| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Rates
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if district councils are obliged to set a rate in public; and if she will make a statement. [73570]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Section 23 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 requires that every meeting of a district council shall be open to the public. A council may, by resolution, exclude the public from a council meeting whenever publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest, for example, in the case of meeting at which confidential business is to be transacted or for other special reasons defined by the council. There is, however, no specific legislation which obliges a district council to set a rate in public.
Pensioners (Concessionary Travel)
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland are registered as pensioners; and how many (a) males over 65 years and (b) females over 60 years use concessionary fare schemes. [73985]
Mr. McFall: The latest available information shows that at 15 January 1999 there were 237,546 persons in receipt of State Retirement Pension. This total is comprised of 82,963 males and 154,583 females.
The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland does not hold figures for males over 65 years and females over 60 years who use concessionary fare schemes.
Sewage Disposal
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the permitted level of expenditure per household for providing new sewage disposal provision was last determined; and what sum is used as the basis for determining the viability of a new project; [73982]
- (2) if she will increase the permitted level of expenditure per household for connection to mains sewage disposal; and if she will make a statement. [73983]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Water Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. H. R. F. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
4 Mar 1999 : Column: 825
Letter from D. Carson to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 2 March 1999:
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the value of beef exports from Northern Ireland following the lifting of the ban; and if she will make a statement. [73751]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
There is only one company involved in the export of beef from Northern Ireland since the lifting of the ban. In the circumstances the requested information cannot be provided as it is commercial in confidence.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Royal Ulster Constabulary has issued its police officers with CS sprays; how many police officers in Northern Ireland currently carry CS sprays; and for what reasons they were issued. [74266]
Mr. Ingram:
The Royal Ulster Constabulary has not issued CS sprays to its officers.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if CS gas has been issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary at any time since 1969. [74267]
4 Mar 1999 : Column: 826
Mr. Ingram:
CS Gas has not been on issue to officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary since circa. 1970.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Equality Commission is modelling future good practice for the new Government departments in Northern Ireland by including those directly affected by its decisions in its consultations. [73737]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: The Equality Commission has not yet been established, however paragraph 4(3)(a) of Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 gives the Commission the authority to issue guidelines on the form and content of equality schemes.
It will be for the Commission, when it is formed, to decide on the extent of any consultation on those guidelines. Equality schemes will include details of each public authority's arrangements for consulting on matters to which a duty under section 75 of the Act is likely to be relevant.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those who were invited to the 19 February consultative meeting of the Equality Commission Working Group, indicating those who attended. [73739]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a list of those who were invited to the 19 February consultative meeting of the Equality Commission Working Group and have indicated those who attended.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the list of those who were circulated with the consultative paper prepared by the Equality Commission Working Group. [73738]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a list of those organisations and individuals to whom the Consultative Paper, prepared by the Equality Commission Working Group, was circulated.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and which organisations, excluding the existing equality agencies, are represented on the Equality Commission Working Group. [73736]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: In addition to representatives of the existing equality bodies, the Working Group includes a representative of the trade unions to which the majority of staff in the existing bodies, belong and an independent Chairman, Dr, Joan Stringer. The views of other organisations are being taken into account through a consultation process.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library copies of the working papers being considered by the Equality Commission Working Group. [73740]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: Copies of working papers on the Equality Commission Working Group are a matter for the Group and not my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
4 Mar 1999 : Column: 827
I have arranged for a copy of the Consultative Paper to be placed in the Library. The final report of the Working Group, which I expect to receive during the first half of March, will also be placed in the Library.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals she has to ensure persons dealing with disability and racial discrimination in employment in the new Equality Commission will have similar expertise to that of their colleagues for the Fair Employment Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. [73741]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: This is a matter being considered by the Working Group and I await their proposals. The current resources in respect of disability and race will be made available to the Equality Commission and I expect there to be continuity of personnel dealing with both issues. Staff development will be a key consideration for the new Commission.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to ensure that advice is given to employers and assistance to disabled complainants between the establishment of the Equality Commission and the introduction of the new disability enforcement powers. [73742]
Mr. McFall
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: During the period between the establishment of the Equality Commission and the introduction of the new disability enforcement powers the Labour Relations Agency will continue to help employers and individuals with information on the employment provisions of the legislation and assistance related to its effects on industrial relations practices and procedures. In addition the DDA Helpline will continue to provide good practice advice and signpost callers to appropriate organisations.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals she has to ensure that a complainant raising more than one type of discrimination receives appropriate advice and assistance. [73743]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: The single Equality Commission will help facilitate those complaints raising more than one type of discrimination. The Equality Commission Working Group is considering such matters as a staffing structure for the Commission to enable it to deliver services most effectively. I expect to receive the final report of the Group's recommendations in mid-March.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to ensure the networking proposals of the draft legislation for a disability rights commission in Northern Ireland are implemented by the new Equality Commission. [73744]
Mr. McFall
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: The intention is that with regard to disability the Equality Commission will have a similar role and functions to the Disability Rights Commission in Great Britain. The timing of the necessary legislation will be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
4 Mar 1999 : Column: 828
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the sums granted to the Equality Commission to deal with disability discrimination in Northern Ireland will reflect the amount given for similar purposes in Great Britain with suitable adjustments for the higher rate of disability in Northern Ireland than Great Britain. [73745]
Mr. McFall
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: The Equality Commission will continue to have the resources available to the Northern Ireland Disability Council. The funding required by the Equality Commission to cover new responsibilities will be a matter for the Assembly. However, I expect that account will be taken of the amount given for similar purposes in Great Britain and of local circumstances.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Disability Council, the new Equality Commission will take its place on the National Disability Council. [73746]
Mr. McFall
[holding answer 3 March 1999]: Following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Disability Council arrangements will be put in place to facilitate a close working relationship between the National Disability Council and the Equality Commission.
You recently asked the Secretary of State to answer two Parliamentary Questions about the permitted level of expenditure per household for connection to mains sewerage, when it was last determined and whether the level of expenditure will be increased. You also asked what sum is used as the basis for determining the viability of a new project.
These questions have been forwarded to the Chief Executive of Water Service, Mr. HRF Plester, for reply. Mr. Plester is currently on leave and I am replying as the Service's Director of Finance.
The Department of the Environment's statutory duty, under the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973, to provide sewerage facilities operates within the limitations that such provision must be both practicable, in engineering terms, and can be made at reasonable cost. Since 1973, therefore, reasonable cost allowances have been available for first time connections to the sewerage infrastructure. The maximum allowance is currently £2,300 per domestic property (or equivalent). This maximum was set in 1986. It is currently under review by the Department.
The Water Service test of viability for any new sewerage extension project is the £2,300 maximum reasonable cost allowance multiplied by the number of properties to be served by the scheme.
Perhaps I can clarify by giving a model example. If, for instance, the number of domestic properties to be served by a sewer extension scheme is ten then the total Departmental expenditure available for the work is the reasonable cost maximum multiplied by ten-- 10 X £2,300 = £23,000. If the actual cost of provision is at or below this level, and the work involved is practicable, then the Water Service can programme the project in its capital works planning, subject to overall priorities.
If the cost of any scheme is estimated to be in excess of the maximum allowance calculated for the work then the applicant (or applicants) for the sewer extension may agree to pay the additional monies necessary to take the work ahead. The Water Service can then also programme the project in its capital works planning, subject to practicability and overall priorities.
I hope this explains the position clearly for you. Mr. Plester is happy to arrange a meeting to go into the matter in greater depth if you should wish this on his return. His secretary Mrs. Lynda Boyd can make necessary diary arrangements if contacted at the telephone number given above.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |