(AQW 25/02)

Reply:

(a) The annual budget of the Community Relations Council in each of the last seven financial years was as follows:

The Community Relations Council was also the intermediary funding body for a measure under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 1995 to 1999 (Peace I) involving total expenditure of some £7·6 million.

(b) The Community Relations Council was established in 1990. Its total budget from its inception up to and including that for the current financial year amounts to £27·8 million, excluding EU funding. In its role as an intermediary funding body for measures under the EU Special Support Programmes for Peace and Reconciliation 1995 to 1999 and 2000 to 2004 (Peace I and Peace II), a further £10 million has been available over the same period.

(c) The Community Relations Council provides financial support to community relations groups and projects in the voluntary and community sector, advice and assistance in peace building and reconciliation initiatives, and produces anti-sectarian educational and learning resources. Between 400 and 500 projects are supported financially each year. Details are available in the published annual reports of the Council, copies of which are available in the Assembly Library.

(AQO 44/02)

Reply: As at 2 September 2002 there were 417 staff in post in our Department. Out of these, a total of 31 work in our joint private office. These include our private secretaries, Special Advisers and administrative support as well as a team of staff handling the large volume of correspondence that we receive.

A more detailed summary has been placed in the Assembly Library.

(AQO 4/02)

Reply: As at 23 September there were 417 staff in post in our Department. Out of these, a total of 31 work in our joint private office.

The areas of employment in our Department are: private offices, Executive Services Directorate, Executive Information Service, North/South Ministerial Council, Equality Directorate, Economic Policy and Public Service Directorate and Corporate Services Division. There is also staff in four associated bodies: International Fund for Ireland, Planning Appeals Commission and Water Appeals Commission, Civic Forum secretariat and the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner. The current salary provision is £13·2 million per annum.

A more detailed summary has been placed in the Assembly Library.

(AQO 41/02)

Reply: The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister has a very wide range of functions, many of which have a cross departmental perspective. The work programme of the Department is readily available in the Programme for Government and the Department’s Public Service Agreement, Service Delivery Agreement and Corporate and Business Plan.

The table attached illustrates the areas and staffing within our department but a more detailed account of the functions has been placed in the Assembly Library.

(AQW 89/02)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): The Minister of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has responsibility for the Bushmills salmon station. However, this question has been directed to me because the scientific work on the River Bush, at the behest of DCAL, is carried out by DARD Science Service

Research work on salmon on the River Bush provides the best long-term data on marine survival and freshwater survival and exploitation of salmon in the British Isles. The specific outcomes of research carried out by the special scientific unit based in Bushmills are detailed below.

1. Development of management systems for Northern Ireland salmon stocks:

The River Bush project has identified for the first time the level at which Northern Ireland rivers should be seeded by juvenile salmon to ensure long-term sustainability of stocks:

As a result, spawning targets have been applied to rivers in the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) area under the salmon management plan, as required under the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) precautionary approach.

If it were not for the DARD work on the River Bush, data would have to be obtained from rivers in other countries and such data would most probably be inapplicable to Northern Ireland, given the range of productivity of salmon stocks in the north Atlantic area.

2. Knowledge of river habitat in relation to salmon production:

DARD work on the River Bush has highlighted the fundamental importance of good river habitat in driving salmon productivity and has quantified the negative impact of habitat degradation on survival during the critical two to three years that juvenile salmon spend in fresh water:

In the River Bush, during the 1990’s, average survival during the freshwater phase declined to around 50% of historical levels, approximately 0.5% of juvenile salmon typically surviving to migrate to sea as smolts.

This decline has had a severe impact on numbers of fish produced by the stock and is mainly attributable to loss of spawning and nursery habitat due to silting of the river (siltation).

Siltation is exacerbated by excessive aquatic weed growth, encouraged by changes in water quality caused by diffuse nutrient input from agricultural land.

Evidence is emerging of similar habitat degradation on other Northern Ireland rivers, but it is only on the River Bush that the potential impacts on fish production can be properly quantified and remedial measures fully tested and evaluated.

3. Conservation measures for salmon populations

Studies on the survival of River Bush salmon at sea and the impact of marine exploitation on salmon returns have shown that:

Of the salmon that migrate to sea, around 30% return to home waters (before netting takes place at sea).

In the last three years, natural marine survival of these fish has dropped sharply to less than a half, a trend reflected in salmon stocks across the north Atlantic.

