The Rivers Agency Business Plan for 2002/2003 will be placed in the Assembly Library at a later date.

(AQW 239/02)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): Discussions, led by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, have been ongoing with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for over a year regarding the impact of the draft Communications Bill on broadcasting and telecommunications in Northern Ireland.

The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister responded formally on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive to the consultation on the draft Bill on 1 August 2002. A copy of that response has been placed in the library. The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister have twice requested a meeting with the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and for Culture, Media and Sport but have yet to receive a reply.

The issue of Northern Ireland representation on the Board of the new regulator, OFCOM, has been raised in telephone conversations between Dermot Nesbitt and Dr Kim Howells, Minister for Broadcasting at DCMS; between myself and Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; and in the margins of a meeting between Douglas Alexander, Telecommunications Minister in DTI, and Sir Reg Empey. The lines taken in the response of 1 August have also been rehearsed several times by officials of Northern Ireland Departments in discussions with the Joint DTI/DCMS Bill Team both before and since 1 August. A further meeting is planned in October between DCAL and DCMS officials.

(AQW 260/02)

Mr McGimpsey: The figures you requested are detailed below.

(AQW 261/02)

Mr McGimpsey: Each district council takes account of the needs of the disabled when providing facilities in its area for recreational, social and cultural activities. My Department has issued guidance to each district council and has sponsored workshops for district councils on the development of local cultural strategies to promote the cultural well-being of its area and its people. This guidance will serve as a planning tool to help councils to plan strategically for culture, arts and leisure in such a way as to improve services and maximise funding opportunities.

In addition, the Sports Council is currently undertaking a review of the sporting opportunities available to disabled people as a whole in Northern Ireland, to enable it to determine appropriate initiatives for the future, including sporting and leisure schemes for children and young adults with disabilities and special needs.

(AQW 265/02)

Mr McGimpsey: Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch (the Ulster-Scots Agency) currently has four staff. Two of these are seconded civil servants and two are recruitment agency staff. Foras na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Agency) currently employs forty-five staff. The North South Ministerial Council noted at its meeting on December 2001 the Agency’s proposal to appoint seven staff and work is in hand to complete the recruitment process.

I am committed to ensuring fair treatment for all the bodies and organisations that my Department deals with.

(AQW 266/02)

Mr McGimpsey: 10 members of staff transferred from the Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland and 269 members of staff transferred from the Waterways Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage , Gaeltacht and the Islands in the Republic of Ireland.

Some 62 new posts were advertised and filled by open competition, 53 of these based in Northern Ireland, and 9 based in the Republic of Ireland.

Information regarding the previous employment of staff recruited through open competition is confidential.

(AQW 274/02)

Mr McGimpsey: As Foras na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Agency) does not yet have an office in Northern Ireland, the expenditure in the North is for project support. I can, however, advise you that in 2001 assistance totalling £2,413,820 was provided to groups and organisations in Northern Ireland. Between January and August of this year assistance totalling £1,090,753 has been provided.

The various groups are involved in projects and activities which include language, culture and education. The information in respect of Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch (the Ulster-Scots Agency) is given below.

Assistance to activities undertaken by groups and organisations is included in the language, culture and education totals.

(AQW 275/02)

Mr McGimpsey: As Foras na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Agency) does not yet have an office in Northern Ireland, the expenditure in the North is for project support. I can, however, advise you that in 2001 assistance totalling £2,413,820 was provided to groups and organisations in Northern Ireland. Between January and August of this year assistance totalling £1,090,753 has been provided.

The various groups are involved in projects and activities which include language, culture and education. The information in respect of Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch (the Ulster-Scots Agency) is given below.

Assistance to activities undertaken by groups and organisations is included in the language, culture and education totals.

(AQW 308/02)

Mr McGimpsey: The Department currently owns five of the buildings which it occupies and of the five, one of the buildings currently contains asbestos as a component of its construction. This is the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI) which is situated at 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast. There are currently 70 staff working on this site.

The PRONI site and outbuildings have been subjected to periodic inspection and survey by the Construction Service of the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) - the most recent in March 2000. Following a survey, asbestos based materials which are deemed in poor condition will normally be recommended for removal. DFP Construction Service are responsible for implementing such work. During refurbishment work undertaken in November 2000 to convert the Exhibition Hall within PRONI to a microfilm room, asbestos based material was removed. A specialist company removed this material under the supervision of Construction.

