Northern Ireland Assembly, 21 October 2013

408 contributions from 70 members. The official report.

Assembly Business

William Hay (Speaker, Foyle)

As with similar motions, the motion on Committee membership will be treated as a business motion. Therefore, there will be no debate.

Resolved:

That Mr Mitchel McLaughlin replace Ms Sue Ramsey as a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. — [Ms Ruane.]

Ministerial Statements

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to present the Executive’s conclusions on the October monitoring allocations for 2013-14 and the capital reallocations for 2014-15.

Before I get into the detail, I first wish to present some information that sets the wider economic context for those public expenditure allocations. I do so because this stage in the financial year is an opportune time to take stock of the key economic and financial indicators. Indeed, it is my intention in future years to use the opportunity that the October monitoring round presents halfway through the budgetary year to update the House and the wider public on the economic and fiscal position in Northern Ireland by way of a mid-year financial statement.

When making Budget allocations, I believe that it is important to factor in the strategic positioning of our economy, thereby allowing an assessment of which sectors are currently in most need of assistance. It will be useful to set out for all Members what I believe the current position to be, as it will help develop a better understanding of my announcements today and of the key issues that we will have to address in the coming months as part of the 2015-16 Budget process.

Looking at the economy first, it is clear that many key indicators are showing positive trends and that the local economy has shown signs of improvement since the turn of 2013. The labour market is improving, with the number of people claiming unemployment benefits falling for seven consecutive months. This is the first time that we have witnessed such a prolonged reduction in unemployment benefit claimants since August 2007. The unemployment rate has also fallen to 7·3%, which is 0·4 percentage points below the UK rate and significantly below the rates in the Republic of Ireland and the eurozone, which are at 13·5% and 12·1% respectively.

The lower unemployment figures are also reflected in the employment trend, with an additional 4,000 people now in employment compared to the same time last year. However, this is no time to become complacent, since the number of people who are in employment reduced over the past quarter, which indicates that the recovery is by no means secure.

There are also signs of increased activity in the housing market. The latest residential property price index produced by Land and Property Services for quarter 2 of 2013 shows that residential property prices increased by 2% compared to quarter 1. Property sales were also up by an encouraging 10% compared to a year before, which is another positive indicator. However, the housing market recovery is in its early phase, with house prices still more than 50% below their 2007 peak.

Private sector activity is also picking up, with the latest Ulster Bank purchasing managers’ index (PMI) recording a further rise in private sector business activity such as new orders, employment and exports across all sectors — including retail, manufacturing and construction — during September, extending the current sequence of growth to three consecutive months.

The latest PMI data also pointed to a fourth successive increase in new business for Northern Ireland companies, with private sector firms increasing their staffing levels for the third successive month. The fastest rises were seen in retail and construction companies, the two sectors which, we all know, have endured a lot during the downturn. This economic recovery is also reflected in local tourism numbers. Quarterly figures show that, over the year to March 2013, external visitor numbers were up by 4% and associated tourism expenditure was also up by 10%.

The readout from the recent international investment conference is also very positive. The growing number of job announcements made by Invest Northern Ireland show that Northern Ireland has the core requirements needed for growing a competitive private sector. This was also reflected in the recent UK Trade and Investment report, which highlighted that in 2012-13 Northern Ireland achieved an increase in new investment projects of 41% compared with the year before. We are the second most attractive destination for foreign direct investment per head of population in the whole of the United Kingdom, second only to London. Investments in our telecommunications infrastructure are fast making Northern Ireland, and Belfast in particular, an international capital for information and communication technology financial services transactions.

Unfortunately, growing that competitive and dynamic sector of the economy will have to happen in parallel with the Executive working to address some structural economic constraints. Northern Ireland’s gross value added (GVA), which is a measure of the whole economy, stands at £29,870 million for 2011, representing £16,531 for every head of the population. This is 79·2% of the UK average, although it is up from 78·7% in 2010.

Recent data shows that this region is still heavily dependent on fiscal transfers from the national economy, with a net subvention figure of £5,850 per capita in 2010-11, which is more than double the equivalent figure for the UK as a whole. Although our overall net fiscal deficit of £10·5 billion, or 38% of GVA, is down from its 2009-2010 peak of £10·8 billion, it is transparently obvious to all except those who do not wish to see that this region remains reliant on the rest of the United Kingdom for a significant amount of our public spending.

Growing the private sector will increase the regional tax base, which will help to address that fiscal deficit. The other side of the fiscal deficit question is the level of public expenditure that is made available to Northern Ireland. In that regard we, too, benefit from our place in the United Kingdom. The total identifiable expenditure on services in 2011-12 shows Northern Ireland’s per head spending at £10,782, which is higher than the UK average and the other two devolved regions.

The public expenditure outlook is undoubtedly challenging, but it also provides me, as Finance Minister, with opportunities to promote economic growth and improve how we deliver public services. I believe that there is significant scope to drive forward reform and promote innovation in our public sector. My recent discussions with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted a number of areas such as collaborative procurement, widening shared services functions to embrace the wider public sector and local authorities, and engineering genuine governance reform. Those are issues that we need to pursue if we want to have lean and efficient delivery of public services to a standard that benchmarks well against international best practice. I intend to make an announcement about how we can progress that in the weeks ahead.

The UK spending review announcement in June confirmed that our 2015-16 resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) would increase by 0·6% in cash terms, while total capital DEL would increase by 3·3% in cash terms. The change in emphasis by the United Kingdom Government whereby current spend is constrained to fund capital investment is perfectly understandable if, perhaps, challenging. Capital investment adds to the long-term economic capacity of an economy by improving competitiveness and generating positive returns. That, I think, presents us in Northern Ireland with an opportunity to genuinely focus policy attention on growing our economy not by paying lip service to that aim but by making tangible investments in our economic future.

While the UK Government continue to afford budgetary protection to schools and health, Northern Ireland will benefit because we have full comparability under the Barnett formula. Therefore, the Northern Ireland block is relatively protected. However, as I said earlier, the resource budget side will continue to be constrained, with the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts suggesting that resource DEL at a UK level will decrease by 10·4% in real terms by 2017-18.

We will, therefore, have to consider carefully how we can continue to provide high-priority public services at a level that is acceptable to the public. Note that I said "high-priority public services", because we will undoubtedly have to stop doing some things that we are doing. The critical task will be to ensure that Departments deliver only the core functions that the public need and the outcomes that people desire. Spending on services that do not produce results is simply a waste of money that we do not have to squander. That will automatically force Departments to consider an efficiency agenda. To some, efficiency is the same as cuts, but not to me. Although that may involve reductions to low-priority services, for me efficiency is really about delivering key quality services with the minimum necessary level of inputs and obtaining outcomes.

The benefit of having our resource budget envelope constrained in that way is that we, as an Executive, have relatively high amounts of capital to invest in our economic future. In particular, a large tranche of the capital received from Her Majesty’s Government is what is known as financial transactions capital, which has to go — as loans and equity investment — directly to private sector entities. That is a positive development because, of necessity, it requires the Government to partner with the private sector to invest in our infrastructure and it requires the private sector to produce innovative investment opportunities. That will assist in growing our private sector capacity. Furthermore, that need to engage with our private sector in enhancing our capital stock will increase over the coming years as the UK Government are likely to make ever greater use of financial transactions capital.

Having set the scene, I want to turn, first, to the October Monitoring round and then to the 2014-15 capital reallocation exercise. As usual, the Executive’s focus in the monitoring rounds is on the non-ring-fenced resource DEL. The non-cash ring-fenced resource DEL element is handled separately since it is strictly controlled by Her Majesty's Treasury and cannot be used for any other purpose.

The starting point for this monitoring round was the June Monitoring outcome, which resulted in an overcommitment on the resource DEL side of £16·8 million and an effective overcommitment on the capital investment side of £10·5 million. That capital overcommitment included a pre-commitment to fund the £17 million purchase of the Invest NI headquarters, which has now concluded.

There were also three centre items, which impacted on the funding available in this round. The first was the regional rate income, with the latest forecast suggesting that income in this financial year is £4 million below the level included in the budget position. That is entirely due to lower than expected increases in both the domestic and non-domestic tax bases.

Members will also recall that, in the June monitoring round, the Executive agreed to an amended asset management unit capital receipts profile. That new profile allocated £19·4 million of additional capital receipts to Departments in this financial year, which is some £5·6 million less than the original target of £25 million. That, therefore, left a capital DEL pressure to be addressed in this monitoring round.

The latest position on the Delivering Social Change projects and childcare strategy also had an impact on the funding position. There were a number of resource DEL transfers under the Delivering Social Change banner processed in the October monitoring round and those included £2 million to the Department of Education; £0·8 million to the Department for Employment and Learning; £0·33 million to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM); and £0·04 million to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). Since that funding is accessed from the social investment fund set aside by the Executive for this purpose, those transactions were handled as technical transfers rather than allocations.

OFMDFM has confirmed that £15 million of capital DEL held at the centre will not be required in this financial year, and this was, therefore, made available for allocation in this monitoring round. The Department has further indicated that all of the residual resource DEL funding in respect of both the social investment fund and childcare strategy — some £4·8 million — is likely to be utilised in this financial year. I will provide a further update on that in January.

Of course, there were also reduced requirements surrendered by the Departments in this monitoring round. These amounted to £42·7 million resource expenditure and £31·1 million capital investment. Full details are provided in the tables accompanying this statement.

It is good practice that Departments seek to manage any emerging pressures within their existing allocations before bringing forward bids for additional allocations. The public expenditure control framework stipulates that internal departmental movements across spending areas in excess of the de minimis threshold require the Executive’s approval. The movements agreed by the Executive in this round are also detailed in the tables.

Departments may also, for a number of reasons, seek to reclassify expenditure from resource to capital or vice versa. All such reclassifications need Executive approval, and these are also shown in the tables provided with the statement. Furthermore, Departments may also, subject to Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) approval, seek to move budgets between the ring-fenced and non-ring-fenced resource DEL categories. The impact of those moves is shown in the table detailing the ring-fenced resource DEL position. All those issues impacted on the total amount of resources available to the Executive in this monitoring round. Once those were all taken into account, the Executive had £24·1 million resource DEL and £28·7 million of capital DEL available for allocation.

Against the funding available, Departments submitted bids totalling £152 million in respect of resource expenditure and £72·7 million in respect of capital expenditure. The individual bids are also included in the tables attached to the statement. The level of allocations made by the Executive was informed by a judgement on the level of overcommitment that should be carried forward to the January monitoring round and the quality of bids submitted.

The Executive agreed allocations totalling £43·5 million on the resource side and £36·8 million on the capital side. The individual allocations are detailed in the tables, and I will, therefore, highlight only some of the main ones here.