Commercial netting of River Bush salmon returning to home waters has ranged from 25% to 89%, averaging 60%.

Scientific advice resulting from this DARD work is that commercial exploitation rates must be reduced urgently, in order to compensate for the decline in natural marine survival, which is outside management control.

This situation resulted in the FCB introducing new conservation measures on netting and angling and has led directly to the current buyout scheme for coastal nets, the largest salmon conservation measure ever taken in Northern Ireland.

It is only because of the Bush project that such information has come to light and appropriate measures can be recommended and evaluated. For example, DARD scientists have developed a model to quantify the positive outcome of these measures and assess the impact of continuing exploitation that takes place outside the FCB jurisdiction.

4. Technology to other salmon rivers in Northern Ireland:

Among the tangible benefits of the River Bush project to other rivers has been significant technology transfer in the areas of habitat conservation and improvement and fish assessment and stocking techniques. For example;

Throughout Northern Ireland, DARD Rivers Agency is applying habitat restoration techniques developed on the River Bush.

Various fishery agencies (DCAL, FCB and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission Loughs Agency) are using stock assessment techniques developed on the River Bush to assess juvenile salmonid status in most rivers in Northern Ireland, and

Stocking carried out to enhance stocks or mitigate pollution incidents is carried out using methods developed on the River Bush.

Economic modelling of the value of salmonid habitat and stocks arising from the project have been used extensively in assessing the cost:benefit of schemes which impact on stock or habitat status, and

Life cycle survival and economic data have also been used in compensation claims following pollution incidents on several rivers throughout Northern Ireland.

(AQW 181/02)

Ms Rodgers: The measures currently open under the Rural Development Programme do not apply to individual applications. However, groups or collectives of farmers may bring forward projects for consideration. The measures open are under the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity (BSP) and the Peace II Programme.

To date, 77% of the applications under the "for profit" element of the BSP Programme have come from farmers’ groups or collectives and 5% of applications under the Peace II programme are also from farmers’ groups or collectives.

(AQW 182/02)

Ms Rodgers: The information requested is not available.

The annual Agricultural and Horticultural Census collects information on the numbers of persons, including farmers and business partners, who work on farms on 1 June each year. This does not provide the information requested since changes in the total numbers of full- and part-time farmers reflect a number of flows, including farmers leaving the industry entirely, others entering and shifts from full- to part-time and vice versa. However, ‘The Agricultural Census in Northern Ireland, Results for June 2001’ includes details of the agricultural labour force for the period 1987 to 2001, which you may find useful.

(AQW 187/02)

Ms Rodgers: My Department has policies and procedures in place to safeguard the health and safety of those staff involved in on-farm activities.

In addition, where tuberculosis or brucellosis disease breakdowns occur, my Department issues advice to herdkeepers highlighting the potential health risks and providing advice on control measures. My Department also includes health and safety as an element of its education, training and lifelong learning provision.

More generally, health and safety legislation places the responsibility on individual farmers to assess risks and introduce control measures to prevent accidents. The Health and Safety Executive (NI) provides advice and guidance to them and enforces the legislation in the Agriculture Industry. If more specific information is required your question should be redirected to that body.

(AQW 224/02)

Ms Rodgers: The Executive has already lobbied the Treasury on the issue of the aggregates tax and was successful in obtaining a partial deferment on its introduction in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is exempt from the aggregates tax for one year, April 2002 to March 2003, in respect of processed products such as concrete, mortar, asphalt, surface dressings et cetera. From April 2003 the aggregates tax will apply to these products but will be phased in over a five-year period.

However, my Colleague, Dr Farren, is engaged in discussions with the Treasury to try to find an alternative solution that would ameliorate the negative impact of this tax in Northern Ireland. If you can provide evidence that the new aggregates tax is causing hardship for farmers I will bring this to the attention of Dr Farren.

(AQW 8/02)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): I have no plans to welcome the Jeanie Johnston to Belfast, as I was not previously aware that the vessel would be visiting the city.

However, it may be the case that the city fathers will wish to stage an event to welcome the ship, as was the case when the Jeanie Johnston visited Cork.

(AQW 53/02)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure manage and run the River Bush salmon station not only to facilitate scientific research but also to support angling development work. We also manage public angling on the river.

