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Northern Ireland: Linguistic Diversity
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of the Belfast Agreement, which promised equality between Irish and Ulster Scots, whether the Linguistic Diversity Branch of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been involved with other departments in the implementation of policy concerning language.[HL559]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Linguistic Diversity Branch is an administrative unit of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). DCAL chairs an interdepartmental group on the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. DCAL is represented on the Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) Working Group on Race Equality where it advises on matters relating to the languages of the minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland. In addition, DCAL advises the PSI Working Group on Disability in relation to British and Irish sign language. DCAL contributes as appropriate to consultation exercises generated by NICS and other departments. Bill
North/South Ministerial Council: Reports and Statements
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 5 December (WA126) concerning the North/South Ministerial Council, under what legislation any reports and statements will be laid before Parliament.[HL630]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: As explained in the Answer given on 5 December (WA126), the agreement between the British and Irish Governments contained in an exchange of letters on 19 November provides that any reference in the implementation bodies agreement to the Assembly shall be read as a reference to the United Kingdom Parliament. Where the agreement provides for reports and statements to be laid before the Assembly, such reports and statements, are during suspension, to be laid before Parliament. That will become a statutory requirement when the agreement made by the exchange of letters is incorporated into the domestic law of Northern Ireland by designation under paragraph 10 of the schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000. That designation will shortly be made by the Secretary of State.
Northern Ireland: Language Implementation Body
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 December (WA2) concerning the two parts of the Language Implementation Body, whether the answer is yes or no.[HL631]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The answer is yes, except in the matter of funding, where there is an agreed percentage contribution from each of the sponsoring departments to each part of the Language Implementation Body.
North/South Ministerial Council: Terminology
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 December (WA4) concerning the North/South Ministerial Council, which part of the title of the Council "North and South" refers to the administration in the most northerly part of the island of Ireland; and whether those titles "North and South" are appropriate.[HL632]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The title of the North/South Ministerial Council is used to embrace the Northern Ireland administration and that of the Republic of Ireland. The words "North" and "South" both in the title and common, well-understood usage, are not intended to have geographical precision. The use of those words in this context is appropriate.
North/South Ministerial Council:Suspension of Assembly
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- During the three previous suspensions of the Northern Ireland Assembly under the Northern Ireland Act 2000, what happened to the North/South Ministerial Council and to the six implementation bodies.[HL628]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: During the three previous suspensions, the functions conferred by Section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 could not be exercised: the North/South Ministerial Council was not able to meet.
During those suspensions, the implementation bodies continued to carry out their functions in accordance with the implementation bodies agreement made between the two governments.
Government Policy Statements 1997–2001
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will place in the Library of the House those parts of any statement, speech or publication made by any current Ministers between 1997 and the general election of 2001 which concerned (a) further privatisation of public
- services; (b) top-up fees for graduate courses; (c) revenue raising by foundation hospitals; and (d) changes to the laws concerning industrial disputes.[HL653]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I regret that this information is not collected centrally.
Ulster-Scots Agency Interim Chief Executive
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Under what circumstances the interim chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency, appointed in 1999, was retired; and whether there were any outstanding matters concerning his handling of the accounts and the staff of the agency.[HL702]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The interim chief executive decided to take early retirement. There were no major outstanding matters in regard to the accounts of the agency. There was one outstanding staffing matter.
Northern Ireland: Digital Hearing Aids
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Govenment:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 10 December (WA25) about digital hearing aids in Northern Ireland, when funds will be made available for the supply of digital hearing aids.[HL752]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Following the recent budget announcement, £1 milllion is to be made available in 2003–04 for the introduction of digital hearing aids in Northern Ireland. Provision of these aids will commence in September 2003.
Waterways Ireland: Canal Development
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow navigation by Waterways Ireland; when they will be completed; what will be the cost; and what are the benefits for United Kingdom taxpayers.[HL521]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Waterways Ireland continues to develop the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow navigation as a multi-purpose amenity and recreation resource offering facilities for navigation, angling, walking, canoeing and other activities for the benefit of the general public.
The Grand Canal is open to navigation. Waterways Ireland's current capital works programme includes embankment strengthening, bank protection measures, repairs to structures, dredging to improve navigable depth and installation of landing jetties above and below locks with associated landscaping.
The Barrow navigation is also open to navigation. Waterways Ireland's current capital works programme includes dredging to improve navigable depth on the lateral canals and river navigation plus the installation of landing jetties and repairs to structures.
The Royal Canal, which was closed to navigation in 1960, has undergone a phased restoration programme since 1987 and 70 miles of the 90-mile long canal are now open to navigation. bjc
Waterways Ireland's current capital works programme includes lock gate installation, bog embankment repairs, bridge construction, sourcing additional water supplies and installation of landing jetties.
Funding for capital works for the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow navigation is provided by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan (2000–06) and the amount allocated under this plan was 20 million euros in 1999 terms.
There are many benefits to the United Kingdom taxpayer. One of the most significant is the fact that the headquarters for Waterways Ireland is located in Enniskillen and when fully staffed will employ some 70 people.
Saints and Scholars IntegratedPrimary School
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many pupils attend Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School in Armagh City; how many at present are (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic; and how many pupils have left this school since 1 September.[HL551]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested is as follows:
| Current Enrolment | Number of Protestant pupils | Number of Roman Catholic pupils | |
| Nursery | 27 | 8 | 14 |
| Primary (Year 1–Year 7) | 196 | 68 | 98 |
From 1 September 2002 seven pupils have left the school.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Waterways Ireland and the other five implementation bodies were in fact established by an agreement made on 8 March 1999 between the British and Irish Governments. The
Whether the statement in Waterways Ireland's annual report for 1999–2000 that it was set up by legislation in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom on 2 December 1999 is correct.[HL557]
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