PRONI keeps three Asbestos Registers which have been periodically managed and reviewed in partnership with Construction Service. All three registers were last up-dated in March 2000 following inspection by Construction Service. These inspections revealed a number of areas where asbestos based materials were either confirmed to be present or assumed to be present. However, because it was not deemed to be potentially injurious to the health of either staff or the public, Construction Service recommended no action, other than labelling and further review.

Construction Service has been requested to put a management system in place to routinely inspect the known asbestos materials within the PRONI estate. This system will include a facility to implement adequate control measures in accordance with current legislation, where such materials are deemed to be potentially injurious to the health of both staff and the visiting public.

(AQW 332/02)

Mr McGimpsey: Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch (The Ulster-Scots Agency) currently employs four staff. Two are seconded Civil Servants and two are Recruitment Agency staff. Foras na Gaeilge (The Irish Language Agency) currently has thirty-four staff.

(AQW 385/02)

Mr McGimpsey: The number of people involved in canoeing through the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland (CANI), the official body responsible for canoe sport in Northern Ireland, is as follows:

A total of 17 clubs, affiliated to CANI, represent those involved. However, there are a number of organisations involved in unaffiliated participation in canoeing e.g. Outdoor Education Centres, Education and Library Boards, District Councils, and youth and community organisations such as the Boys Brigade, Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh. Unfortunately there are no statistics available on the numbers involved in unaffiliated canoeing.

(AQW 213/02)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): My Department has been allocated a budget of £19.11 m in the 2002/2003 financial year to meet its administration costs.

I regret that the information regarding the Education and Library Boards is not available at present. I will write to you regarding these figures as soon as possible.

(AQW 214/02)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department currently has a total of 609 staff employed in an administrative and advisory capacity (which equates to a full-time equivalent of 578 staff).

I regret that the information regarding the Education and Library Boards is not available at present. I will write to you regarding these figures as soon as possible.

(AQW 238/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The Pre-school Education Expansion Programme aims to provide a place for every child whose parents wish it by March 2003. This school year the overall level of provision will be considerably greater than 90%, which is in excess of our expected level of demand. At present my Department is working closely with each education and library board’s Pre-School Education Advisory Group in order to ensure that the most effective allocation of funded places has been achieved.

(AQW 240/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Any receipts realised from the sale of the former Scrabo High School are to be used to offset the expenditure incurred on the capital development of Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards.

(AQW 250/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The North Eastern Education and Library Board has advised that the number of pupils on home tuition was as follows:

(AQW 251/02)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department has the principle enshrined in legislation that, subject to certain provisos, young people should be educated in a mainstream setting. The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs builds upon this and we have allocated substantial resources to support this provision. This right to a mainstream education will be further strengthened by the introduction, in the current Assembly session, of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill for Northern Ireland, broadly equivalent to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

To enable children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties to receive an education in a mainstream setting the education and library boards may provide additional teacher support, classroom assistance, help from the behaviour support services and part-time or full-time placement in the behaviour support units attached to these services, both at primary and secondary level.

The Regional Strategy Group for Special Educational Needs is currently examining the issue of Inclusion, including the identification of effective practice. This will help ensure that all children are provided with a range of options and are treated equally and fairly.

(AQW 252/02)

Mr M McGuinness: At present, if a pupil transfers from a mainstream school to a special school, as a result of a statement being issued, no associated funding transfers with the pupil. However the Common Funding Scheme, which is due to come into effect in April 2003, proposes that funding adjustments will be made where a pupil transfers from a grant-aided school to a special school.

(AQW 253/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The 2001/02 total number of statemented pupils in primary and grammar schools are as follows:

(AQW 254/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The breakdown of translations and interpretations of publications and stationery is as follows:

(AQW 282/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is as follows:

(AQW 283/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The range of educational facilities available to children with speech and language impairments in the NEELB area is as follows:

(AQW 292/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of Educational Psychologists full-time and part-time, employed per Board area, is:

Boards employ a wide range of officers who advise on many aspects in the field of special educational needs. I will write separately to you with this information.

(c) The number of pupils who are currently at stage 4 of the Code of Practice, per Board area, is:

The above figures relate to children who are currently undergoing statutory assessment procedures (Stage 4 of the Code of Practice) and do not yet have a final statement of special educational needs (Stage 5 of the Code of Practice). The statutory assessment process determines whether or not a statement is appropriate and therefore does not lead to the issue of a statement on every case.