Total costs to DCAL in managing and running the station in 2001-02 amounted to £163,921·45

DARD scientific staff conduct the research and bear the management and running costs directly related to this work. For the year 2001-02 these costs were £103,824·24

(AQW 86/02)

Mr McGimpsey: As I explained in my letter of 1 July in response to AQW4159/01 my Department has no funding for capital development other than that voted as part of this year’s budget. This position remains unchanged.

(AQW 178/02)

Mr McGimpsey: I have to date had no discussions with the Minister of Education or the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the issue of obesity. However, I do recognise that sport has an important part to play in tackling a wide range of public health matters including obesity. My Department is therefore participating in the Northern Ireland Physical Activity Implementation Group (NIPAIG) on which the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services and Public Policy are also represented. Under the auspices of this group, a new Northern Ireland physical activity strategy has been developed. A key objective of the strategy is to increase levels of health enhancing physical activity amongst the wider population which should, in turn, help to counteract the growing problem of obesity.

(AQW 54/02)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): (a) The primary schools which contributed pupils to Year 8 at Comber High School, and (b) the number of applicants for whom Comber High School was the first preference and (c) the total number of successful applicants from each primary school are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 55/02)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The primary schools which contributed pupils to Year 8 at Ballynahinch High School, and (b) the number of applicants for whom Ballynahinch High School was the first preference and (c) the total number of successful applicants from each primary school are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 56/02)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The primary schools which contributed pupils to Year 8 at Down Academy, and (b) the number of applicants for whom Down Academy was the first preference, and (c) the total number of successful applicants from each primary school are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 57/02)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The approved admissions number for Year 8 at Down Academy for the 2002-03 academic year is 60 and (b) the total number of applications received was 50.

(AQW 58/02)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The approved admissions number for Year 8 at Ballynahinch High School for the 2002-03 school year is 76 and (b) the total number of applications received was 63.

(AQW 82/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The information sought is not available. Schools are not asked to identify looked-after children in their notifications to the education and library boards about suspensions or proposed expulsions. Research findings indicate that schools frequently are not aware that a pupil is in care, particularly given that the majority of children who are the subject of a care order are being fostered, often by members of their own family.

(AQW 84/02)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The approved admissions number for Year 8 at Comber High School for the 2002-03 academic year is 90 and (b) the total number of applications received was 63.

(AQW 98/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of applicants to these schools who were unsuccessful in obtaining a place in their first preference grammar school are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 99/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of applicants to these schools who were unsuccessful in obtaining a place in their first preference post-primary school are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 100/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of applicants to these schools who were unsuccessful in obtaining a place in their first preference post-primary school are detailed below as follows:

(AQO 91/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The responsibility for the provision of nurses in special schools rests with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Officials from both Departments are members of an inter-departmental group on special education, which has been set up to consider matters of joint concern. One of these relates to a review of the provision of nurses in special schools, on which a report was published in 2000. The inter- departmental group is taking forward consideration of this report, which concluded that there is no one right solution for all special schools. Each case should be considered individually, based upon the identified needs of the children at the school and arrangements made should be flexible enough to enable a fast response to any change in circumstances. I believe that this is the right approach.

I should add that at a local level, there is a high level of partnership working between trusts, special schools and education and library boards to ensure that the optimum provision is made for these children.

(AQO 6/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Initial funding of £7,611k was made available to the North-Eastern Education and Library Board on 5 February to cover 2002-03 expenditure on existing major work schemes and other capital commitments (excluding the youth service estate). I understand the board will be spending £5,489k of the total allocation on 4 major capital works projects with the remainder (£2,122k) being used as follows:

£1,400k - completion of 17 minor works schemes started in 2001/02 and 17 new schemes

£250k - disability access

£250k - temporary accommodation

£136k - purchase of vehicles

£26k - purchase of sites

£60k - professional fees for future major works

I would also advise that since the initial funding of £7,611k was made available, a further £2,266k has been allocated to the North Eastern Board. This covers the following:

£728k for major works;

£224k for specialist accommodation;

£210k for various earmarked initiatives; and

£1,104k under the reinvestment and reform initiative to cover major works, replacement of temporary classrooms and improvement to rural schools.

(AQO 87/02)

Mr M McGuinness: I am pleased at the continuing improvement in achievements at GCSE and A level. But I remain concerned at the number of young people who leave school with poor qualifications. My aim is to develop an education system which will allow all young people to achieve success at school.