There was £41·2 million allocated to the Department for Regional Development (DRD). That allocation included an additional £15 million towards roads structural maintenance; a further £5 million towards other road improvements; and £1·5 million towards the Magherafelt bypass project. It will also allow DRD to address a pressure of £2 million in regard to land compensation costs and fund a £1·7 million loan to Londonderry Port, which will enable the port to carry out improvements having secured an investment in an £80 million renewable power station. It will also provide £6 million for street lighting renewal works and safety testing. Finally, it includes the residual £10 million towards the DRD budget shortfall in relation to the release of value from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The Executive also agreed to provide £14 million to DHSSPS, reflecting the high priority that the Executive continues to attach to the provision of quality healthcare. I am very pleased that this allocation will allow our hospitals to address thousands of elective care pressures in a range of specialities and seek to reduce waiting lists.

There was also £6·3 million allocated to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). That provides £5 million towards addressing a pressure in respect of TB compensation. It also allows DARD to fund an additional pressure of £1·3 million in respect of the hardship funding provided for in the June monitoring round.

There was also £5 million to the Department for Social Development (DSD) to fund additional investment in the co-ownership scheme, which remains oversubscribed. That will assist a further 100 first-time buyers and provide a further stimulus for the local housing market.

The allocations made in this monitoring round were skewed heavily towards improving our roads and transport infrastructure. That will reap economic returns in the long term and provide a short-term boost for our construction sector.

Before turning to the 2014-15 capital reallocation exercise, I would like to update Members on the latest position in respect of financial transaction capital funding. Members will recall that in June monitoring, the Executive allocated £10 million to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) for the agrifood loan scheme. That scheme has now been announced. Further funding may be utilised in the last quarter of this financial year if demand exceeds the initial allocation.

I can now also announce that the Executive have allocated £5 million for the DSD affordable homes loan fund and £3·7 million towards the empty homes loan scheme. That still leaves some £20·9 million of residual financial transactions capital available in this financial year. My officials have been in discussion with Her Majesty's Treasury on potential end-of-year flexibility in respect of the financial transactions capital. Indications are that some limited flexibility may well be available, although that has not yet been confirmed by Treasury Ministers. I will update colleagues on that issue and any further allocations at January monitoring.

October monitoring concluded with an overcommitment of £19·4 million of resource expenditure and £8 million of capital expenditure. I believe that that is perfectly manageable at this stage of the financial year.

I will now turn to the 2014-15 capital reallocation exercise. The capital reallocation exercise was commissioned by my officials over the summer. Its aim was to reallocate funding that was likely to be available in 2014-15 following delay in major projects such as the A5 road scheme. That reflects the critical importance that I attach to sound strategic capital budget planning. We need to make the most of our scarce resources. That exercise will help us to achieve that.

Before I detail the 2014-15 capital allocations that have been agreed by the Executive, I will touch briefly on some of the key funding assumptions that shaped the indicative financial envelope that is available for disposal. The starting position was the existing capital DEL overcommitment for 2014-15 of £18·5 million. The Executive also face a significant overcommitment on the resource DEL side next year. I will say more about that later. To help to address that resource DEL overcommitment, the Executive agreed to reverse a previous resource-to-capital switch of £6 million next year. Two Departments also identified easements. They were £115 million from DRD due to delay in the A5 road project and £7·8 million from DARD in respect of its headquarters relocation project. That funding will be surrendered as part of next year's June monitoring round.

An additional £50 million of spending power also arose from the reinvestment and reform initiative (RRI) borrowing reprofiling that was previously agreed with Her Majesty's Treasury. A further £6 million was freed up from the Department of Education baseline as a result of a successful United Community bid in 2014-15. The Department of Justice (DOJ) also previously agreed to surrender £10 million of capital funding in 2014-15. There will also most likely be some carry-forward of capital investment from this year and into the next. For planning purposes, that is expected to be some £10 million, which is broadly in line with the experience in the past few years.

Against those additional pressures, there was also a capital DEL pressure of £23·9 million in 2014-15 following the Executive's decision in June monitoring to retain a number of income-generating assets that were previously earmarked for disposal in 2014-15. Of course, the retention of those assets will benefit the resource side next year and beyond. Finally, the Executive were due to receive £25 million in 2014-15 in respect of the A5 road scheme from the ROI Government. However, due to the ongoing delay to that project, it is not yet certain that that receipt will materialise in 2014. I will discuss that issue with my counterpart in Dublin in the near future.

All of those planning assumptions provided the Executive with an indicative capital funding envelope of £125·5 million. However, that was without any overcommitment. The Executive agreed that, based on previous years' underspends, we would overcommit by around £40 million. That would then increase significantly the funding that is available.

Departments submitted 2014-15 capital bids worth £502·6 million. A summary of all of those bids is included in the tables that are attached to the statement. It was clearly not possible to meet all bids that were submitted. The Executive attached highest priority to discrete infrastructure projects that could deliver considerable spend in 2014-15. Such projects not only improve our infrastructure and contribute to long-term economic growth, but provide an immediate boost to the local construction sector. The capital allocations are detailed in tables. I will highlight the most significant ones.

The Executive allocated £75·2 million to DRD. In terms of road infrastructure, that will allow DRD to continue the construction of the A8 Belfast to Larne road scheme and commence work on the much-needed A31 Magherafelt bypass project. I am extremely pleased to announce an allocation of £8·1 million in 2014-15 that will allow the commencement of work on the A26 Glarryford road scheme, where an additional eight kilometres of dual carriageway will be built, improving access and road safety on that key route. Furthermore, the funding will help DRD to deliver planned road structural maintenance and other road improvements. It will also ensure that DRD can complete bus procurement orders initiated in 2013-14 and begin replacement of, I am happy to say, the Strangford to Portaferry and Rathlin ferries.

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

A very popular one.

DRD will also commence early design and preparatory work for the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson road scheme. Importantly, the A6 preparatory work does not commit the Executive contractually to that project. The Executive took the view that, until there is clarity on the A5 project, we cannot afford to commit contractually to the A6 project, since delivering both in parallel is unaffordable without there being a serious detrimental impact on all other departmental capital budgets.

The Executive also agreed to allocate £33 million to the Department of Health. Two weeks ago, I accepted an invitation from the Health Minister to visit the children’s hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. I was shocked by what I saw: dedicated health professionals going beyond the call of duty to treat some extremely ill children but doing so in surroundings that, I am ashamed to say, are far from fit for purpose. Therefore, I am immensely pleased that that allocation enables the Department to begin construction on a new children’s hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital site in Belfast.

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

It will be a new state-of-the-art regional hospital to care for sick children from all over Northern Ireland.

The allocation allows the Department to manage health and safety risks proactively throughout the health estate and progress other estate improvements. It also provides the DHSSPS with additional funding to take forward a number of capital projects under the Transforming Your Care (TYC) reform programme and the construction of a new bespoke logistics and support centre for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

There was also £19·9 million allocated to DARD. That provides additional funding for axis 1 and axis 3 of the Northern Ireland rural development programme, which offers capital funding to farmers for areas such as improved competitiveness and greater access to high-speed broadband services in rural areas. The allocation also provides funding for further flood alleviation works in east Belfast and Beragh. There is also funding to support the aims and objectives of the Agri-Food Strategy Board's recently published Going for Growth strategy and to provide an upgrade to three areas of the facilities at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute's Hillsborough and Stormont sites.

There is also £16·1 million to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to address a significant pressure next year for the regional stadium construction programme.

A total of £11 8 million was allocated to the Department for Employment and Learning. That will fund a new faculty block at the University of Ulster in Coleraine; redevelopment at Queen’s University; essential asbestos removal at Stranmillis University College; and a newbuild further education college in Banbridge.

The Department of the Environment (DOE) will receive £3 million for heritage-led development, on top of the £1·1 million that it will receive for the same in the October monitoring round. Members may recall that I brought a motion to the Assembly earlier this year acknowledging the economic value of Northern Ireland’s outstanding historic buildings, so I am pleased that that allocation will see assets such as Carrickfergus Castle and Dundrum Castle enhanced.

In total, the Executive agreed allocations of £177 million, resulting in an indicative capital overcommitment of £51·6 million in 2014-15. Although very challenging, I believe that that should be manageable through the in-year process. However, it will most likely mean that there will be little capital funding available for allocation through the monitoring rounds next year. I view that as a positive development, since it reflects the fact that the Executive have now taken a more strategic approach to capital budget planning.

Before I conclude my statement, I take this opportunity to update the House on United Community projects and the 2014-15 financial transactions allocations. Members will be aware that, as part of the economic pact, the Executive secured additional borrowing power of £50 million in 2014-15 and 2015-16 for shared housing and education projects. I can confirm today that the Lisanelly project, involving a shared school site in Omagh, will be funded from that additional borrowing power to the amounts of £6 million in 2014-15 and £9 million 2015-16.

My officials continue to work with the Departments and Her Majesty's Treasury on identifying further projects that may benefit from that additional funding source.

The Executive have £59·3 million of financial transactions capital available in 2014-15 and £104·3 million in 2015-16. As part of the capital exercise, Departments submitted bids totaling £68·9 million for 2014-15, and those are shown in the tables attached to this statement. The bids submitted generally appeared perfectly viable, although with some uncertainty around the amount of funding required. That is because the schemes are generally demand-led, and actual funding requirements, and the exact timing of them, will only be known when the schemes are fully operational. Therefore, the Executive agreed initial allocations to those schemes that were considered viable at this time, with a commitment to consider the position again in June next year.

Three financial transactions allocations were agreed by the Executive at this time. The first was £10 million to DETI for the agrifood loan scheme in the 2014-15 financial year. The second allocation was £13 million to DSD to advance two further housing schemes, including an affordable homes loan scheme and an empty homes scheme. Both those schemes will boost housing market supply and assist hard-pressed first-time buyers. Finally, the Executive agreed to allocate £5 million to DHSSPS to take forward loan schemes for improvements and equipment purchase by GPs and dentists. Those allocations mean that there is still £31·3 million of financial transactions funding available next year, and that can then be allocated to those schemes that experience high demand or, indeed, alternative schemes that may materialise at that time.

The allocations of £177 million resulted in an indicative 2014-15 capital overcommitment of £51·6 million. That includes the £6 million capital DEL to resource DEL switch, which will result in a 2014-15 resource DEL overcommitment of £94·5 million. Addressing those overcommitments will be a significant challenge for the Executive next year.

The allocations that I have announced today will leave a lasting economic impact on Northern Ireland and help our economy as the recovery gathers momentum. One of the real benefits of our budget reallocation process is that we can use easements in some Departments to fund good projects that will deliver an economic return in the long term. The gathering economic recovery that I spoke of earlier will be further supported by investment in our roads and public transport network of some £91 million across this year and next year. I have also announced some £12 million of additional investment in our further education and higher education estates, and that will improve facilities for students here. Those investments will not only provide extra construction jobs in the short term but support long-term economic growth. Our health sector has also received a significant boost this year and, in particular, with the additional capital investments next year. A key project to highlight is the new children’s hospital, which will commence next year and, when completed, will offer a modern care environment for children in Northern Ireland. All sides of this Assembly have called for that project, and I am more than happy to give it the green light today. There is also a much-needed boost for our farming and agrifood sector, with an additional £15 million for the rural development programme and Agri-Food Strategy Board, and a further £10 million of financial transactions funding committed to the agrifood loan scheme for next year.