(AQW 295/02)

Mr M McGuinness: I will outline the next stages of the Post-Primary review on 8 October when I publish a report on the responses to consultation. I will be engaging with key interests to build on emerging consensus and to develop new arrangements which are fair, give every child the opportunity to fulfil their potential and raise standards for all children.

(AQW 297/02)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department does not own or lease any buildings and responsibility for the buildings occupied by Departmental staff rests with the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Departmental staff occupy buildings at two locations, Rathgael House, Bangor and Waterside House, Londonderry. The number of staff employed in Rathgael House is 482 and in Waterside House 126.

(AQW 298/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The South Eastern and Library Board has advised that it will soon be commencing a survey of its buildings in order to compile an asbestos register, which will be required under the new Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations which are to come into force in 2004. At this time the Board is unable to provide details of schools that have asbestos in their buildings.

(AQW 309/02)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department does not own or lease any buildings and responsibility for the buildings occupied by Departmental staff rests with the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Departmental staff occupy buildings at two locations, Rathgael House, Bangor and Waterside House, Londonderry. The number of staff employed in Rathgael House is 482 and in Waterside House 126.

(AQW 339/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Children are not referred to Health and Social Services Boards for statutory assessment purposes, they are referred to Health and Social Services Trusts. The numbers of children referred to Trusts in the Northern Health Board area over the last three years (September 1999 to 31 August 2002) are as follows;

(AQW 340/02)

Mr M McGuinness: There are currently 13 children in residential care in the Northern Health and Social Services area with statements of special educational needs. Two of these statements have been issued whilst the child was in care. All other statements pre-date the residential component of care packages. Information is not available for earlier years

(AQW 383/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The information for 2001/02 (non grammar schools only) is as follows:

(AQW 388/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils applying for places in secondary education in the Ards town area in each of the last three years is detailed below:

(AQW 397/02)

Mr M McGuinness: Where expenditure associated with the removal or isolation of asbestos that is causing a health and safety risk cannot be met within existing Education and Library Boards’ maintenance budgets, my Department is prepared to consider requests for additional funding from within the resources available to the education sector.

(AQW 398/02)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department does not own or lease any buildings and responsibility for the buildings occupied by Departmental staff rests with the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Departmental staff occupy buildings at two locations, Rathgael House, Bangor and Waterside House, Londonderry. The number of staff employed in Rathgael House is 482 and in Waterside House 126.

(AQW 407/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils who applied for a secondary school place at Regent House and the number who were unsuccessful in obtaining a place and a list of the schools where they were placed is detailed below:

(AQW 408/02)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils who applied for a secondary school place at Movilla High School and the number who were unsuccessful in obtaining a place and a list of the schools where they were placed is detailed below:

(AQW 236/02)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): I have been advised that EGSA are currently seeking premises in the Larne town centre area and several locations are currently under consideration. In the interim period, an EGSA presence in the Larne area will continue to be supported by the Belfast Office staff, in collaboration with staff in both the statutory and voluntary agencies in the Larne area.

(AQW 248/02)

Ms Hanna: Records of participants are not collated on an Assembly constituency basis. To date 70 participants from County Tyrone have progressed to the US phase and have received financial support from the Department.

An Interim Evaluation of the Walsh Visa Programme has been conducted by DTZ Pieda Consultants. A final report is expected shortly.

(AQW 290/02)

Ms Hanna: Following on from the announcement of the draft spending allocations for my Department I am considering the affordability of re-introducing Individual Learning Accounts. My priority is to ensure that the funding available to the Department for adult learning is targeted on those in greatest need either because of social disadvantage or low skills levels. When I have considered the impact of the draft budget allocations for 2003/04 on my Department I will make a decision in respect of Individual Learning Accounts. I would expect to make that decision over the next few weeks when spending allocations are confirmed.

(AQW 305/02)

Ms Hanna: I do not intend to follow the Scottish system. I do intend, however, to provide support, within the resources available, to students who come from low income families. To this effect my Department has introduced a means tested, non-repayable Higher Education Bursary for students from low income families, worth up to £1,500 per year. I have also recently announced that this will increase to £2000 with effect from September 2003. The income threshold for these bursaries will also rise from £15,000 to £20,000.

