Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 28 January 2011 Volume 60, No WA2 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 .......................................................................37 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ..........................................................................39 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ........................................................................................45 Department of Education ..............................................................................................................47 Department for Employment and Learning ......................................................................................57 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ............................................................................59 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................127 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................137 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................144 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................169 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................183 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................219 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 Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCallister, John (South Down) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Bannside, The Lord (North Antrim) 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) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, P J (South Down) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Callaghan, Pól (Foyle) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McNarry, David (Strangford) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Easton, Alex (North Down) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Ford, David (South Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gibson, Simpson (Strangford) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) South Tyrone) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 28 January 2011 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 28 January 2011 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Review of Arms-length Bodies Ms S Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the review of arms- length bodies as outlined in his recent draft Budget 2011-15 statement. (AQO 827/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The Executive will shortly consider criteria to be applied by the Budget Review Group in reviewing arms-length bodies. This Group will bring recommendations to the Executive in due course, which will inform final decisions and lay the basis for legislation early in the term of the next Assembly. Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister why there has not been an equality impact assessment carried out on the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration. (AQW 3476/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The public consultation on the draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration ended on 29 October 2010. The report on the independent analysis of the consultation responses was completed in early January and the findings will be sent to us shortly to inform our considerations. The consultation document included details of how the Programme was screened for equality impacts and the public were given the opportunity to comment on equality impacts as part of the consultation exercise. An Equality Impact Assessment will be completed taking account of these comments. As a Programme that will cut across many areas of responsibility, the departmental policies currently underpinning it, and any new policies or programmes leading from it, will also be subject to Equality Impact Assessment processes where appropriate. Single Equality Bill Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline their proposals for bringing forward legislation on a single Equality Bill. (AQW 3477/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: We are currently considering the options for legislative reform here. When we have made a decision we will outline our proposals. Whilst no policy decision has been taken regarding a single Equality Bill, the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister continues to legislate in order to provide legal protection against discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity. WA 37 Friday 28 January 2011 Written Answers Chief Executive of the Strategic Investment Board Mr G Savage asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the cost to date of the recruitment process for the currently unfilled post of Chief Executive of the Strategic Investment Board, broken down by (i) advertising; (ii) administration; and (iii) interview process. (AQW 3512/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The following amounts were incurred during the recruitment exercise for the chief executive post in the Strategic Investment Board (SIB). Advertising: £41,115 Administration: £15,866 Interview process: Room hire £576 Travel expenses £725 Total cost incurred to date: £58,282 Review of the Strategic Investment Board Mr G Savage asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQW 112/11, when their Department considered the findings of the review of the Strategic Investment Board; and what recommendations were made to the Executive. (AQW 3513/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Department is currently considering the findings of the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) review. The Executive will be advised of the outcome in due course. Strategic Investment Board Mr G Savage asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQW 207/11, what action the Strategic Investment Board has taken to minimise the impact of the reduction in the levels of capital funding available to the Executive,