In short, the allocations that I have announced today for this year and next will sustain and create jobs. They will aid our recovery. They will develop our infrastructure and give us a competitive edge. They will generate opportunities for all, and they will provide help for the vulnerable. I am determined to play my part in supporting economic recovery across Northern Ireland, and I strongly believe that the allocations announced today will do just that. I commend the statement to the Assembly.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

I will call Daithí McKay, the Chair of the Finance Committee, next and give some latitude to you, as the Chair. However, this statement has attracted considerable interest amongst the Members present, and I have a significant list of Members who wish to speak. I appeal at the start for Members to come straight to the point in their questions, and that will allow everyone to get in.

Daithí McKay (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I will take full advantage of your latitude this afternoon. I thank the Minister for his statement, and may I be the first to welcome the fact that the Executive have agreed to fund the A26 to the tune of £8·1 million. That is long overdue, and I am sure that all Members from North Antrim and elsewhere will agree with me on that. The increase in capital is good for construction and it will be good for growth, which also has to be welcomed.

The October monitoring round is obviously important to ensuring that the Executive remain within the Budget exchange scheme limits and that we avoid a situation in which we return money across the water. How confident are you that Departments will not declare further significant reduced requirements in the January monitoring round, when there will be less opportunity for reallocations?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Chair for his question and his welcome for the commitment to capital in the October monitoring statement and the reallocation exercise for 2014-15.

How confident am I about Departments not declaring returns through reduced requirements in January? We have to expect some, because pressures will develop over the year, which mean that Departments simply cannot deliver on the allocations that they have been given in the Budget. Sometimes, because of a variety of circumstances, they cannot deliver on some of the allocations that they have been given in monitoring rounds.

The lesson of the past number of years is that Departments are much better at managing their budgets as a result of the pressure that local Ministers, Committees and the Assembly are putting on them and the pressure that the scrutiny that we get from outside this place puts on them. As a result, since 2010, when end-year flexibility was replaced by the Budget exchange scheme, we have not sent a single penny back to Treasury. That is something to be welcomed. Our more prudent and sensible fiscal management over that time is something that we should be warmly welcoming because it means that we are able to retain that money here to invest in the sort of services and capital projects that I outlined in the statement.

Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Londonderry)

I join in welcoming the Minister's statement. What will the financial impact on the economy be, particularly with regard to the roads infrastructure projects to the north-west, including the A26 to the north coast and the A6 from the M2?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. He was one of the first to lobby me about the A26 when I came into post. My backside had barely hit the seat when an invitation to visit his part of the world hit my desk. I was very pleased to visit Coleraine. One of the events that we held was a meeting with a local haulier, who pointed out to us the detrimental effect of the slowness of the A26 on his business. He said that if more of that road could be dualled, it would be a great boost to his business. It is not just his business that would benefit; there are other businesses, including manufacturing businesses, in the north coast, east Londonderry and north Antrim areas that would benefit from it. It will also reduce commuter times to and from Belfast. Of course, it will significantly improve road safety on that stretch of the road. As the Member is aware, the stretch of the road that will be affected by the investment of some £60 million over the next number of years ending in 2017-18 has unfortunately taken far too many lives down through the years. So, mercifully, that money will improve road safety standards there and, hopefully, ensure that events like that do not happen in the future.

The economic value of investing in infrastructure is clear. We have a great proposition in Northern Ireland with our skills and our highly educated people, and we have some of the best telecommunications infrastructure in the world, as I highlighted in my statement, but if you do not have the roads infrastructure to back that up and do not have other elements of infrastructure, those things do not attract people to come and invest in your economy. I am glad that there is some £250 million of investment in today's statement, the vast bulk of which is going in a capital direction. It will greatly improve our infrastructure and will serve only to improve Northern Ireland as a place for investment and to grow companies and create jobs.

Fearghal McKinney (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I welcome the announcement about the children's hospital, which is super news for families of the most vulnerable children and will be good for the wider North and, of course, for south Belfast.

The Minister mentioned the social investment fund in his statement. Can he confirm that any moneys from that will be allocated solely on objective need?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

This is the first formal opportunity I have had in the House to welcome the Member to his new position. This is as much an adaptation for me as it is for him; I have been well used to being interviewed by him down through the years, but I suppose it will be a different type of questioning that I will now receive from him. I thank him for his welcome for the children's hospital, which I am sure will meet with universal praise around this House and beyond.

The details of the social investment fund are not a matter for me; questions on it are better directed to colleagues in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. I will not go into any issues about how or when the fund will be allocated. Some allocations have been made from the social investment fund. They include money for family support going to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the very good scheme for graduate teachers to try to lift standards in our primary and secondary schools. So, money is being spent and there is money still to be spent. I am confident that the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is working through all the various projects, both capital and resource, that will benefit from that money. Any questions about the details of how that money will be spent are probably better directed to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

I, too, thank the Minister for the A26 announcement.

Does he have any indication of any bids coming forward to provide new services in the new children's hospital that is to be built so that we do not just retain the provision that is there but provide a centre of excellence that can prevent our having to send some of our sick children across the water and that will allow us to use that facility to treat them?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. The short answer is no. It is very early to determine exactly what services will go into the facility. Again, his question is probably better directed to the Health Minister now that he has the confidence that this money — some £160 million — has been allocated to the project. That gives him greater confidence, and it gives the Belfast Trust and the Royal Victoria Hospital greater confidence about what they can put on the site. From my visit to the site two weeks ago, I know that what is being done there is quite frankly miraculous, given the circumstances and the surroundings in which people are working.

What is great about this allocation today is that we will shift the hospital from where it currently is and integrate it much more into the rest of the acute hospital. So, some of the awful circumstances in which acutely ill children had to be moved by ambulance within the existing site will end, and children will be able to get a far better service. It will be less traumatic for their parents and a better experience all round in what are very difficult circumstances.

With the money that the Minister of Health has been allocated to spend on this vital strategic project for the whole of Northern Ireland, I imagine that he will seek to ensure that the maximum number of services are delivered in a modern state-of-the-art facility.

Judith Cochrane (Alliance, Belfast East)

I thank the Minister for his statement. A lot of very positive decisions have been taken, particularly on flood alleviation in east Belfast, given the rain that we had over the weekend.

To stick with health, will the Minister indicate how far the £14 million allocation for the Department of Health will go towards addressing waiting lists for elective procedures?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for her welcome. Given the rain that is falling, one thing that I did not highlight was that money is allocated for the roof of this Building. I know that she is a member of the Assembly Commission, and I am sure that she is grateful that, as a result of that allocation, there will not be any flooding in the Chamber.

I think that the £14 million Health investment is a great welcome for the Health Minister. I have had direct discussions with him about the pressure that he, his Department and the trusts are under, and we all know from our constituency work that there is significant pressure across a range of specialisms. The £14 million that has been allocated in the monitoring round for this year will help to alleviate pressures on inpatient and outpatient procedures in a range of specialisms across the board such as ENT, orthopaedics, paediatrics and gynaecology. It obviously depends on the type of procedures that are brought forward, but the estimate is that around 10,000 to 12,000 additional procedures will be able to happen this year. That will obviously be great news for those who benefit from it, and, from our perspective, it will reduce waiting lists and ease some of that significant pressure that the Health budget continues to be under.

Peter Weir (DUP, North Down)

I also warmly welcome the statement, but I will not incur your wrath by going any further than that. Is the Minister confident that all financial transactions capital funding in this year will be utilised?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

It is not like the Member not to try to incur somebody's wrath. This is obviously a Treasury innovation to try to increase the capital budget right across the United Kingdom in a way that does not score against national borrowing levels. It presents a challenge for me and my Executive colleagues because, by necessity, we have to partner with the private sector and investors outside the public sector to bring forward some schemes. We have had some early successes with the agrifood loan scheme, which this year will give £10 million to allow poultry processors and producers, in the first instance, to try to capitalise on the fact that supermarkets are trying to source more of their products from the United Kingdom. That money will help with that. Some money has been granted to DSD to try to stimulate different areas of the housing market.

Some £21 million is left in financial transactions capital this year. The challenge that I continually put to my Executive colleagues is that they have to be more imaginative and innovative about schemes that can be brought forward. They may have schemes on their list of desired capital projects that, although not quite forgotten about, have not had the concentration that some of the other schemes have had.

Conventional capital is going to be limited in future. Financial transactions capital will make up a greater percentage of capital. It is up to Ministers to be imaginative and creative about the sorts of projects that they bring forward and, where possible, partner with the private sector to ensure that we all benefit. Our society as a whole should benefit from getting on the ground much earlier capital projects that might otherwise not have come forward.

Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement and particularly welcome the announcement on the A26 scheme at Glarryford. However, will he acknowledge the despair of people along the A6, which has been a project much longer in the waiting for and carries the main road between the two major cities in this part of the world?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I share the Member's support for the A6, perhaps for different reasons, as the Member represents the area. It is critical that the two major cities be better connected, by rail — there has been significant investment in rail down through the years — and by road. As the Member will appreciate, the A6 is a large road infrastructure project to take forward. It would certainly be too large to do so while the A5 project is somewhat in abeyance. The Executive are still committed to the A5 scheme, and my concern, in looking at allocations for 2014-15, is that if I were to make more of a commitment to the A6, it would contractually oblige us to move that project forward. If the A5 scheme also started to move forward, we would have two of the biggest road schemes in Northern Ireland's history moving forward simultaneously. Although we might be able to afford to do that out of our total capital budget, it would mean that there would be no investment in things such as the regional children's hospital or in some of the capital projects that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and other Ministers are bringing forward. Therefore, a judgement was made to allocate £1 million to allow some preparatory work that did not take us beyond being contractually obliged to the A6. That was the sensible and prudent thing to do at this stage. Should the A5 project not move forward for whatever reason, we will be in a better position to start taking forward the A6.

To give the Member some indication, the stretch of road between Castledawson and Randalstown would cost £130 million and take some five years from now to do. You would therefore be committing yourself for a long period and to spending a large amount of money.

However, those most directly affected by the A6 scheme should seek some comfort and solace from the fact that we are allocating small amounts of money to allow the project to at least move forward, rather than let it sit on a shelf and not have anything done. If the money becomes available for whatever reason and by whatever means, the project can, like the A26 scheme, which can be delivered in the time and is not as costly as that small section of the A6, be taken forward.

Paula Bradley (DUP, Belfast North)

I also thank the Minister for his very comprehensive statement. In this monitoring round, additional money has been given to DCAL for the UK City of Culture. Has a business case been approved for that?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

Anybody to whom I have spoken and who has been a part of the first UK City of Culture in Londonderry considers it to be a success, in that it has generated more interest in the city and developed the infrastructure. We are seeing a lot of the investments that the Executive made in previous years pay off, and we can see that from the events that we are able to attract to the north-west, some for the first time. The Turner Prize is being launched this week, and it is the first time that it has ever been held outside London. That is a real success for the city. One of the lessons that we learnt from the Olympics, although this is not, by any means, on the same scale, is to ensure that the legacy from the investment that we put in is sustained. It is important that DCAL does that. I look forward to progress being made by DCAL in producing a business case to capture the critical aspects of the City of Culture legacy programme. Obviously, allocations have been made to that, but I await the business case, which will have to be revised to ensure that they can be spent appropriately.

