Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 2 November 2012 Volume 79, 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 4 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 18 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 27 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 37 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 41 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 53 Department of Finance and Personnel ..................................................................................... WA 81 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ........................................................... WA 90 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 101 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 122 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 136 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 147 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) McCallister, John (South Down) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) 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) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) 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) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hay, William (Speaker) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 2 November 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 2 November 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Work of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC Mr Storey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the work of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC. (AQO 2567/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The Bureau continues to represent the interests of the Executive throughout North America. Since its creation, the Bureau has successfully developed political, academic, cultural and economic relationships in key markets such as Washington, DC, Boston and New York. In recent years, the Bureau has expanded its outreach efforts to markets with growing interest and opportunities. In Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley, the Bureau has promoted our emerging prowess in the creative industries sector through highlighting our ability to host major TV series such as Game of Thrones. It has also worked with InvestNI to promote local expertise in state-of-the-art sectors such as mobile and web application technologies. In Chicago, the Bureau worked hard with the diaspora and business community that had historical reservations and pre-conceived views about what it is like to live and work here. In relation to business outreach, the Bureau has worked closely with InvestNI and ourselves to create an environment that facilitated the preservation of the United-Continental flight between Belfast and Newark. It also helped secure the investment by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a global leader in the financial services sector. This year, the Bureau has, for the first time, ventured north of the US border into Canada where there is a significant diaspora community from Northern Ireland. That link has served as a catalyst for the Bureau’s emerging strategy for engagement in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. In terms of ongoing initiatives, the Bureau has extended its outreach to include the US Agri-Food and Bio Science communities, through the appointment of a Marketing Officer who is fully funded by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. The newly appointed officer is already making headway into a lucrative US market by promoting the scientific excellence of AFBI in animal health and crop management. While the Bureau continues to explore new opportunities, it continues to provide a level of access for visiting Ministers and MLAs that advances both the agendas of the incoming visitors and the reputation of Northern Ireland in the United States and Canada. Since devolution was reintroduced in May 2007, the Bureau has facilitated 47 incoming VIP visits for 180 visitors and hosted more than 90 events, which were attended by over 6,600 people. The key thread running through all these activities is the promotion of the very best that we have to offer across a wide range of sectors. It should also be noted that the Bureau is the primary conduit for the Executive with the White House and Capitol Hill. The importance of this relationship was underscored this year as the Bureau worked with Congressional members on both sides of the political divide, the White House, State Department, WA 1 Friday 2 November 2012 Written Answers and diplomatic colleagues at the Irish Embassy to ensure that the United States honoured its commitment to contribute $2.5 million to the International Fund for Ireland. Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (i) whether the term ‘witnesses’ includes victims and survivors; (ii) why witnesses will be represented by the Statutory Inquiry legal team and not be entitled to their own legal representation; and