(AQO 105/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Representatives of management side and teachers’ side of the teachers’ salaries and conditions of service committee (schools) have arranged to meet on 3 October to discuss the findings of the teachers’ health and well-being survey. The report is expected to be published in the next few months after both sides have had the opportunity to complete their discussions.

(AQO 104/02)

Mr M McGuinness: No decisions about the future arrangements for the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary education will be made until I have given full consideration to the responses to the recent consultation.

(AQO 118/02)

Mr M McGuinness:

(a) The Commissioner for Complaints has investigated a total of 30 maladministration cases regarding the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.

(b) 17 cases were upheld. There are also three cases ongoing.

(AQO 89/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Since starting its work at the beginning of July, the Inquiry Team had separate meetings with the chief executives of the five education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, and the Governing Bodies Association, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, leaders of the five accredited teacher unions, and senior officials of the Department and the Education and Training Inspectorate.

The oral and written evidence which is being put forward by these key stakeholders will be considered by the Inquiry Team which intends to issue a letter to schools in the near future setting out the timetable for the completion of its interim report.

(AQO 106/02)

Mr M McGuinness: It would appear that staff and pupils are coping well with AS Level examinations, as shown by the excellent results achieved recently at both AS and A Levels. A detailed assessment of the first two-year cycle of the Curriculum 2000 reforms is being conducted by CCEA and a report on this will be sent to me in due course.

(AQO 77/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The needs and effectiveness evaluations were commissioned by the Executive as a means of providing an objective factual analysis of major areas of spending, including Education. The findings will be used to inform the Executive in its work for the Programme for Government and on Budget allocations for 2003-04 and beyond.

(AQO 122/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The main procurement activity within the education service rests with the education and library boards. There are legislative impediments that currently prevent the Boards from taking account of other than purely financial considerations when letting contracts. While it is not therefore possible to include education contracts within the pilot study, the lessons learned from the pilot will be taken into account in determining how to proceed in future.

(AQO 75/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The Save the Children document ‘child poverty learning to be poor’ makes clear – in many cases using analysis and research conducted or commissioned by my Department – the strong links between poverty and low educational achievement. I endorse the conclusion that "poverty makes it more difficult for children to learn". It is for this reason that my Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at tackling educational underachievement which results from social disadvantage.

(AQO 74/02)

Mr M McGuinness: I too welcome the recent excellent examination results and recognise the hard work of teachers, pupils and their parents behind these results. However, I am concerned at the number of our young people who do not reach an adequate level of achievement. Consequently, raising standards generally and especially in literacy and numeracy remains at the top of my agenda. Reviews of a number of school improvement strategies are currently being taken forward.

(AQO 117/02)

Mr M McGuinness: In Germany, school arrangements vary between Länder but, in general, parental choice and primary school recommendations play a key role in admissions to post-primary schools. There are no distinct academic, technical or vocational schools before age 16 – all schools must by law provide a general education. It is primarily the pace and intensity of learning and the number of foreign languages taken that distinguishes the different types of post-primary school types which are highly differentiated between Gymnasien (grammar schools), Realschulen and Hauptschulen. There are also Gesamtschulen (comprehensive schools). Entry to academic, technical and vocational pathways takes place at age 16.

(AQO 73/02)

Mr M McGuinness: I am very aware of the difficulties faced by young people leaving special schools and in particular those leaving schools for children with severe learning difficulties. Special educational needs legislation imposes duties on education and library boards to consult with health and employment sector personnel as regards transition planning at each annual review of a statement, following the child’s fourteenth birthday. This requirement is further supported in my Department’s Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

In an attempt to achieve a more co-ordinated inter-departmental approach to the whole process of transition planning, I met this month with the Ministers for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and Employment and Learning. My Department will take the lead in drawing up a pilot project to address difficulties in this area. An inter-departmental group will consult with boards, schools, day centres, parents and pupils and will then report back to the three Ministers in November 2002.

(AQW 3/02)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): Officials are currently examining the evaluation reports of the pilots, which have been running in England and Scotland. I will, in conjunction with the Minister of Education, consider the options which best suit Northern Ireland and will bring forward joint proposals to the Executive, including proposals for funding, in due course.

(AQW 27/02)

Ms Hanna: The information requested is not available. My Department’s grants for research in higher education are made to institutions, not to geographical areas. We therefore do not allocate funding, and do not hold any information on research expenditure in different Northern Ireland constituencies.