Maeve McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome the capital allocation to the children's hospital, and I hope that it provides a renewed focus on the children's heart services issue. I ask specifically about the £14 million allocation to the Health Department. All that money is for elective care. A number of bids were unsuccessful. The Department informed the Committee just last week that its priorities were: clinical negligence; Transforming Your Care; and, thirdly, elective care. Has the Finance Minister taken the Department's priorities on board?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

The initial position we come at Health from in monitoring rounds is that it should not be bidding or receiving anything in monitoring rounds. Funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) is similarly ring-fenced. The Health Minister has considerable flexibility in his budget, which he enjoys as a result of the settlement for the 2011-15 Budget. However, the Executive accept and acknowledge that his budget is under constant and continued pressure.

The Executive are deeply concerned about elective care as there is almost endless pressure because of people who need inpatient and outpatient procedures. Some £10 million to £12 million of the money will allow those to happen. Obviously, it is not as much as the Minister bid for; he bid for £26 million. However, perhaps £14 million is more than he should have been permitted in monitoring rounds because of the agreement reached at Budget time. The Executive recognised that because there was such significant pressure for the Health Minister looming on the horizon, it was better to attempt to nip that in the bud now rather than him coming back in January, when things might be in a much worse position.

I accept that other bids with respect to Transforming Your Care were not met in this monitoring round, but a substantial amount of capital Transforming Your Care bids have been met in the 2014-15 capital reallocation exercise. I am aware as well that there is a backlog of outstanding cases of clinical negligence that the Department is losing because a judge is bringing those forward. I have assured the Health Minister that it is an area that we can examine again in January if those pressures have not been relieved elsewhere within his existing budget.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I welcome the statement by the Minister and the general thrust of trying to grow the private sector of the economy. There were about five references to the A5 in the statement. The Treasury allocated money that was project-specific and earmarked for that project. Is it still the commitment of the Executive to realise that project?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. I think that he is somewhat confused: the money that comes as part of our Budget was not specifically earmarked for the A5 project. The Executive remain committed to what was agreed to be taken forward with the A5, which was a reduced but still fairly significant road project in size and distance.

As the Member knows, it is better for the Minister for Regional Development to take forward consultation on the outstanding environmental aspects of the project. The Minister has said that he does not believe that those will be resolved in time to spend the money for next year, so he has released around £150 million this year for the A5. I am glad to say that we are able to recycle and reuse that money for other significant strategic road projects elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

I am sure that the Member and people in the local community that he represents will be disappointed that the A5 project is not moving forward, but we are able to at least progress some other strategically significant road projects elsewhere in Northern Ireland as a result of the prudent and strategic financial capital management that we have undertaken as part of the exercise.

Leslie Cree (UUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for his statement. I thought that the economic overview was helpful. However, if he could improve on the 10-minute provision of the statement before the sitting so that we could do it justice, it would be much appreciated. My question is on capital at the macro level. There are many switches been resource and capital, and vice versa. We are halfway through the year, and I like the idea of that mid-term evaluation. However, there are some areas where capital is at risk. For example, we are talking about an overcommitment this year of some £8 million, and next year of some £50 million. Under financial transactions capital, £20·9 million is available this year, which I believe is at risk. Minister, is there some way in which we can rationalise the overall capital envelope somewhat? How sure are you that that £20·9 million will be saved this year?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. The statement should have been in your pigeonhole around half an hour before the sitting. I did my best to slow down when reading it, so if you had it right at the start, it would have given you about an hour to digest it. We will attempt to do better in future.

As far as I am concerned, capital is critical to developing and growing our economy and assisting and aiding our recovery. We in this House have been attempting to make that clear to the Westminster Government since before the 2011-15 Budget came forward. That Budget initially cut our capital allocation by around 40%, and we sometimes forget how significant that cut was. Although the Government would not probably use these precise words, it is clear that they now regret the fact that they went too far too fast in cutting our capital budget. That had a significantly detrimental impact on a sector that was already struggling, namely construction. We have tried to ameliorate that as best as we could over the past number of years through some current to capital switches and through accelerating some capital asset sales, which have generated some income that we can redeploy to capital projects. However, that in no way closed the gap from where spending was to where it started in this Budget period. I am glad that the Government have started to reverse their position and that they are now investing much more in capital. We are utilising that as best we can, and I hope that today's statement highlights that, with the likes of the children's hospital and the A26 moving forward.

There is no point having access to additional spending if you cannot spend it, and I must say that I have issues with how we procure and take forward significant capital projects. I want to concentrate on that as an area of work. We have already allocated about £29 million under FTC, and we have around £21 million left in FTC this year. As I said to Mr Weir, a growing aspect of our capital budget will be that different type of capital. I am confident that we can get that expenditure taken forward. I am continually putting pressure on other Departments to come forward with schemes that will absorb that money and I am asking officials to do likewise.

We have a large overcommitment for next year of around £50 million. Next year will be challenging, and we should not overcommit capital this year for next year. Next year, I do not think that you will see me come to the House with large amounts of capital allocations. Looking at previous experience, we can ensure that that overcommitment is well managed and that we spend every single penny at our disposal on capital because of the boost that it gives in the short to medium term to our construction sector and, in the longer term, the improvements that it means for infrastructure to assist, aid and develop our economic competitiveness.

John McCallister (UUP, South Down)

I, like others, welcome the statement, particularly the announcement about the children's hospital. Let us hope that we have something to put in it. The Minister painted quite a rosy picture with his answers about the reduction in capital expenditure in this budgetary period. Is he basically engaged in a cleaning-up exercise and trying to help the Executive out of the mess of the A5?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I will ignore the Member's fairly churlish remarks at the start. I am tempted not to get involved in some sort of domestic squabble between him and his former party.

If he believes that the handling of the A5 has been a mess — I tend to agree that aspects of it were not handled particularly well by the Minister for Regional Development — I suggest that the Member takes it up with his former colleague the Minister for Regional Development.

The A5 is a strategically important project, which the Executive are committed to. For reasons about which questions are better directed to the Minister for Regional Development, that cannot go forward. The foolish thing to have done would have been to sit back and say that we cannot move forward so we will not do anything about it. The sensible thing to do is what I have done today, which is to announce to the House that we are taking the money that cannot be spent on that — and, indeed, other capital money that cannot be spent, including some of the capital money that has come from Treasury, following on from some of the questions that Mr Cree asked — and investing that money wisely in other roads across Northern Ireland, such as the A26, which is a strategically important road as well and would improve journey times and road safety, and the A31, a much-needed bypass around Magherafelt.

As well as those important road projects, we can invest money in the children's hospital, which is in need of significant investment, as the Member will well know. Instead of being churlish, I would have thought that the Member might want to welcome good, sensible, sound investments to improve the infrastructure, which will deliver better services for the people in Northern Ireland and will assist us in our economic recovery.

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for the question. I know that she, as a member of the Health Committee, and others have been pushing for the commencement of that project for some time. Although there is only a small amount — some £15 million for the project this year— it is a big project. That allows it to get the green light and to start going ahead. It allows the Health Minister and the trust to plan for the development and to take it forward. The scheme is not due for completion until 2017-18, and its total cost will be some £161·1 million. I am sure that the Member will agree with me that that is money well spent on a service that will provide assistance when it is required for children and families from all across Northern Ireland.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas agus as an fhreagra sin. I thank the Minister for his statement and his answers so far. I welcome his commitment to the A5 and the announcement of money for the City of Culture. I am sure that that will be the first tranche of many for the City of Culture legacy programme.

I want to ask the Minister a question in relation to the legal aid budget. As he will be well aware, the Legal Services Commission has never accurately predicted the budget for legal aid. Now that the Department is doing a focused piece of work on trying to make its predictions accurate, will your Department play any role in assisting it?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his welcome for the statement. I am well aware of the criticism of the legal aid process that the Member has highlighted. I recently attended the Law Society's annual dinner, and, had I been asleep, I probably could not have missed what was said fairly loudly and clearly. I support the Minister of Justice's attempts to reduce a very sizeable legal aid bill in Northern Ireland. He has done work that is worth praising to reduce the criminal legal aid bill, and I would be wrong if I did not encourage him to do likewise with civil legal aid, given the significant pressures that we are under in respect of resource expenditure.

There is no specified role for my Department in working with the Minister's Department to overcome those issues, but, as this Minister, and any Minister in the Executive, will know, I have an open door in wanting to work with Departments. If they have issues and pressures — notwithstanding the fact that the Minister's Budget is ring-fenced and he has significant budget flexibility within his existing allocations to deal with problems such as the one that the Member raised — early engagement with my Department is more beneficial in the long term than sitting and thinking that the problem will go away or will not materialise.

Alastair Ross (DUP, East Antrim)

I also thank the Minister for his statement. In particular, I am drawn to the £3 million allocation for heritage-led development and the potential positive impact that could have on Carrickfergus Castle. What schemes does the Minister envisage the money being used for? Could the financial transactions capital funding that he referred to in answer to Mr Weir's question be used for that type of development?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I have long believed — and, in fact, I mentioned it in my statement — that, earlier in the year or at the tail end of last year, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency produced a very valuable report which outlined its estimation that our built heritage and historic environment was worth around £250 million a year to our economy, but, significantly, that it had greater potential beyond that quarter of a billion pounds that it generated for our economy. It had the potential to increase that figure and to employ more people across Northern Ireland.

In bringing forward that motion in January or February, I was being mindful of the job that I was going to get at some time in the near future, and I was aware that I might be writing something of a blank cheque in respect of this policy area, but I am glad that I am able to support it with £1·1 million in this monitoring round and £3 million in the 2014-15 capital exercise. I have had discussions with the Environment Minister in respect of projects such as Carrickfergus Castle in the Member's constituency, which, we would all agree, is a fantastic facility, but it has potential to develop further.

There are commercial opportunities in a lot of the visitor attractions that we have across Northern Ireland, which have not been realised because that simply is not what the Department of the Environment traditionally does. So, to take up his point about financial transactions capital, I think that there are other areas of our built heritage and our historic environment where partnering with organisations outside the public sector such as the National Trust, have facilities that could be invested in to be developed, which have revenue-raising potential that can then be used to pay back the loan element of financial transactions capital. This is an area that I am very interested in and quite excited about the potential of, and I hope that the £4 million that has been allocated to the Department of the Environment in the next two years will allow us to test out and to see exactly what the potential is. If it works and money is available, we can invest more in the future.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Minister, thank you for your statement. The underfunding in the DSD budget is disturbing. Can you comment on how you perceive DSD's management of the Housing Executive?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

If the Social Development Minister were here, he would be fairly clear about what he thinks has, historically, been the management of Housing Executive resources. Although there is a reduced requirement in the October monitoring round of £23 million for DSD, it is disappointing that what that was initially targeted for — repairs and maintenance of existing Housing Executive stock — is not able to go forward. The result of that means that there are people who need those repairs and need that maintenance of their property who are simply not going to get that.

