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School Examination Results
10. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of school exam results in Northern Ireland relative to the rest of Great Britain. [61207]
Mr. McFall: The Department of Education in Northern Ireland routinely compares school performance in examination with those in England and Wales. Comparisons with Scotland are difficult because of the different examination system. Standards in Northern Ireland have been improving each year and compare very favourably with the other regions. I offer my congratulations to pupils and teachers on their achievements.
Industrial Development Board
11. Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to reform the working of the Industrial Development Board. [61208]
Mr. Ingram: The structure of the industrial development bodies in Northern Ireland, including the Industrial Development Board, are being considered as part of the Economic Development Strategy Review.
Peace Process
12. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the latest position in the peace process. [61209]
20. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress following the Belfast agreement. [61217]
22. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects final implementation of the arrangements contained in the Belfast agreement. [61219]
- 24. Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the Belfast agreement; and if she will make a statement. [61221]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Considerable progress has been made in implementing the Belfast Agreement. Intensive consultations continue with a view to reaching early agreement on the number of Ministerial offices and on areas for North/South co-operation. I look forward to the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement and to the launch of the various new institutions early in 1999.
Parades Commission
13. Mr. Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will abolish the Parades Commission. [61210]
The Parades Commission retains the complete confidence of the Government in its ability to operate in an independent, impartial and even-handed way in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.
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14. Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to encourage inward investment in Northern Ireland from (a) the United States and (b) elsewhere. [61211]
16. Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to encourage inward investment in Northern Ireland from (a) the United States and (b) elsewhere. [61213]
Mr. Ingram:
During October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State together with the right hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble) and the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) led a major initiative in North America. Through a series of executive briefings they very successfully promoted Northern Ireland as a world class investment location, building on the political progress following the Good Friday agreement. Similar briefings have been undertaken in Europe and are being considered for Asia Pacific.
15. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government are giving to farmers in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. [61212]
27. Mr. Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government are giving to farmers in Northern Ireland. [61224]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Government announced on 16 November 1998 a special aid package for United Kingdom farmers amounting to about £120 million. This package is likely to be worth some £19 million to Northern Ireland farmers. A total of just over £1 million was paid earlier under a one-off Pig Welfare Slaughter Scheme and to suckler cow producers whose herds were badly affected by BSE.
17. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions she is taking to help people who have been victims of violence in Northern Ireland. [61214]
Mr. Ingram:
Following the publication of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report "We Will Remember Them", we undertook an extensive consultation to seek the views of those affected by the violence in Northern Ireland. I have already announced a number of significant initiatives to address the needs of victims, and others will be introduced when the outcome of the consultation is assessed.
18. Mr. Forsythe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are currently employed by (a) Ulsterbus and (b) Northern Ireland Railways. [61215]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Ulsterbus currently employs 2,151 members of staff and Northern Ireland Railways employs 663.
2 Dec 1998 : Column: 203
19. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning the early release of terrorist prisoners. [61216]
Mr. Ingram:
I have received a number of representations from various political parties, groups and individual members of the public concerning the early release of prisoners.
21. Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to increase the number of nursery school places. [61218]
Mr. McFall:
The first year of our Pre-School Education Expansion Programme has increased pre- school education provision by 20 per cent. and provided places for an additional 2,200 children. We expect to make further substantial progress over the next 3 years towards our long-term aim of providing a year of pre-school education for every child.
23. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress with the Government's anti-drugs strategy in Northern Ireland following the appointment of the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator. [61220]
Mr. Ingram:
The current strategy for tackling the drug problem in Northern Ireland was published in 1995. With the appointment of the UK anti-drug Co-ordinator and the production of a new 10 year strategy for tackling drug misuse, that strategy is currently being reviewed. A new strategy document is expected early in 1999.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [61222]
Mr. Ingram:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) and for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 2 December 1998, Official Report, column 870.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on consultancy advice, to assist in its consideration of Belfast Harbour Commissioner's proposal to transfer the Port of Belfast to the private sector, will be funded. [62345]
Marjorie Mowlam:
Belfast Harbour Commissioners have brought forward their proposal to transfer the Port to the private sector under the terms of the Ports (NI) Order 1994. The legislation does not, however, empower the Department to incur expenditure in considering that proposal.
Parliament's approval for expenditure on consultant's fees associated with this proposal in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for
2 Dec 1998 : Column: 204
Department of the Environment Vote 1 (Roads, Transport and Ports). Pending that approval, expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how planned expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the runway strengthening and provision of storage facilities at St. Angelo's Airport, Co. Fermanagh will be funded. [62346]
Marjorie Mowlam:
This was one of a number of projects to benefit from the Chancellor's Fund announced on 12 May 1998. Parliament's approval for the planned expenditure in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for Department of the Environment Vote 1 (Roads, Transport and Ports). Pending that approval, expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.
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