(AQW 310/02)

Ms Hanna: The New Deal Programme and Bridge to Employment are particularly suited to those about to be made redundant. Both enable individuals to re-train and enter employment in areas other than that which they have just left. Contact between INI and my Department means that JobCentre staff are alert to forthcoming redundancies. A series of models have been developed which enables companies and individuals to be provided with a range of options ranging from re-training to self-employment. The models also include the facility to inform local businesses not facing redundancies, about the availability of potential staff and training programmes.

(AQW 311/02)

Ms Hanna: My Department’s Regional staff maintain ongoing links with colleagues in INI, local economic development groups and Strategic Partnerships in order to work pro-actively with inward investment and indigenous businesses. Their local knowledge and the range of options on offer including Bridge to Employment and New Deal mean that businesses can be offered potential staff and training as a composite package. These will be tailored to suit the needs of both the company and individuals concerned.

(AQW 330/02)

Ms Hanna: Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) have been carried out on all pieces of proposed employment legislation since devolution. These assessments are forecasts, made prior to implementation, of the risks, costs and benefits likely to arise as a result of the legislation and are used to inform public debate. Some employment legislation may result in additional costs for business, including small businesses, but I believe there will also be real benefits for firms, through, for example, more harmonious employee relations, reduced pressures on working parents, clarification of rights and the spread of good practice.

(AQW 346/02)

Ms Hanna: The Employability Taskforce, which I chair on behalf of the Executive, has been examining how barriers to employment can be overcome and more people assisted to engage with the labour market. I expect the Report to be published shortly.

In addition, my Department is introducing a new process whereby all jobseekers are required to address their training and employment needs as part of their benefit claiming process. This service is being rolled out through joint Jobs and Benefits offices.

Finally, job vacancies notified by employers to my Department are displayed on jobcentreonline, our new web site, giving instant access to jobseekers.

(AQO 199/02)

Ms Hanna: My Department is making steady progress with the re-consideration of the Further Education Strategy. Given the importance of further education to the economy and social fabric of Northern Ireland, the outcomes of this review will be very important.

The first stage, which is due for completion around the beginning of December, is a consultation on the role of the statutory FE sector. This exercise will serve as the starting point for a consideration of wider issues in four key areas:

(AQO 191/02)

Ms Hanna: While student loans, which are highly subsidised, offer students a method of funding their living costs, with very favourable repayment terms, it was recognised during my predecessor’s review of student support, that specific groups of students are experiencing particular difficulties. Consequently, means tested non-repayable bursaries of up to £1,500 per year were introduced from the beginning of this month, which will reduce the amount of loans that students need to borrow.

I intend to increase the maximum bursary to £2000 with effect from September 2003, while simultaneously increasing the income threshold from £15,000 to £20,000.

(AQO 225/02)

Ms Hanna: Disabled young people face a range of difficulties in accessing services including further and higher education. My Department is committed to removing and addressing any difficulties disabled young people have in accessing further and higher education. Already Universities have carried out "disability audits", while further education colleges are currently being audited, to identify essential capital works needed to improve physical access. Skill NI has also been commissioned to develop an audit tool to help institutions improve access to the curriculum. In addition, my Department has, in conjunction with the Department of Education, recently published proposals for a Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill for Northern Ireland.

(AQO 223/02)

Ms Hanna: Between 2000-01 and 2001-02 the Departmental Expenditure Limit budget for my Department, excluding ring-fenced provision for the EU Peace Programme, increased by 2.9%. For comparison purposes the 2000/01 base on which the percentage is calculated includes Welfare to Work provision which was outside the Departmental Expenditure Limit budget in 2000/01 but included in it, in 2001/02.

(AQO 198/02)

Ms Hanna: I understand your question concerns my Department’s funding of university research here. The bulk of my Department’s funding is through the annual recurrent mainstream grant which is essentially related to research quality and volume as is the case in Great Britain. Otherwise there are separate funding streams for specific initiatives which are generally local derivations of initiatives in England, although the Support Programme for University Research is a notable local exception. I should point out that my Department’s grants are only part of the picture as the Universities can attract funds from other sources such as Research Councils, other Government Departments and the private sector.

