and development for 2002/03 in light of the improved RAE scores as the Budget has already been set. As to 2003/04 and beyond, my Department will be bidding for additional resources in Spending Review 2002 and university research will be a priority.

(AQO 1290/01)

Ms Hanna: While student loans offer students a method of funding their living costs, with very favourable repayment terms, I recognise that some students experience financial difficulties. With this in mind, my Department is introducing means tested non-repayable bursaries of up to £1,500 per year from 2002/03. This will reduce the amount of loans students will claim and ultimately reduce the Departments loans budget.

(AQW 3140/01)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): Forecasts for 2001 indicate that Northern Ireland attracted 19% of all overseas (including GB residents) visitors to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland, in consultation with NITB and Bord Failte, have set three year targets for growths of 5% and 8% per annum in overseas visitors to the island of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively. Achieving these targets would grow Northern Ireland’s share by around 1percentage point per annum.

(AQW 3169/01)

Sir Reg Empey: No financial assistance has been made available to Le Winters (Strangford Arms) Hotel in the last two years by the NITB.

(AQW 3170/01)

Sir Reg Empey: 234 Northern Ireland attractions were invited to participate in the 2000 survey by means of a self-completion questionnaire. A response rate of 70% was achieved, with 164 completed forms being returned. This is a high response rate for this type of postal survey and compares favourably with the 59% response rate achieved for the UK as a whole in 2000.

(AQO 1260/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Considerable efforts are being put into promoting Down Business Park as an investment location and the decision by the Korean company ADT to locate there, promoting 70 new jobs is a welcome outcome of these efforts. Invest Northern Ireland will continue to promote the Park as an attractive location for inward investors.

(AQO 1255/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The global travel and subsistence budget for IDB’s Inward Investment Group over the three-year period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 totalled some £455,000. Approximately 70% of this was attributable to the United States market based on project activity.

(AQO 1301/01)

Sir Reg Empey: There has been widespread consultation by Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) with industry and other representative bodies in relation to its current review, which is aimed at strengthening its risk management systems and evaluating its contribution to the competitiveness of the UK economy. I will continue to, as I did on behalf of Bombardier Aerospace in the aftermath of the events of September 11, make representations to ECGD where I believe it would produce benefits for the UK Aerospace industry and in particular for the Northern Ireland aerospace sector.

(AQO 1256/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Harland and Wolff was privatised in September 1989.

(a) Offers of financial assistance provided by my Department since that time amount in total to some £105m . This is mainly comprised of contract related intervention aid grant in respect of merchant shipbuilding projects carried out at the shipyard.

(AQO 1261/01)

Sir Reg Empey: GB, ROI and the USA are the largest markets for exports from Northern Ireland. Support for companies participating in trade missions and exhibitions are the primary means used by my Department’s agencies in promoting sales and exports from Northern Ireland to these markets. In the year ending 31 March 2002, the expenditure incurred in such activities in

(a) the Republic of Ireland was £211,000;

(b) GB £763,000, and

(c) USA £304,000.

(AQO 1257/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Structures have been established under the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation to progress the project. Outline Planning Permission has been obtained for the site at Queen’s Island and detailed planning and funding arrangements have been approved for Phase 1 which includes an Innovation Centre at Queen’s Island. Work on the Innovation Centre is expected to begin soon.

(AQO 1295/01)

Sir Reg Empey: In the financial year 1999/2000 there were 6 fatal accidents, 61 major injury accidents and 171 over 3 day accidents.

In the financial year 2000/2001 there were 3 fatal accidents, 60 major injury accidents and 144 over 3 day accidents.

The provisional figures in the financial year 2001/02 indicate that there were 4 fatal accidents, 50 major injury accidents and 150 over 3 day accidents.

(AQO 1300/01)

Sir Reg Empey: OFREG issued a gas conveyance licence to Bord Gais for the North West and South-North gas pipelines on 12 February 2002.

On 5 April 2002 OFREG invited expressions of interest from companies interested in gas distribution and/or supply projects to potential customers outside the Greater Belfast area. These expressions of interest should be submitted before 17 May 2002.

(AQW 3139/01)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt): The Ulster Way was largely brought about through the efforts of the late Wilfred Capper and the support that he received in the 1980s from the Sports Council.

The Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 gave my Department the power to grant aid District Councils to create and manage those parts of the route passing through their area.

However, the route has never been fully implemented to a uniform standard and, with the ending of Sports Council support in the early 1990s, there have been increasing questions about its management and overall viability. A report prepared for the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of my Department, the Sports Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) in 1994 proposed the creation of a number of shorter routes. With the support of European and EHS funding, a range of such routes, marketed as Waymarked Ways and spread widely across Northern Ireland, has been established.

There is no single body with over-riding responsibility for the Ulster Way. However the establishment of the Northern Ireland Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN) provides an opportunity to address these issues.

CAAN has now established a widely representative Working Group to look at the future of the Ulster Way. The Group has met on a number of occasions and hosted public meetings. CAAN is to produce a report on the Group’s work by the end of this calendar year. This will contain recommendations to EHS, NITB and the Sports Council, in particular, on the future of the route.