On the positive side, in terms of the good, sensible management of public funds, because that has been released, rather than simply sitting in the budget and maybe not coming back to us until January when it might be difficult to spend it, we can sensibly redistribute that — primarily, in this case, to roads maintenance — which will sustain and create other jobs in the construction sector, albeit not doing what was originally done.

I share the Member's disappointment, and I share the disappointment of the people who may have thought that they were getting work done. In terms of the management of funds, I would far rather that the Minister for Social Development was saying to me that he was not happy with the contracts or, in particular, the specification of certain aspects of those contracts, and releasing the money so that I can spend it and allocate it to others to spend, rather than it being wasted and being spent on overspecified contracts, and we would all come back in a number of years and ask why we spent so much more on that when we could have spent significantly less.

Sammy Douglas (DUP, Belfast East)

I thank the Minister for his good news statement this morning. Can he inform the House why we have not had more successful United Community bids?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question, not least because it allows me to pre-empt and clear up any confusion that there might be about the spending of the money. The Member will be aware that, in June, the Prime Minister and the First and deputy First Minister agreed what has been referred to as the economic pact, which included a provision to allow us to extend our RRI borrowing facility, which stands at £200 million a year, up by an additional £50 million this year and next year. That was specifically tailored for shared future, education and housing projects.

As a Department, we do not sit as the arbiter of those funds in any way. We simply receive the bids that come in from Departments, which then have to go to the Treasury for its assessment. The Treasury makes the ultimate decision on whether or not the bids qualify for the borrowing. It is not a matter of DFP saying that this, that or the other bid is not good enough; it is quite the opposite. We encourage Departments to come forward with more bids. We think that there is potential for more bids that will be successful with the Treasury. However, the ultimate arbiter on whether or not it goes ahead is not the Department of Finance and Personnel but Her Majesty's Treasury.

Alex Attwood (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast West)

I welcome the announcement about the Royal Victoria Hospital site. There is no money in this quarter for decay and dereliction scheme funding. Will that oversight be rectified in the January monitoring round? If the funding that you have allocated to the heritage-led development scheme proves your point that there is heritage-led development in Northern Ireland, is it your view that that should become part of mainstream funding on a rolling basis beyond your tenure? Will you confirm whether the reduced requirement of the Housing Executive includes a reduced requirement for newbuild social housing funding? If so, does that concern you?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

The Member may have left ministerial office, but he has not lost his touch in stretching the tolerance of the Chair.

As the Member will know from having administered a departmental budget, there is only so much money to go around. In monitoring rounds, there is always a balance to be struck. Many of the bids that have not been met are good bids. The fact that they have not been met does not mean that they are bad bids. Some of them are new bids that have potential, and some are bids for existing or previous schemes that have been shown to work.

I support dereliction funding in principle. I have not been able to allocate additional money to it in this monitoring round. However, as far as I am concerned, it is not a policy that is completely finished. We will require the Member's colleague the Minister of the Environment to continue to come forward with bids for that. If it can be met, we are not averse to meeting it in the grand scheme of things. As I said, in allocating money at this stage of the financial year, we have to be very mindful about issues such as overcommmitment. I appreciate that something such as a dereliction fund has the potential to get money spent very quickly. So, January may have better potential than October; I say that without making any commitment to do it.

As the Member will know, in the past, he and I had useful exchanges, in the House and outside, on heritage-led development. As I said in answer to Mr Ross, I am committed to it and think that it has huge potential. We have some underappreciated, undervalued and underused historical buildings across Northern Ireland. I hope that this money can start to develop the potential that I believe that the sector undoubtedly has.

It is as much a matter for the Minister of the Environment to come forward with bids to mainstream that budget for the years beyond 2014-15, in the 2015-16 Budget process that we are about to start and in future years. It has potential, and I am glad to be able to announce funding for it today. I hope that it is successful. Whether it is successful through conventional capital or financial transactions capital, as I outlined to Mr Ross, I think that it has huge potential.

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

I also welcome the announcement of a newbuild children's hospital for Northern Ireland. In health, under the addressing serious risks programme, only £5 million of £15 million has been allocated. Under Transforming Your Care key enabling projects, only £7·3 million of £26·5 million has been allocated. Why did the Minister decide to underfund those programmes significantly, in particular the TYC transformation programme, when the Department indicates that a failure to fund those will impact on future savings and lead to a change in expenditure patterns away from our hospitalised care, which will risk increasing waiting times at our A&E units and hospitals?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

The Member has picked out a couple of things. Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I had £500 million worth of capital bids for 2014-15, including quite a lot of cheeky bids from some Ministers who were chancing their arm. They included his colleague at the Department for Regional Development who seemed to put every single bid —

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

Answer the question.

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

The Member will have a bit of patience. He seemed to bid for every road project that he wanted to take forward, regardless of whether it was ready to move forward. I had to contend with £0·5 billion worth of capital bids for what, ultimately, turned out to be £170 million worth of capital expenditure at the disposal of myself and the Executive.

As the Member will know, you cannot spend the £500 million if all you have is £175 million or £177 million, so, you have to make choices. That is what this place is all about. We have to make choices with the evidence that is before us and with the money that is before us. The Member is having a go at an allocation of £89·1 million, out of £177 million, to the Department of Health. That is a significant investment for the Health Department. It allows significant aspects of the Minister's Transforming Your Care programme to be taken forward. Is it everything that he wants? No, it is not. However, if you were to go round the Executive table and ask all the Ministers whether they got everything that they wanted, you would hear that they did not. That is the nature of the game that we have to play, Mr Beggs.

We have to make choices; we have to spend money where we think that it is best to do so. I think that spending £89·1 million, including significant TYC bids, is a good expenditure of the money that we have. It is particularly good that we are spending £15 million to give the green light to a new regional children's hospital for the people of Northern Ireland.

Mervyn Storey (DUP, North Antrim)

May I be associated with the words of congratulation in relation to the A26? It is not a case of the Minister winning the argument; it is a case of this Minister being responsible and delivering for the benefit of the people in north Antrim. I also acknowledge the additional money for DRD to move ahead with procurement for the Rathlin ferry and bus procurement for the provision of public transport.

As Chair of the Education Committee, I, first, thank the Minister for the money relating to Lisanelly and for the £2 million for the maintenance of the estate. However, will the Minister comment on the continued use of contingency funds by the Minister of Education, despite the fact that, in a letter to the Education Committee some days ago, his Department specifically said that that was not a good financial management practice?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his welcoming of the statement and particular aspects of it. With buses, ferries and roads, it is certainly a good day for north Antrim.

In respect of contingency funds, I know that we have corresponded, as a Department, with the Member in his capacity as Chair of the Committee. As a rule, I am not a fan of contingency funds, because Departments or, indeed, the centre can set aside money in a contingency fund, and, if the rainy day never appears, we have a mad, headlong rush at the end of the year to spend that money on sensible, prudent projects. I find that the later in the year that you get, the fewer projects there are that can spend that sort of money. So, as a rule, contingency funds are not good practice.

The Member will be aware that there are strict rules about the reallocation of money within budgets. All Ministers have to declare amounts above the de minimis threshold of £1 million. The Executive usually allow reallocation; it is hard to think of a single example where they have not allowed for reallocation within Departments to happen. It is good, sensible management of the money that has been allocated by the Executive and the Assembly to flag that up, so that people can see where money has been moved to and where it has been moved from.

Jim Wells (DUP, South Down)

I also welcome the announcement on the children's hospital; it is excellent news. I hope that, some day, the Minister will be able to stand up and announce the Ballynahinch bypass. Indeed, I think that we could do a deal that we will name it after him, if he releases the funds for it. In the statement, he has also indicated that £5 million has been allocated in the 2014-15 budget for local road schemes. Can he outline where those schemes are?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. With a deal like that, I am almost tempted to reallocate the reallocations. The Ballynahinch bypass would start in my constituency and end in the Member's constituency. It is something that I am very committed to. He brought an Adjournment debate on the issue to the House when he was a young whippersnapper, and I did likewise a few years ago. It is probably the only subject that has been the topic of two Adjournment debates in this House. Anybody who has to travel that road, whether they are going to Newcastle and the Mournes for leisure, pleasure and enjoyment or going home after work, knows that it is in much need of investment. However, no bid came forward from the Minister for Regional Development for that project as part of the 2014-15 exercise. However, I am glad that we have been able to support many road projects, including £5 million for what is detailed as local transport measures and network improvements.

The Minister for Regional Development and I had a discussion before the Executive meeting some weeks ago about some issues that were crystallising in his Department. This issue came up, and I pressed him on the sorts of projects that would come forward. The only one that he suggested is the A7 Saintfield to Crossgar project, which I am sure the Member will welcome. Again, the improvement to a small stretch of that road will benefit his constituents in South Down as well as constituents in Strangford. I look forward to the Minister for Regional Development bringing forward concrete plans for that road in the near future.

Jimmy Spratt (DUP, Belfast South)

I thank the Minister for his statement. As Chair of the Committee for Regional Development, I welcome his announcements on the major road schemes. Why are we seeing so many reduced requirements for major roads schemes at present?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. As I said previously, I have issues with how we take forward major capital projects such as roads. There are some very good examples where we have not done well, not only on roads but on some other areas of capital expenditure. There are lessons to be learned from the way that other jurisdictions take forward major capital projects, and I think that we can transplant those for the Northern Ireland context.

We are, obviously, well aware of the well-publicised delays to the A5 project, which I mentioned. That has freed up a significant amount of money, which I am happily able to reallocate to some other strategic road projects across Northern Ireland. I do not need to go much further on that, but as part of October monitoring there were reduced requirements for the A8 and the A2. The A8 reduced requirement is as a result of the cost and profile of spend on that project being reviewed. When compared with the original profile, less was needed this year and more was needed next year, so we have managed to balance that out as part of the announcements that I made today.

There was a reduced requirement of £11 million for the A2, which was the result of two factors: first, £8 million of that was as a result of the cost of the scheme coming in lower than expected, which is good news; secondly, the remaining £3 million was as a result of the reallocation of EU funding to that scheme. That has freed up money which, again, goes back to the centre for reallocation. Although on the face of it that probably looks bad because of the significant volume, in monetary terms, of reduced requirements for roads, I am sure that the Member and the rest of the House will agree that those reasons mean that the news is not as bad as it maybe first appeared.

Tom Elliott (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for that. Like others, I welcome the allocation to the new children's hospital.

