Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 3 December 2010 Volume 58, No WA2 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 .....................................................................111 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................116 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ......................................................................................123 Department of Education ............................................................................................................130 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................138 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................141 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................144 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................153 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................160 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................168 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................175 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................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: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Adams, Gerry (West Belfast) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bannside, The Lord (North Antrim) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Bradley, P J (South Down) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Callaghan, Pól (Foyle) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McNarry, David (Strangford) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Easton, Alex (North Down) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Ford, David (South Antrim) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Gibson, Simpson (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) South Tyrone) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 3 December 2010 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 3 December 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Investigation by Sir Jon Shortridge Mr P McGlone asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the time-frame for the investigation by Sir Jon Shortridge. (AQW 1947/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The investigation by Sir Jon Shortridge has been completed. His report has been received and is being considered by the Head of the NI Civil Service. Women’s Groups: Interim Review of Funding Mr P Weir asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Interim Review of Funding for Women’s Groups was completed: and when a report will be published. (AQW 2204/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: A draft report is in the final stages of preparation, and it is hoped that recommendations will be submitted to us for consideration before the end of the year. Consultation on the Draft Budget and Capital Programme Ms S Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether consultation on the Draft Budget and Capital Programme will be led by the Executive; and how the Executive intends to carry out the consultation. (AQW 2216/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Following the agreement of the Executive, the Minister of Finance and Personnel will conduct a consultation on its behalf on a draft budget. The precise arrangements for the consultation process have not yet been determined. Executive’s New Website Mr T Burns asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the cost to date of (i) creating; and (ii) maintaining the Executive’s new website. (AQW 2223/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: This is not a new website but a redesign of the existing Northern Ireland Executive site: www.northernireland.gov.uk/ . All work on the redesign was undertaken internally by the Web & Design team in the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) under the direction of the Executive Information Service (EIS). No external agencies or consultants were used. WA 111 Friday 3 December 2010 Written Answers The website’s content continues to be managed by EIS, with technical support provided by Web Hosting in DFP and while it is not possible to disaggregate internal charges, no additional costs are incurred for maintaining the site. The new design was undertaken to exploit the growing influence of new media and to improve an important channel for government communication. Local Government Boundaries Commissioner Mr R Beggs asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister on what grounds were the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners removed from the list of public appointments to be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.[R] (AQW 2258/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: At no time were the posts of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner or Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioners removed from the list of public appointments to be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Comprehensive Spending Review Ms S Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether any of their Department’s Comprehensive Spending Review proposals for revenue and capital will be Equality Impact Assessed; and if so, to outline the process that will be followed. (AQW 2274/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Guidance issued in July 2010 by the Department of Finance and Personnel to all departments in anticipation of the Budget 2010 process, set out the requirement for high-level equality impact assessments in terms of both spending proposals and savings measures. Consequently, our Department’s Spending Review proposals have been subject to high-level equality impact assessments. This process includes an assessment of the impact of the spending proposals