I will want to consider that report and take the views of my statutory advisers, the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, before I make any further statement on the future of the Ulster Way.

(AQW 3182/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The Department’s policy in relation to trees and woodlands is contained in Planning Policy Statement 2 "Planning and Nature Conservation" and applies to both urban and rural areas. This policy emphasises the importance of the protection of trees both as habitats and in terms of their contribution to the amenity of a particular locality.

Where any proposed development has the potential to impact upon trees, landowners and developers will be encouraged to retain existing trees, and plant additional trees wherever possible. Trees, woodlands and important hedgerows will be protected by the imposition of conditions on the grant of any planning permission. Additionally, where opportunities arise, the Department will seek to secure new tree planting in development schemes. Where development includes the loss of trees, permission will normally be conditional on a replanting scheme with trees of appropriate numbers, species and size.

Recent Area Plans have also contained policies to protect specific woodlands and groups of trees.

The Department also has a discretionary legislative power under Article 65 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 to make Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) where it is considered expedient, in the interests of amenity, to do so. The function of a TPO is to bring the trees under the Department’s control and the Department’s consent is normally required to top, lop or fell trees unless they are considered dead, dying or dangerous. When considering the making of a TPO, the Department will not only have regard to the amenity of the trees considered for protection, but also to the possible financial implications for the Department if a claim for compensation is subsequently made.

While I am satisfied that the measures contained within PPS2, are sufficient in policy terms to ensure the preservation of significant trees, it has become apparent, as planning matters and policy has evolved over the years, that the current legislation needs to be strengthened in order to meet today’s requirements. That is why I propose to introduce new measures contained in the forthcoming Planning (Amendment) Bill which will simplify, streamline and strengthen the Department’s existing enforcement powers in relation to breaches of tree related planning conditions and TPOs. I also propose to extend enforcement powers to apply to trees not protected by a TPO but within a Conservation Area.

(AQW 3193/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The work undertaken by consultants in the last 2 years on behalf of the Planning Service, in the Carrickfergus Borough Council area, related to planning applications for development in the Carrickfergus and Whitehead Conservation Areas.

The total costs of the projects were £171,344.

(AQW 3196/01)

(a) I anticipate that the draft plan will be published during August 2002.

(b) The Ards and Down Area Plan 2015 is the first to be prepared in the context of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS), which was formulated in September 2001.

The Strategic Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 requires the Plan to be "consistent with" the RDS. The requirement of consistency has necessitated extensive discussions and additional work to ensure that the Plan will be consistent with all the approaches to sustainable development required by the Strategy.

The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is currently consulting on changes to the Strategic Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 to amend the obligation of consistency to one in which plans are required to be "in general conformity" with the RDS.

It is proposed to introduce a formal procedure whereby DRD will issue a ‘statement of conformity’, to clarify that a development plan conforms with the RDS at draft plan, and at final adoption stage.

Preparation of the Draft Plan Written Statement and supporting technical documentation for the Ards and Down Area Plan is well advanced. Clearance on ‘consistency’ will require consultations with the Department for Regional Development on the completed draft prior to publication. As a result of these considerations Planning Service now expects to publish the draft plan in August 2002.

(AQW 3205/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The information requested is not available. District Councils have not undertaken comprehensive monitoring or measurement of biodegradable waste going to landfill sites over this period .

However draft Waste Management Plans will be submitted to my Department by the end of June 2002 by the three District Council Waste Management Partnerships.

Article 23 of the Waste & Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997 requires District Councils to include in their Plans the types and quantities of controlled waste which they expect to collect, recover, treat or dispose of during the period of the Plans.

The Department will provide guidance to District Councils to ensure a consistent approach and to establish the format for reporting.

Results will be used to monitor progress in meeting the primary target of the Waste Management Strategy to reduce the quantities of biodegradable municipal waste being landfilled to 75% of 1995 baseline levels by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 35% by 2020.

Until the draft Plans have been submitted, and the information they contain agreed, no figures will be available to my Department on the amounts of biodegradable waste going to landfill.

(AQW 3213/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The table below shows the total number of pollution incidents reported to the Water Management Unit of my Department’s Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), the number substantiated, and the severity of those incidents, by year, from 1996 to 2000. Statistics for 2001 have not been fully validated by EHS and are therefore not included.

*Incidents where pollution is confirmed on investigation.

The criteria applied by EHS when assessing the category of severity to be attributed to a pollution incident are set out in an annual EHS publication entitled ‘Water Pollution Incident and Prosecution Statistics’. A copy of this report for 2000 has been placed in the Assembly Library.

(b) The table below shows the number of pollution incidents which have resulted in prosecution and also the number of warning letters issued in lieu of prosecution, by year, according to the year in which the pollution incidents occurred.

All high and medium severity incidents are investigated with a view to prosecution, provided the necessary evidence can be obtained. The final decision on prosecution rests with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Warning letters may be issued where there is insufficient evidence for a prosecution or where there is no negligence involved.

Final statistics for 2001 are not yet available as a number of recommendations for prosecution are still pending in respect of incidents which occurred that year.