There was a bid of £17·6 million from the Department of Justice for the Northern Ireland prisons exit scheme. Has the Minister had any discussions with the Minister of Justice about the impact that there will be on Prison Service reform if that bid is not successful, or was it what the Minister would include as one of the cheeky bids?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I have not had any discussions with the Minister of Justice, but he and I are keen to arrange a discussion very soon. Although his budget is ring-fenced and he has considerable flexibility within it to move money around to deal with pressures, I want him to proactively manage that budget before we look at some of the bids that are there. I accept that he is a man of his word and that there are pressures within his budget; therefore, I am content to have a discussion with him about those pressures. I will convey the message that I am conveying to you, which he is obviously hearing, but I will do that in private as well.

I think that the scheme that the Member referred to is a good scheme. I know the invest-to-save principles behind it, and it is so good that the Department of Finance and Personnel backed it in previous monitoring rounds. I think that some £20 million was given to it last year, which allowed the Minister to take forward his plans for the early exit of some prisoner officers and to replenish them with different and new staff. The bid is not a bad bid. If it was a bad bid, it would not have been acknowledged with allocations in previous years. I am pretty sure that the Minister of Justice will be back, if not in this year, in future years, to look for money for a scheme that has invest-to-save principles at its core.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

I call Mr Paul Girvan. We are into the last 10 minutes of questions to the Minister on his statement. With the cooperation of Members, I am going to do my best to get as many Members in as possible.

Paul Girvan (DUP, South Antrim)

Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his very positive statement to the House. Is the allocation of £10 million from DRD to Belfast port to deal with a shortfall in receipts an indication that the Executive have given up on pursuing some value from the port?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the Member for his question. It is a good question. That obviously stands out in the tables that are attached to the statement as something that had to be allocated this year but that we obviously intended would not have been the case at the start of the Budget period.

I am disappointed that we have not been able to release value from the Harbour Commissioners. In principle, the port is a publicly owned asset. I have to say that it makes a valuable contribution not just to the Belfast economy but to the whole of Northern Ireland's economy, and I very much welcome some of the projects that are being brought forward, such as a terminal for cruise ships that are coming into Belfast. I also welcome the City Quays development, which will release more commercial office property for the foreign direct investment that we are trying to attract into Northern Ireland as a result of the likes of the investment conference and other work that Arlene Foster is doing. So, the commission does some good work. However, it has a significant amount of money in its reserves and the potential to release value back to our government so that we can spend that money on other capital projects that are equally of benefit to the Northern Ireland economy.

The issue has proven complex. The Minister for Regional Development would be in a better position than I to give you some of the detail, but taking it forward is fraught with legal and other difficulties. The fact that we have allocated money in this monitoring round is simply a recognition that we will not be able to crystallise that allocation from the Harbour Commissioners and make it happen this year. However, we have not given up on getting that value, which we believe we can get. We will continue to pursue that, and it is an issue that the Executive's Budget review group is taking forward.

Adrian McQuillan (DUP, East Londonderry)

I also want to be associated with the opening remarks on what I would call phase 1 of the A26.

Will the Minister give the House an update on where we are with welfare reform? I see that some moneys have been returned to the centre from DSD under that heading.

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

Again, the tables that are attached to the statement illustrate a noticeably reduced requirement from DSD for welfare reform. That results from the fact that because we have yet to legislate for welfare reform in Northern Ireland and have been unable to bring it forward, money that had been allocated to the Department for Social Development to do things such as IT training and skilling up staff so that they can implement the changes have not been able to happen.

I am glad that the Member raised that, because it gives me an opportunity to reiterate to the House the absolute, critical importance of ensuring that that legislation is passed as quickly as possible. My predecessor received a letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in late June or early July that told us that we were costing the Treasury £5 million to £6 million a month because we had not moved forward with some of the elements of welfare reform. We were also told that that was going to a grow to a position whereby, by the end of this year, we were going to cost £50 million to £60 million. According to the letter, that £50 million to £60 million will be taken out of our Budget if we have not legislated by January 2014. Worryingly, that bill is likely to rise to £200 million by 2017-18.

In the context of what I announced earlier about a switch from resource to capital and significant pressures on our resource budget in future years, £200 million taken out of our Budget to pay for something because we have not legislated for it is a price that we cannot afford. We need to move forward, and I know that the Minister for Social Development is unanimous with me on that. He is seeking approval to legislate on welfare reform so that those very punitive penalties that I am speaking about do not materialise and do not start to hit some of the very vulnerable people in Northern Ireland, whom some of those who oppose welfare reform think that they are helping.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I welcome the progress on the A26.

On the allocations in October monitoring and the 2014-15 capital budget, how does it just happen to be that the various Sinn Féin Departments have been most successful? In the allocations in the October monitoring round, they got 75% of what they asked for in capital bids. In the 2014-15 reallocations, they got 60% of what they asked for in capital bids, in contrast to other Departments. Is that part of the Minister's party's mending of fences with Sinn Féin, as we saw a few days ago with its love-in with the GAA? Is this part of the same process of the Minister rolling over for Sinn Féin?

Simon Hamilton (DUP, Strangford)

It would be easy to forget that at the very beginning — for about one second — the Member welcomed the allocation for the A26. However, it is very clear for the Member that every silver lining has a cloud. There is always bad news. This is a statement. This is a reallocation of over £250 million, which is going to projects in all Departments — right across the board. The money will be of great benefit in creating and sustaining jobs. It will improve our infrastructure so that we can have a competitive edge when we compete with other economies. It will assist us in our recovery. It will create opportunities for people right across Northern Ireland, and it will protect some of the most vulnerable in Northern Ireland.

That will be done through projects such as the A26 and the A31 Magherafelt bypass; through allocating £14 million to the DUP Health Minister's Department to provide elective care that is desperately needed by his constituents and by other people right across Northern Ireland; and through having a new regional children's hospital that goes to a DUP Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are projects that are greatly assisting our recovery, creating jobs and protecting the vulnerable in Northern Ireland. As to where allocations go, it is not a matter of sitting down and carving up allocations for this Department and that Department. As the Member knows well, some Departments spend more on capital than others, and some of the bids that have come forward are more critical in their timeliness than others.

If the Member wants to take the money that we have and allocate it on the basis of some sort of sectarian headcount, that kind of suits his approach, but it does not suit my approach. I want to send money from this Department when it is given up by others to where it is most needed. If that is for the A26 in his constituency or the new regional children's hospital in west Belfast, I will do that.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

You did not answer my question.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

That concludes questions on the statement.

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

With permission, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement on prison reform. This Thursday marks the second anniversary of the publication of the report by the prison review team, which was led by Dame Anne Owers. I will update Members on the progress that has been made since publication and outline the work that is taking place to make a positive impact on prisoners to reduce their risk of reoffending.

The report calls for end-to-end transformational change across the prison system in Northern Ireland. Its 40 recommendations were challenging, but I believed then, and I believe now, that it set the road map to deliver an effective, efficient and sustainable service. I said at the time of publication that implementing the recommendations would be a long-term process and that we would have to put in place solid foundations if reform was to be embedded throughout our prisons. The service established a reform programme to put in place the foundations for delivery and to drive the necessary changes.

The reform programme is at the halfway point. Good progress is being made. To date, nine recommendations have been approved as being complete by the prison review oversight group, which I chair. The group provides oversight and scrutiny of the programme and includes a robust and challenging independent element. I anticipate that a further nine recommendations will be brought forward to the group for sign off at its next meeting in December. If those are signed off, almost half of the recommendations will have been implemented. That demonstrates steady progress.

From the outset, I have said that implementing the reforms will be a process and not an event. That remains the case. As with any major reform programme, the pace of change can feel frustrating at times. The next year is a critical period, when many of the recommendations from the Owers report will become reality. A clear plan for delivery is in place. However, some of the major projects that are part of the plan will not be realised until nearer April 2015. This is normal in a complex reform programme: they take time to get right. It is not just about ticking off each recommendation. That is why, in June, I announced a number of initiatives that would make a real difference to the way in which prisons operate and how we support people through custody and back into the community. Today, I can announce that the two reviews that I commissioned into the prisoner incentive scheme and the categorisation of women and young people have been completed. The next stage is to ensure that they are put into practice. Discussions are ongoing with governors on how that will be achieved.

Last month, I published an employability strategy. I can inform Members that, as part of that strategy, a new passport to employment has been developed and will be piloted in Maghaberry soon. Prison Service staff will also work with NIACRO to link that work into the job track initiative.

In June, I highlighted the issue of addiction in prisons and announced that a new dual approach would be implemented to tackle the issue. The first part of that was the initiation of intelligence-led searching to replace the standard routine search policy. That is now in place. There is also a Prison Service/PSNI initiative at Maghaberry where they have joined forces to reduce the supply and demand of drugs in the prison. I also wanted to see support put in place for those with addiction issues. Prison staff are being selected to work on the new cutting-edge addiction programme, which will be piloted in Maghaberry in the new year. That will be a complete programme regime, which will support prisoners to break the cycle of addiction. It is the first of its type in the British Isles and demonstrates the innovative approach that prison staff are willing to take to deliver change.

Since my announcement in June, a new directory of services has also been developed that will provide prisoners with details of the support services available. It will be launched later in 2013 following consultation with prisoners and key partners. One key area in delivering for prisoners will be the outsourcing of learning and skills, which, it is anticipated, will happen around this time next year. That will increase overall levels of prisoner participation in employment and education across the three prisons. However, I am not content to wait until 2014 for progress in that area. Therefore, I can inform Members that work to award an interim contract for learning and skills is being finalised. I expect letters of award to be issued next week. Awarding the interim contract will not only deliver an enhanced service in the next year, but it will allow the service to move to the next stage to establish the Hydebank college. That will be achieved through a college task force that will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering the college ethos and results. I can also announce that the concept college prospectus will be launched at the end of November.

Another area that will interest Members is the latest position on the prison estate, particularly future plans for women in custody. Our focus is a prison estate that is fit for purpose, which provides safe, secure and decent accommodation for all prisoner categories and addresses the specific needs of young offenders and women prisoners. Work to further define the future direction of travel for Maghaberry is ongoing and the future of Magilligan prison has been set. As I have outlined, the Hydebank college will deliver positive interventions for young people in custody.

Today, I want to focus on the needs of females. I wish to put on record that I remain committed to having a separate prison for women. However, that will not happen in the near future. To address that, a four-stage approach will take place, which will deliver positive change for female prisoners. The first stage is the development of Ash House, which will deliver an enriched regime, freer movement and greater access to services. The second will be to couple that with the development of our "prisons inspire" concept in Alderwood House. The third phase will see residential units also being developed. All of that will be subject to the normal planning processes. The final stage will be the development of a new women’s prison, and I anticipate high-level plans for that by the end of the year.

Another key part of the reform will be how offender management policies are embedded across the service, and we have spoken at length about the need for an integrated approach to that. Unlike other jurisdictions, prisons in Northern Ireland already have in place a policy to ensure that every offender has a sentence plan. That is being achieved through the reforms and through our offender management hubs, which bring together staff from the Prison Service and the Probation Board to ensure an integrated approach in that area. That is by no means the limit to our ambition because we want to create an effective end-to-end resettlement process.