(AQW 28/02)

Ms Hanna: The information requested is not available. My Department does not allocate funding for education and training on the basis of geographical areas. We therefore do not allocate funding, and do not hold any information on education and training in different Northern Ireland constituencies or areas within constituencies.

(AQW 60/02)

Ms Hanna: Officials are currently examining the evaluation reports of the pilots, which have been running in England and Scotland. I will, in conjunction with the Minister of Education, consider the options which best suit Northern Ireland and will bring forward joint proposals to the Executive in due course.

(AQW 51/02)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): Information is only available for wind generators supplying their output via the transmission and distribution system in Northern Ireland as follows:

(AQW 111/02)

Sir Reg Empey: Invest NI’s innovation research and technology division administers a number of programmes that provides financial assistance for research and development and the Northern Ireland aerospace industry has made extensive use of this support. The programmes aim to help Northern Ireland companies become more internationally competitive by providing financial assistance to help the companies develop or acquire new technology and knowledge through research and then commercially exploit this new technology and knowledge by developing new products and processes.

Since 1997, £4·1 million of financial support has been provided to 24 reseach and development projects in the aerospace sector against total project costs of £12·4 million.

(AQW 116/02)

Sir Reg Empey: The figures contained in the needs section of the needs and effectiveness review relate solely to comparative figures between Northern Ireland and England. The budget levels set by the Executive go beyond straight line comparison and take account of a wide range of factors. Allocations for Budget 2002 have not yet been set. The Department will continue to seek additional resources via the Executive programme funds and monitoring rounds as appropriate.

(AQW 138/02)

Sir Reg Empey: I have worked very closely with Bombardier since last October when they announced up to 2,000 redundancies by the end of this year. Some 996 jobs went earlier this year and a further 461 redundancies are due to happen over the next three months. The company informs me that the recent situation has arisen due to the continued softening of the regional and business jet markets and the general slowdown in the global economy. My Department continues to work closely with Bombardier to help them to consolidate and strengthen their operations in Northern Ireland, in spite of the present downturn in the aerospace sector.

There is no provision for my Department to offer financial assistance in a situation where job losses result from purely commercial decisions. However, officials from my Department have been liaising with officials in the Department of Employment and Learning, to help ensure that the fullest possible effort is made to assist all of the Bombardier employees who are to be laid off in the coming months, both in terms of training to complete applications for other jobs and in retraining them to be able to undertake alternative forms of work.

(AQW 139/02)

Sir Reg Empey: Bombardier and I have maintained close communication over the proposed redundancies. Indeed I have worked closely with the company since last October when up to 2,000 redundancies were announced. Bombardier informs me that the recent situation has arisen due to the continued softening of the regional and business jet market and the general slowdown in the global economy.

I and my Department will continue to work closely with Bombardier to help it through the current downturn in the aerospace sector.

(AQW 30/02)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt): The new equipment was first installed in a new extension at Cookstown in October 2001. It is already in operation at Armagh and Enniskillen centres.

Craigavon will be using the new equipment from January 2003, Londonderry from February 2003 and Omagh from June 2003. The remaining test lanes at Cookstown will be completed in September 2003.

Information about centre closures is readily available to the public on the agency’s telephone help line on 0845 601 4094.

(AQW 66/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency had raised a number of concerns about the council’s proposal to site the recycling facilities on its premises. Nevertheless, the council proceeded to place the receptacles at the Newry centre. Having subsequently apologised to the agency for siting the receptacles without permission, the council moved them to another council-owned site a short distance away.

Whilst the agency is committed to providing and supporting a number of other recycling activities it is not convinced that the entrance to its test centre at Newry is the most suitable location for this particular facility and could have an adverse effect on its driver and vehicle testing operations in several areas.

(AQW 68/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission against the United Kingdom covered both the article 5 targets and the regulatory aspects of the Landfill Directive.

Article 5 sets three mandatory targets (to be met in 2010, 2013 and 2020) for the reduction in biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill. These targets are reflected in the Waste Management Strategy for Northern Ireland, published in March 2000. Giving statutory effect to the targets in order to deal with this part of the infraction will require UK primary legislation and this will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time is available.

Legislation to cover the regulatory aspects has been put in place in England and Wales since the initiation of the infraction proceedings. Scotland is currently consulting on similar legislation. The legislation to be introduced in Northern Ireland will build on the operational structures to be put in place by new legislation to be introduced in the course of 2003 on waste management licensing and integrated pollution prevention and control. It will be necessary therefore to await the introduction of this legislation before introducing the regulations to transpose the requirements of the Landfill Directive later in 2003.

