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Official Report Friday Volume 37 30 January 2009 No WA 1 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) CONTENTS Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister [p1] Department of Agriculture and Rural Development [p6] Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure [p9] Department of Education [p12] Department for Employment and Learning [p18] Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment [p23] Department of the Environment [p27] Department of Finance and Personnel [p45] Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety [p56] Department for Regional Development [p72] Department for Social Development [p76] Written Answers [p95] £5.00 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. This document is available in a range of alternative formats. For more information please contact the Northern Ireland Assembly, Printed Paper Office, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX Tel: 028 9052 1078 ASSEMBLY MeMBerS Adams, Gerry (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, P J (South Down) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Brolly, Francie (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Burnside, David (South Antrim) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McNarry, David (Strangford) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Clarke, Willie (South Down) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Donaldson, Jeffrey (Lagan Valley) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Easton, Alex (North Down) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Ford, David (South Antrim) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, Mrs Iris (Strangford) Hanna, Mrs Carmel (South Belfast) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) 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) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCallister, John (South Down) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 30 January 2009 Written Answers NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY Friday 30 January 2009 Written Answers to Questions Office of the FirST MiniSter and depUTY FirST MiniSter Programme for Government Mr M Storey asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what consideration each Department has to take of the priority given to the economy in the Programme for Government, when implementing its policies. (AQW 4136/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The Programme for Government sets out the Executive’s policy and spending priorities for 2008-2011. Growing a dynamic innovative economy is our top priority. However, the five priority areas set out in the Programme are interconnected and we recognise that we cannot grow the economy in isolation from determined efforts to transform our society and enhance our environment. Under each of the priority areas the Programme for Government sets out a range of key goals and commitments for the Executive collectively to deliver. These are, in turn, supported by a detailed framework of 23 cross-cutting Public Service Agreements (PSAs) which confirm the key actions and targets departments will take forward over the next three years in support of the Executive’s priorities and in line with budget allocations. Departments have also worked together to develop detailed delivery agreements for each PSA. These set out in more detail how departments intend to ensure delivery of the targets and actions set out in the PSA framework and provide the basis upon which the Executive will monitor and report on progress at departmental level. Much has changed since the Executive’s Programme for Government was launched on 28 January 2008. As a result of developments in the global economy, we find ourselves in a more difficult and uncertain environment than any of us could have anticipated. However, the priorities we set out in the Programme for Government and, in particular, our decision to make the economy our top priority remain valid. Current economic conditions and developments in the financial markets clearly present us with significant challenges. However, this makes it more important than ever that the Executive collectively and individual departments remain focused on delivering on the commitments in our Programme for Government. Poverty Levels Dr A McDonnell asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the work it is carrying out, in conjunction with the UK Government, to alleviate the effects on poverty levels in the current economic downturn. (AQO 1861/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: Despite the difficulties associated with the current economic downturn, the Executive remains committed to its Programme for Government commitment to proactively change existing patterns of social disadvantage by using increased prosperity and economic growth to tackle ongoing poverty here. This commitment has recently been re-stated in the Executive’s decision to adopt the broad ‘architecture’ and principles of ‘Lifetime Opportunities’ as the basis of our strategy to tackle Poverty, Social Inclusion and patterns of deprivation, based on social need. WA 1 Friday 30 January 2009 Written Answers The Executive has agreed to establish an Executive Sub-Committee on poverty and social inclusion, which will be chaired by OFMDFM Ministers. This Committee will identify and agree a number of key actions which would contribute most to achieving the goals set out in Lifetime Opportunities and which would be at the ‘core’ of the Executive Strategy. It is generally accepted that these goals can only be achieved through a combination of both devolved and reserved policies. To this end, our officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in administrations across these islands. The economic downturn was discussed at the plenary session of the North South Ministerial Council last Friday, and it is a matter that we will want to raise at the upcoming meeting of the British Irish Council. In addition, we have written to Gordon Brown seeking an urgent meeting to press the case that local depositors in the Presbyterian Mutual Society are protected from the consequences of the Society’s current financial difficulties. We also plan to meet the Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, in coming weeks to ensure that local businesses receive every assistance possible to weather this economic storm. These contacts ensure that policy developments and good practice are shared and will help ensure that the British Government’s commitment to work towards the elimination of child poverty by 2020, which we have adopted, can be met. We are sure that there will be much interest in other jurisdictions in our legislative approach to tackling poverty, reflected in the Financial Assistance Bill. The Executive is equally conscious of its need to adapt to changing priorities. We recognise that economic conditions have changed remarkably since our Programme for Government
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