I could not update the House on prison reform without acknowledging the major changes that have taken place in the workforce over the past 18 months. Many experienced officers and managers have left under the voluntary early retirement scheme, and we have seen the recruitment of hundreds of new officers. Many staff have also converted from support grades to become custody officers. That has been challenging for all concerned, but I believe that we now have in place the right balance between new and experienced staff, which will serve our prisons and the wider community well into the future.

One of the areas that has attracted attention from Members is the new operating model for prisons that was introduced last October. The reason for that was to ensure we had the right people in the right place at the right time, doing the right things. The operating model encompasses four key elements: the staff deployment agreement; the staffing structure; the staffing profile; and the shift patterns. In combination, that will deliver a sustainable model for our prisons that is efficient and effective. The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) profiling team has reviewed the implementation of the operating model at each prison establishment over the past six months. NIPS will continue to develop, modify and enhance the shift patterns as part of business as usual.

It is also important that operational staff have the skills to deliver a Prison Service that will create positive interventions that address offending behaviour. That means making sure that all grades have access to the right training, which gives everyone the opportunity to build a career in the service. To deliver that, a series of training programmes have been developed for all staff, from main grade officers to senior officers, right through to management grades. That will include a year-long series of masterclasses that will address many issues from financial planning to incident management. Last month, it was announced that the University of Ulster has been awarded the contract to accredit the certificate of competence for our new officers. That was good news for officers because it will give them the opportunity to demonstrate the new skills they have developed through their training and in the workplace.

I can also inform the House that promotion boards are being held for functional head grades, and there will be promotion opportunities to the senior officer grade by the end of this year. Alongside that, former principal officers have become unit managers, and work to finalise the role of offender supervisors is almost complete. Those are very positive developments for staff and they demonstrate the service's commitment to give everyone the skills they need to do their job.

Reforming the prison system in Northern Ireland is the biggest change programme in the public sector since the formation of the PSNI in 2001. It is a huge project. The recommendations from the Owers report were not straightforward. As I said, the vision of the report was to deliver end-to-end transformational change. That means changing the structures, ethos and culture of the people who work for prisons and how they work with those who are in custody, all of which has to be delivered within today’s financial restrictions. The Prison Service is an organisation in transition, and many people are working to make the changes a reality. I am greatly encouraged by the work that is being done and the progress that has been made.

As I have set out, the reforms are delivering for women in custody, with a four-stage plan to provide a bespoke infrastructure and regime for female prisoners. They are delivering for young people in custody, with the establishment of Hydebank college. They are delivering for all prisoners, with the new interim learning and skills contract now in place and outsourcing to be completed next year, and with the goal of sentence planning for every prisoner. The reforms are also delivering for our staff, with development plans for every grade to build their skills and career in the service.

Reform of our prisons will ultimately be about making the community safer. That will be achieved by creating positive interventions to address offending behaviour, which will reduce the risk of reoffending. That is what I want the reformed Prison Service to deliver, and I am confident that that is what the reformed Prison Service will deliver.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Minister will know that we discussed some of those issues, and it was highlighted that relationships are key. I impress upon him again to make sure that relationships between management and staff are working properly, as current indications are that they are not. The statement refers to the voluntary exit scheme. Can the Minister give an absolute guarantee that the 27 officers who remain on the letter 3 option but have been accepted into the scheme will be allowed to leave the service? It would be grossly unfair, having allowed up to 500 officers to leave, if that small element of 27 officers was kept in the service despite them having signed up to the scheme. Can he give the commitment that he will find the money in his Department or through a bid so that those 27 officers will ultimately be allowed to leave the service?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank the Chair for his comments. I am committed to ensuring that we get the best possible relationships between staff and management in the Prison Service, allowing for all the difficulties that arise from such a programme of reform. Unfortunately, I cannot, at this stage, give him the guarantee that he asks for: that all those who have applied under the voluntary early retirement scheme will be able to leave. I am sure that he heard the question that was asked of the Minister of Finance a few minutes ago. He indicated his keenness to see the scheme proceed and acknowledged that there was assistance from DFP last year in funding towards that. I hope that it will be possible to obtain funding in this year, but the Chair of the Committee is well aware of some of the pressures that we face on issues such as legal aid costs that are creating significant difficulties this year. I trust that we will be able to see towards the end of the year that there is some way of allowing that final batch of officers and, indeed, some governors to get their leaving date, but, at this stage, I regret that I cannot give the guarantee that he seeks.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas agus as an fhreagra sin. I thank the Minister for his statement and his answer to the previous question. The Minister will be well aware that the Owers report presents an opportunity and, indeed, a challenge. I look forward to the oversight group coming to the Committee to tease out some issues further. This is the halfway mark, and the Minister said that it is not an exercise to tick off the recommendations. Is he satisfied, at the halfway point, that he is well on target to reach the final outcome and have all the recommendations in place on time?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank the Deputy Chair of the Committee for his question. He correctly identifies that we are talking about an extremely challenging process, and, at more or less the halfway point, we are close, as I said in the statement, to having 18 of the 40 recommendations signed off. That signing-off is not a simple case of box-ticking. Reports come to the oversight team and it agrees them, and they are then passed to Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) for validation. As he would expect from the independent members of the oversight group, they have robust discussions with me and with officials from the Prison Service to see that that is done. We are seeing significant progress, but we cannot expect that some of the more complex issues will be resolved until near the end of the process in spring 2015. However, with the team that is in place and with the good work being done in the three prisons, but particularly by the leadership team at headquarters, we are seeing significant progress at this time, and I believe that all the reforms will be in place by the expected closing time in spring 2015.

Alban Maginness (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for his statement. In a sense, the statement was pre-empted, to some extent, by the debate last week on prison reform. The Minister has acknowledged in the statement that the pace of reform can be quite frustrating, and I agree with him on that. Where is the logjam that is preventing the prison reform being fully implemented? Is that logjam, as Mr Givan identified earlier, the relationship between staff and management?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank Mr Maginness for the question. I hope that the statement was not entirely pre-empted by last week's debate, which was a debate on a negative report on a situation that existed in Hydebank Wood in the early part of this year.

I hope that this statement shows the significant progress that has been made, but I take the point. Shortly, we will have some questions during Question Time which will probably cover much the same ground.

The issue with the pace of reform is the complexity of the overall process, which made it quite difficult to get matters under way. There were significant issues around staffing and the time it took to get the senior team in place. The team that Sue McAllister now leads will be capable of leading through all of these reforms, as well as the changes that are being made in staffing in the three individual units.

Whether there is a logjam in relationships, I am not sure. We saw a withdrawal of goodwill by the Prison Officers' Association (POA) earlier this year on working overtime, which has ended. However, maintaining good working relationships with a workforce that is going through such significant transformation is always a major challenge. It is not easy, as we know, in any part of the public sector to ensure that staff are always brought along with that level of change. However, we have at least seen, through the recent ending of the withdrawal of goodwill, that there is an option for moving forward in a more constructive way.

Tom Elliott (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for the update. In his statement, he said:

"There is also a Prison Service/PSNI initiative at Maghaberry where they have joined forces to reduce the supply and demand of drugs in the prison."

Can the Minister give us any more detail on that project at the moment, or at a later stage if required, and on how progress on that project will be both measured and monitored?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank Mr Elliott for highlighting what is quite a significant issue. Tackling drugs is actually a two-pronged issue. The first part is the point that he highlights, namely the work being done, which involves the PSNI in a joint initiative at Maghaberry, to detect and deter the smuggling of drugs. I need to be cautious when talking about matters that are sub judice, but it was interesting to note that there were three arrests related to an attempt to smuggle drugs into Maghaberry just before we publicly announced that the initiative had started. That is one part.

The other part is around education and ensuring that we see that prisoners are aware of the dangers of illegal drugs and, indeed, the dangers associated with inappropriate prescribed drug use. So there are issues there.

It is absolutely clear that we need to fight the issue of drugs in prisons at a number of different levels. The partnership with healthcare on prevention is extremely valuable, as is the partnership with the PSNI on detection. Certainly, it appears that, at this early stage, moving away from routine regular searching to intelligence-led searching is having significant benefits.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Thank you, Minister, for your statement. As you said, this is ongoing work and work in progress. One area that has concerned us is improvement for women prisoners. Can the Minister tell us more about the four stages that he intends to take to improve the delivery of services and, ultimately, improve outcomes for women prisoners?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank Mr Dickson for the question, which highlights an area that has been a significant concern for some time. The first of the four stages, to give a little bit more detail on what I was able to say in the statement, is to seek to improve the physical situation within Ash House in Hydebank Wood, acknowledging that it is likely to remain the residential unit for some time. So work is going ahead to create slightly different physical space, which will enable the development of vocational work on things like hairdressing and kitchen and laundry work alongside access to IT, and improve the facilities that are offered in that building.

The second stage is to use Alderwood House, which is currently used by the Probation Service and is on the Hydebank Wood site but is outside the wall, to create something of a step-down and working out facility. In the first part of that, simply providing some educational classes will be a possible use that will enable people to move into a different atmosphere. We will then work towards the work that is being done by the Inspire project in the city centre on working with women offenders.

We then hope that we will see some step-down residential units being developed alongside Alderwood House as the third phase for those women who require a degree of supervision but not significant custody as they move towards the end of their sentences and further on out.

Finally, there is the major challenge of getting the right size of full women's prison off the Hydebank Wood site, or at least outside the young offenders centre's wall, to ensure a proper facility for women prisoners in Northern Ireland, which has been denied them for many years.

William Humphrey (DUP, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for his statement, in which he mentioned training programmes. My colleague the Chair of the Committee mentioned the key issue of relationships, and you will be aware that the Prison Officers' Association representative said that there is a recruitment difficulty in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Given that there was a leadership and management void at Hydebank Wood for over a year, when there was no governor or deputy governor and the new governor was English, as were three of the senior management team who were in front of the Committee last week, is there an issue about Ulster people being recruited at senior management level in the Northern Ireland Prison Service?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I get slightly surprised at the number of complaints from the unionist side of the Assembly about the employment of British citizens who happen to live on the other side of the water. We have an open competition employment process, and we seek to employ the best person for the job. Whether the best person for the job happens to speak with an accent that suggests that they come from one side of the water or the other is not a relevant consideration. The consideration is whether they are the best person with the experience for the job.

Although I acknowledge that Mr Humphrey talked specifically about senior Prison Service officers, the reality is that a very small proportion of Prison Service staff come from outside Northern Ireland. If we have a process in which some people move one way across the Irish Sea and others move the other way at different times, that is a benefit that enriches the services on both sides of the water and not something we should complain about.

Rosaleen McCorley (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire inniu. I welcome the Minister's statement. Will he elaborate on the "high level plans" for the women's prison? Will that bring forward the date for the provision of that facility? In the interim, will the improved services for women include making it freely available to women to avail themselves of day release to partake in work?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank Ms McCorley for the question, although I am afraid that I cannot elaborate any further on the long-term replacement for Ash House. I hope to say more about that, probably early in the new year to the House, and I certainly give a commitment to inform the Committee, if not the full House, at the earliest stage possible.