(AQW 87/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The initial waste management grant scheme was to assist councils implement their waste management plans and did not provide for funding for waste fridges and freezers.

Following end of year monitoring I was able to make available a sum of £230,000 from Environment and Heritage Service programme money to provide assistance to councils for the period January to March 2002. This money was specifically for the storage of waste fridges and was additional to, and allocated through, the waste management grant scheme.

In agreeing budgets for the current financial year, I have identified a further £250,000 to assist councils with the additional costs associated with waste refrigeration equipment.

(AQW 162/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The disposal of waste domestic fridges and freezers remains the responsibility of the district councils under the provisions of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997.

The inclusion of waste domestic fridges and freezers within EC Regulation 2037/2000 on ozone depleting substances (ODS) prevented councils from disposing of them without removing all the ODS. In recognition of this difficulty I sought to assist councils by contributing to the additional costs of storage pending a solution to the problem of removal of ODS from the foam. For the period from January to March 2002 I was able to make available £230,000 for this purpose and in agreeing the budget for the current financial year I have included a further £250,000 to assist with the costs of dealing with waste fridges and freezers.

Officials from the Department have been working with representatives from the councils to establish a contract for dealing with waste refrigeration equipment and the procurement process is now underway.

A decision on the amount of future funding will be taken when the contract rate and more accurate figures on the number of units are known.

(AQW 175/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The consultation paper, ‘Managing Radioactive Waste Safely, Proposals for developing a policy for managing solid radioactive waste in the UK’, was launched by the Government and the devolved Administrations in September 2001.

A summary of the consultation responses is available in the Assembly Library, and also in the Environment and Heritage Service, Calvert House, 23 Castle Place, Belfast.

The consultation ended on 12 March 2002. It is now proposed to appoint an independent body to review the available options and bring forward recommendations.

The clear objective is to create a waste management system, which will manage radioactive waste safely and achieve long-term protection for people and the environment.

The new body will be in place by the end of the year. Its members will be appointed jointly by Ministers of the UK Government and the devolved Administrations. The new body will ensure that the review of options is carried out in an open, transparent and inclusive public manner.

The consultation exercise was the first stage in the process of managing radioactive waste safely. The appointment of the independent body will signal the beginning of stage two, which will also include the process of assessing options and the publication of the final decision.

The third stage, which is scheduled for 2006 will be a public debate on how any recommendation made by the independent body should be implemented, including any site criteria.

The fourth stage, scheduled for 2007 will be the start of the implementation process, including any necessary legislation.

Our priority is to reach a decision, which achieves long-term protection of people and the environment, which inspires public confidence and which is practicable.

(AQW 198/02)

Mr Nesbitt: Formal designation cannot take place until a member state’s list of candidate special areas of conservation (SACs) has been accepted by the European Commission and, to date, this process of acceptance is not yet complete. Consequently, no SACs have been designated under the Habitats Directive by any member state. Following a meeting between the Commission and a number of member states, in June 2002, to assess the lists already submitted, the UK was asked to consider additional candidate SACs for a small number of conservation features. My Department is currently considering the submission of additional sites for raised bog habitat and the marsh fritillary butterfly, and the River Foyle system together with its principal tributaries for salmon. I anticipate that this work will be completed early next year.

(AQW 199/02)

Mr Nesbitt: Responsibility for the imposition of penalties for failure to designate SACs ultimately rests with the European Court of Justice. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to speculate on what the penalties might be should the Commission progress with infraction proceedings against the UK.

I understand, however, that it is highly unlikely that the Commission would take such punitive action against a member state at this stage in the SAC designation process.

(AQW 217/02)

Mr Nesbitt: The type of stolen vehicle check when a vehicle is being re-registered in Northern Ireland depends on the availability of data, the means of accessing that data and volume of vehicles.

For all vehicles the documents presented at re-registration in Northern Ireland are returned to the country of origin so that the appropriate checks can be made and the vehicle removed from that country’s current vehicle database.

In addition:

• all vehicles imported from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg and Latvia are checked on the EUCARIS computer which allows access to the vehicles databases of authorities in Europe.

• All vehicles imported from Japan are checked through the police Interpol system.

• For vehicles brought in from GB a percentage check is undertaken along with targeted checks based on information provided by the Criminal Intelligence Service.