Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 5 October 2012 Volume 77, No WA4 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 283 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 286 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 300 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 308 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 333 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 338 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 358 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 377 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 383 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 395 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 407 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 418 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 Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) 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) 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 5 October 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 5 October 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Draft Executive Papers Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how many draft Executive papers, which have been circulated to ministerial colleagues by Ministers, have yet to be placed on the agenda for an Executive meeting; (ii) the date on which the paper was circulated; and (iii) the subject matter of each paper. (AQW 13716/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential. Executive Papers Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what guidelines pertaining to timeframe govern the circulation of final Executive papers to Ministers prior to the Executive meeting at which any such paper is due to be discussed; and how many times since 2007 these timeframes have been breached. (AQW 13717/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We would refer you to the answer we gave to AQW 13716/11-15. Draft Executive Papers Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail, from May 2007 to date (i) the date each approved draft Executive paper was circulated to Ministers; (ii) the date on which each respective paper was discussed at the Executive; and (iii) the subject matter of each paper. (AQW 13718/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: As we have indicated previously, the content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential. Members of the Maze Regeneration Board Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in relation to the declarations of political interests by members of the Maze Regeneration Board, (i) to which political party has Joe O’Donnel made donations; (ii) to which MLA is Jack Gallagher a part-time assistant; (iii) for which party is Paul Stewart a councillor; and (iv) to which party has Tony Gallagher provided administrative help at election time. (AQW 14128/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The information requested was publicly released on 14 September and is on the Executive’s website at: WA 283 Friday 5 October 2012 Written Answers www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/news-ofmdfm/news-ofmdfm- 140909-further-announcement-mlk.htm . Land Disposal Arrangements for the Maze Site Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what are the income projections from the land disposal arrangements for the Maze site. (AQW 14211/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The newly established Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation will take forward the regeneration of the site and will consider how to maximise the site’s economic potential. Visits by European Commissioners Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the number of visits by European Commissioners to Northern Ireland in 2011. (AQW 14293/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: In 2011 there was one visit, by Mr Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for Regional Policy, who opened the Peace Bridge in Derry/Londonderry on 25 June 2011. Welfare Reform Advisory Group Mr Durkan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to establish a Welfare Reform advisory group. (AQW 14370/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We have established an advisory group to assist all Ministers in alleviating hardship, including any implications of the UK Government’s Welfare Reform Programme. The membership of the Group includes: ■ Les Allamby – Director, Law Centre ■ Lindsay Conway – Director of Social Service, Presbyterian Church’s Presbyterian Church Board for Social Responsibility ■ Marie Cavanagh – Director, Gingerbread ■ Neil Gibson – Director, Regional Services Division, Oxford Economics ■ Prof Donal McKillop