(AQO 221/02)

Ms Hanna: From their introduction in September 2000, expenditure on Individual Learning Accounts was £1.3 million in 2000/01; £7.2 million in 2001/02; and £0.4m to date in 2002/03.

A recent survey has shown that the great majority of Northern Ireland users had improved their skills, were fully satisfied with their courses and the value for money. However, it also indicated the scheme’s limited impact on those who are educationally and economically disadvantaged.

(AQO 202/02)

Ms Hanna: My Department provides funding for teacher education in Queen’s University, Belfast, the University of Ulster, St Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College. These institutions’ recruitment and admissions policies are subject to the requirements of equality legislation.

I have no plans to add to this provision.

(AQW 92/02)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey) [holding answer 20 September 2002]: The table below sets out information relating to payments to each of the Companies. The notes explain the basis for the information supplied.

* Including associated companies

(AQW 93/02)

Sir Reg Empey [holding answer 20 September 2002]:

(AQW 267/02)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department does not provide such financing to industry in Northern Ireland.

As launch aid (now termed Launch Investment) is a "reserved matter" administered by DTI, the Member should put his query to the Secretary of State for DTI, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, MP, at 1 Victoria Street, London, SWIH 0ET.

(AQW 273/02)

Sir Reg Empey: The Moyle District Council area is heavily dependent on the rural economy and the retail sector is a significant employer. Moyle also has a low manufacturing base. These structural issues are significant when considering economic development plans for the region.

Invest NI is engaged with its enterprise partners within Moyle including Moyle Local Strategic Partnership to address the economic development issues facing the region. A number of appraisals have been completed on economic development issues and consultations have taken place within the community and with key influencers to identify the key local economic development needs. These consultations resulted in a number of significant actions aimed at promoting economic development within Moyle.

Moyle District Council has an agreed Local Economic Development plan in place. This plan was drawn up with input from Invest NI and sets out priorities for the region until 2005.

It is the view of Invest NI that an additional economic appraisal at this time is not necessary. A number of appraisals have taken place over the last year and the Moyle Local Strategy Partnership has consulted widely in order to determine the priorities for the region. The key economic points of this have been captured within the Moyle District Council Local Economic Development Plan.

Invest NI is now working with its partners within Moyle to ensure the targets set out in these plans are met.

(AQW 301/02)

Sir Reg Empey: In each case, the answer is none.

(AQW 312/02)

Sir Reg Empey: In the last 2 years East Antrim area has seen the loss of around 2250 jobs in the hi-tech and telecommunications sector.

I recognise the key role that such employees play in achieving economic prosperity and the importance of retaining them in the sector, particularly those with technological skills. For this reason my Department liaises closely with the Department of Employment and Learning and local companies to help find new employment opportunities for any employees being made redundant. In addition, Invest NI has a range of support available to encourage people to use their skills in developing businesses. For example, in the East Antrim area, Invest NI has approved support for the Enterprise Agency in Larne to run the Fresh Start Redundancy Programme. This programme is aimed at people being made redundant, who may consider Self Employment. The programme will cover,

What’s involved in self-employment?

Ideas Generation

Role model stories

Market Research

Invest NI is currently considering a proposal to run a ‘Managers into Enterprise Programme’ (MINE). This programme would seek to encourage managers in companies to consider setting up their own business.

Invest NI also has a Growth Start Programme, which is aimed at supporting people to set up businesses with potential to expand in export markets.

This scheme can provide financial support for product development, marketing and revenue costs.

I am very much aware of the difficulties currently faced by the East Antrim area and officials will consider if additional measures are needed to encourage alternative employment opportunities or to allow highly skilled people to start their own businesses.

(AQW 334/02)

Sir Reg Empey: I have impressed upon Bombardier senior management, both in Belfast and in Montreal, the critical importance of continuing investment in people skills and research and development in Belfast and I have expressed my deep concerns about these most recent redundancies. On the ground Invest NI seeks to influence this through selective financial support for investment in research capability and training and development, which will strengthen Shorts’ position as a centre of excellence within the Bombardier group.

As regards additional recruitment in Montreal as far as I have been made aware, Bombardier Montreal has only been recruiting a limited number of highly specialised posts over the past few months, including in its Defence Services facility at Mirabel.

(AQW 335/02)

Sir Reg Empey: The recent public statement made by Bombardier underlines the previous assurances given by senior Bombardier management in both Belfast and Montreal about their