Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 24 February 2012 Volume 73, No WA1 This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way. Contents Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister ................................................................... WA 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ...................................................................... WA 7 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 20 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 28 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 46 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 54 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 69 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 129 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 138 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 156 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 187 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: simon.burrowes@niassembly.gov.uk to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McNarry, David (Strangford) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Ford, David (South Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hay, William (Speaker) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lewis, Ms Pam (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 24 February 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 24 February 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Organisations: Barring Members from Marrying Persons on the Basis of their Religion Mr McKay asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action their Department is taking to ensure that no organisation bars its members from marrying persons on the basis of their religion. (AQW 2148/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 makes discrimination on grounds of religious belief unlawful in the fields of employment, education, training, goods, facilities and services and premises. However, this legislation does not apply to membership of private clubs. Provisions of Employment Legislation Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of their responsibility for equality, whether they have any plans to cause a review of the provisions of employment legislation which means that teachers in schools are not protected in employment against discrimination on the grounds of religious belief. (AQW 5441/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 makes discrimination on grounds of religious belief unlawful in the fields of employment, education, training, goods, facilities and services and premises. The legislation does not, however, apply to the recruitment of teachers (Article 71). Responsibility for the underlying policy in relation to the teachers’ exemption and whether or not it is to be retained, modified or abolished rests with the Department of Education. OFMDFM would not envisage making any amendments to this section of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order without the full involvement of the Department of Education on the underlying policy. Therefore, OFMDFM is not planning a review. However, we understand that the Department of Education has recently undertaken a review of recruitment opportunities in the teaching sector and this will shortly be submitted to the Minister of Education. Play and Leisure Policy Mrs Overend asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the implementation of the Play and Leisure Policy since March 2011. (AQW 6817/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Since March 2011 we have engaged fourteen councils to establish play and leisure strategic partnerships to ensure a joined-up approach to the planning and WA 1 Friday 24 February 2012 Written Answers commissioning of play and leisure services to meet the needs of local children, and we are currently engaging with the other twelve councils. We have additionally delivered seminars on risk-taking in play and on shaping communities to be play and child friendly; and invested in exemplar projects across council areas on new and innovative play areas. Independent Economic Advice Mr Lunn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the process that is in place for the Executive to receive independent economic advice, compared to that of the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government. (AQW 7272/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: When independent economic advice is sought by Executive Ministers, it is obtained through the normal procurement process consistent with Central Procurement Directorate public procurement policy. Key considerations would involve the application of appropriate eligibility and selection criteria, including value for money, level of expertise, relevance and experience reflecting the specific requirements of the tender. Departmental economists provide advice to departments in support of investment appraisal, policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. In addition, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade & Investment commissioned the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP) in 2009, to undertake a root and branch assessment of how DETI supports business in Northern Ireland. The independent panel was chaired by Professor Richard