Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 14 June 2013 Volume 86, 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 12 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 20 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 23 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 38 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 51 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 61 Department of Finance and Personnel ..................................................................................... WA 92 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ........................................................... WA 98 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 126 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 136 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 148 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 Agnew, Steven (North Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) 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) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) 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) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) McNarry, David (Strangford) Easton, Alex (North Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Ford, David (South Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hay, William (Speaker) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 14 June 2013 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 14 June 2013 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Business Mission to China Mr Gardiner asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) how many Ministers, junior Ministers, MLAs, officials and other people comprised the delegation for the business mission to China; (ii) the cost of their travel; (iii) the cost of their accommodation; and (iv) other costs associated with the mission. (AQW 16734/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The information has been published on the OFMDFM website. Executive Information Service Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the review of the Executive Information Service began; and when it is expected to be completed. (AQW 18689/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The matter is being progressed. Welfare Reform Bill Mr McGimpsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what representations they have made to the Minister for Social Development on behalf of victims to ensure that the Welfare Reform Bill does not disproportionately affect their entitlements. (AQO 3559/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Following discussions between DSD and OFMDFM, we are pleased to confirm that there will be no change under Universal Credit to how payments made by the Victims and Survivors Service will be treated within the social security system. As is the current position, such payments will be disregarded as income for those in receipt of social security benefits; however, they will be considered as capital. This is exactly the same position as to how payments made by the Memorial Fund are currently treated. The statutory basis for this approach is contained within regulations 5 and 13 of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. NI Memorial Fund: Applications Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how applicants to the NI Memorial Fund were informed that the fund would permanently close for applications on 7 January 2013. (AQW 21419/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Northern Ireland Memorial Fund (NIMF) wrote to recipients of the Fund on 14 December 2012, informing them that the Fund would close for applications on WA 1 Friday 14 June 2013 Written Answers Monday 7 January 2013. Recipients were also informed of the transition arrangement of the Fund into the new Victims Service. The Fund issued separate letters to clients who had already applied for funding in the 2012/13 financial year and those who were still eligible to apply but had not yet submitted an application Victims and Survivors Service Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on funding allocations by the Victims and Survivors Service; and to list the successful applicants and the amounts awarded. (AQW 22730/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: This information is not yet available from the Victims and Survivors Service as processes are not yet complete. Unanswered Question: AQW 14210/11-15 Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister why AQW 14210/11-15 remains unanswered eight months after it was asked; and to provide the answer to the question. (AQW 23183/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: AQW 14210/11-15 was answered on 23 May 2013. Strategic Support Fund Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to list the organisations in each council area that were awarded funding from the Strategic Support Fund in (i) 2012/13; and (ii) 2013/14; and the amount that each organisation received. (AQW 23231/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: A list of organisations awarded funding from the Strategic Support Fund (SSF) in 2012/13, broken down by council area together with amounts awarded, is detailed in the table below.