Official Report (Hansard) Written Answers to Questions Friday 26 February 2010 Volume 48, No WA3 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 .....................................................................207 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................208 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ......................................................................................213 Department of Education ............................................................................................................216 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................235 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................243 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................252 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................256 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................263 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................273 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................336 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission .......................................................................................354 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) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Bradley, P J (South Down) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McNarry, David (Strangford) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Donaldson, Jeffrey (Lagan Valley) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Ford, David (South Antrim) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) 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) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) WA 207 NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY Friday 26 February 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Hotels Booked for Civil Servants Mr T Burns asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the number of nights in hotels booked for civil servants in their Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these hotel rooms, in each of the last five years. (AQW 3841/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): Table 1 below details how much the department has spent on unused hotel rooms in each of the last five financial years, and the corresponding number of nights: TABLE 1 Description 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Number of unused hotel rooms (nights) 1 1 0 0 13 Costs of unused hotel rooms £72 £75 £0 £0 £2,096 The figures for 2008/09 include costs for accommodation in the US for the First Minister’s and deputy First Minister’s visit which was cut short in the aftermath of the killings at Masserene and Lurgan in March 2009. Community Relations in Coleraine Mr G Campbell asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action they plan to take to improve community relations in the Killowen and Heights areas of Coleraine over the next six months. (AQO 788/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Officials in the Community Relations Unit have been liaising with Coleraine Borough Council staff in identifying steps to improve community relations within the Coleraine Borough Council area. In response, officials have received a working draft of a proposed Community Cohesion Strategy for the Borough Council area. The draft is the subject of ongoing discussion and may inform some additions to the Council’s action plan. Officials will continue to work closely with Coleraine Borough Council to identify how best the Department can support the Council’s plans to address sectarian divisions in the area. We will consider advice from officials on funding the various actions through the District Council Good Relations Programme. WA 207 Friday 26 February 2010 Written Answers Victims Funding Mr A Bresland asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what additional funding has been provided for victims since devolution in May 2007. (AQO 789/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: In January 2008 we announced a total of £36 million over 3 years to support victims and survivors. That figure was more than double than made available over the previous three years. Single Equality Bill Ms M Anderson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the development of a Single Equality Bill. (AQO 790/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Although no policy decisions have been taken with regard to a Single Equality Bill, we continue to legislate in order to provide legal protection against discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Supply Chain Development Branch Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to explain the reasons for proposals to axe the Supply Chain Development Branch, which includes the Rural Enterprise Advisers who deliver front-line services to farmers and the rural community. (AQW 4652/10) Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): DARD, like all other Departments, is required to make savings to enable the Executive to work within its budget as well as enable it to address 2010/11 pressures in a strategic manner. My budget proposals to make these savings were presented to the ARD Committee on Tuesday 26 January as well as being made public. These proposals include one relating to making savings through a review of Rural Enterprise work, on the basis that this work does not directly contribute to either Programme for Government (PfG) or Public Service Agreement (PSA)