The important issue in how we seek to make the changes is to ensure that women get the opportunity to avail themselves of a variety of opportunities, depending on individual risk assessment. We know that many of the women in Ash House are perfectly capable of leaving the wall of Hydebank Wood to engage in some form of training or day activity. That has been happening for some time, and some women have gone to the Inspire project in the city. The issue is whether we can develop schemes in Alderwood House that allow greater numbers to benefit from doing that. We should be doing that, based on individual risk assessment, to prepare women for release from custody. We will see more of that in the coming weeks.

The business stood suspended.

(Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Dallat] in the Chair)

Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Milne (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

1. asked the Minister of Justice what input the Department of Justice will have into the terms of reference for the investigation into child exploitation. (AQT 241/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I thank Mr Milne for the question, although I had better not say too much. It might annoy one of his colleagues if I go too far into the territory which is question 1 on the main list. The answer is that no specific actions were required of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Barnardo's report of 2011, but since then we have been working in partnership with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Safeguarding Board to look at various roles in the protection of children. I have had meetings with the Minister of Health and others to look at how that occurs. As Members know, an expert-led inquiry is being set up to consider the way forward.

Ian Milne (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer thus far. Can he tell us exactly what those discussions with the Minister of Health consist of? Does he not agree —

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

One question, please.

Ian Milne (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

At the heart of all this is an issue of justice, and, therefore, in my opinion, it is very necessary for the Justice Department to be heavily involved in it.

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker, I really am at a loss. My understanding is that questions at this stage are not supposed to pre-empt those that are on the list. Any further answer would merely pre-empt an answer to a prepared question, which is not particularly topical.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I remind the Minister that it is entirely up to him whether he answers.

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I will happily answer in 15 minutes' time.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

2. asked the Minister of Justice to comment on his ongoing relationship with the Prison Officers’ Association. (AQT 242/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I have not had direct contact with the Prison Officers' Association (POA) in recent weeks. I have certainly had engagement with it over different aspects of the reform programme. Senior officers of the Prison Service continue in those discussions, and I am keen to see that we manage the reform process in conjunction with all our staff, whether they are members of the POA, the Prison Governors' Association (PGA), the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) or none of them.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he give an assurance to the House that his change and reform agenda will not be deflected, despite difficulties or resistance from within the institutions?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I can certainly give Mr McLaughlin that assurance. As I said in answer to questions a few minutes ago, we saw a short-term withdrawal of goodwill by the POA recently, which ended in the last few weeks. I hope that that is a sign that good progress will continue to be made. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that the reform programme is driven through against all the operational difficulties. I am not just saying that that applies to staff; the practical realities of the end-to-end reform are quite a challenge.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

3. asked the Minister of Justice whether his Department will support the Prison Officers’ Association when it makes its presentation to the pay review body. (AQT 243/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

My understanding of that is quite simple. The pay review body will seek the evidence that it wishes. It has had a detailed evidence presentation from my Department, and it will clearly have to engage with staff, including the POA, as it reviews the work that it has to do in looking at the matter which I referred to it.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

I use the Minister's words with respect to the evidence. Given that there is clear evidence of a threat to all prison officers, will the Minister support the payment of an environmental allowance to all officers who are currently working for the Prison Service?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I appreciate Mr Clarke's point. For many existing staff, the previous environmental allowance was consolidated into normal pay scales. The issue that is of particular concern is that new members of staff may feel that they are being paid less proportionately, by comparison with their colleagues who have received that consolidated award, and in comparison with what happens in England, Wales and Scotland. It is not appropriate to make a direct comparison, as is frequently done — though not by Mr Clarke today — with the issue as it applies to police officers. Police officers across the UK are paid on the same scale, and there is an additional allowance in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, we have completely different pay scales. The issue is in ensuring that they bear an appropriate relationship to the pay scales for England, Wales and Scotland.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Mr Alex Maskey is not in his place for his question.

Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

5. asked the Minister of Justice whether he agrees that the recent opening up of recruitment to the PSNI is to be welcomed and that it allows for a further transformation and civilianisation of the Police Service, which, as the Minister will know, is not yet fully representative of the society that we live in. (AQT 245/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

As the Member will know from his role on the Policing Board, there are issues around the numbers and the budget. I welcome the fact that the Police Service is now in the position to start a new recruitment campaign for the first time in some years. The important issue for that recruitment campaign, given that the specific artificial 50:50 targets are removed, is to get the best possible affirmative action programme, which is being carried through by the Police Service, to ensure that it gets the widest possible range of applicants and continue the work that it has been doing in recent years to ensure that it becomes a representative service.

Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for the answer so far. His Department is responsible for the business case for recruitment. Does the Minister agree that it is lamentable that Criminal Justice Inspection described what we have as large-scale reverse civilianisation, not as Patten saw the PSNI, in which civilian posts are being populated by retired police? Does he agree that the recruitment campaign provides an excellent opportunity to put that right, bearing in mind that the recruitment is not just the 100 that we are talking about now but that it could go to perhaps up to 400?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The difficult issue of exactly which functions are best carried out by warranted officers and which by civilians and what the background of those civilians may be is not one for my direct involvement. I need to be very careful to leave the Policing Board with its responsibilities in such matters.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I remind Members that the House discourages reading questions.

Alasdair McDonnell (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

6. asked the Minister of Justice, in light of the continued flag protests in Belfast, particularly around the city centre, whether he agrees that it would be in the interests of all concerned if such protests were suspended during the Haass process. (AQT 246/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I appreciate the question, but I am not quite sure how far I have a ministerial responsibility for it. As for the responsibility to ensure a more normal society, better opportunities for business, especially in Belfast city centre, and the chance to benefit from the five-party talks that Dr Haass is leading, I certainly believe that it would be beneficial for any protests, whether they are around Donegall Square or Twaddell Avenue, to be suspended immediately to allow this society to move on and to find a different way of dealing with the community problems with the past.

Alasdair McDonnell (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I very much thank the Minister, particularly if it is slightly off-centre of his responsibility. Nevertheless, we see him as having a major role in that regard. Does he agree that such protests are a big threat, as they were last year, to trade in Belfast city centre in the run-up to Christmas? All of us have a collective responsibility to do all we can to reduce that threat to retail trade.

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I certainly agree with Dr McDonnell on that point. I had a recent meeting with business representatives from the city centre. It is absolutely clear that there has been a major difficulty with business in Belfast city centre in recent months, way beyond the effects of the economic recession generally as it applies to other parts of Northern Ireland.

If there are further problems in the run-up to Christmas this year, it will be devastating for many businesses in Belfast city centre, and particularly for many services. It is possible that somebody may go back to a shop the next week if they are deterred from going to it one week, but they do not go back to the restaurant or pub the next week. It is clear that that has been very damaging. That is why we collectively have a responsibility to urge people to call off such protests and to ensure that we conduct our processes in this place or through the Haass talks.

Bronwyn McGahan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

7. asked the Minister of Justice to comment on the recent public disclosure that the British Ministry of Defence is unlawfully holding more than 66,000 files in a privately owned warehouse in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, many of which came from the British Army headquarters in the North of Ireland that was closed four years ago. (AQT 247/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I think, Deputy Speaker, that what is being done by a UK Department in England is far beyond the responsibility of the DOJ in Northern Ireland.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

The Member has the right to ask a supplementary question.

Bronwyn McGahan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat. Will the Minister agree that the fact that this was never disclosed to the PSNI 's Historical Enquiries Team and was never discovered by that team is cause for further concern about the lack of rigour and effectiveness of the HET in reviewing British Army killings? Will he agree to write to the British Ministry of Defence to ensure that those files are secured and not destroyed?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The key issue with that concerns the operational work done by the Historical Enquiries Team. I am not sighted on whether there were specific requests for information that were not forthcoming or on what the relationship may be between the HET or the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence. Therefore, I am not sure that I am in any position to give a specific comment there.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Mr Michael McGimpsey is not in his place.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

9. asked the Minister of Justice whether he is content with the procedures being put in place for the recruitment of new PSNI officers. (AQT 249/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Again, although I can appreciate that Mr Byrne wishes to ask the question, that is a matter for the PSNI and the Policing Board, not the Department of Justice. I have no reason to believe that the procedures are not proper.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I appreciate that the Minister has a limited role and function in this regard, but, given that he is the Minister of Justice, is it appropriate that he could be blindsided if there were any misdemeanours in relation to the recruitment process?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Again, the key role there rests with the Policing Board, not with the Department of Justice. If there are specific concerns that Mr Byrne or any other Member wishes to raise, I will happily have them raised, but I need to be careful that I do not interfere in the responsibilities of other Members who are on the board.

Robin Newton (DUP, Belfast East)

10. asked the Minister of Justice whether he agrees that it is absolutely necessary that the PSNI, in cases of child abuse, carry out extensive interviews until they believe that they have got to the full truth, regardless of the position that anyone might hold in society. (AQT 250/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Yes, I believe that the police have a duty to carry out their investigations as thoroughly as they need to in accordance with the legal advice that they are given on particular cases.

Robin Newton (DUP, Belfast East)

Will the Minister agree that there is significant concern around the case that involved the leader of Sinn Féin and a perception in the wider community that the interviews may not have been as rigorous as one might have expected?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I am not sure that I am a barometer for what the perceptions in wider society may be. That appears to be Mr Newton's request. All that I know is that I have no reason to believe that the police and the PPS did not carry out their duties properly in the case to which Mr Newton refers, as, I understand, they do as a general rule in other cases.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

That concludes topical questions to the Minister of Justice. We will now move on to the questions for oral answer.

Megan Fearon (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

1. asked the Minister of Justice whether he has held any meetings in conjunction with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the recent revelations about children in care. (AQO 4823/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

On 10 September, Edwin Poots and I jointly chaired a summit on child sexual exploitation at which key agencies were represented. That summit identified that much is already being done in and across Departments and the statutory and voluntary agencies to tackle issues of sexual violence and abuse, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Following the summit, Mr Poots and I attended a special joint meeting with the Health and Justice Committees on 16 September.

Following further engagement between us, on 25 September, it was announced that we had agreed to establish an expert-led independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation. The inquiry will be supported jointly by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland and will seek to assist in developing an effective regional response to sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland. Terms of reference will be agreed following the appointment of the independent chair. I have also engaged with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the review that the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland is to carry out.

Megan Fearon (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he agree that it is important for his Department to have an input to the terms of reference?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I agree that it is important that we should have an input into the terms of reference, and that is taking place. What we need to do first is establish the independent chair and then work with the chair on detailing the terms of reference in conjunction with the two Departments.

Fearghal McKinney (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I thank the Minister. Can he tell the House what, with regard to children in care, is the definition for recording purposes of "missing"?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I am afraid that I cannot answer that question. It might have to be referred to my ministerial colleague Mr Poots.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Will the Minister give a clear public statement that, in respect of children who are abused, whether in care or in institutions — indeed, regardless of where the abuse is taking place — anybody who knows about it must report it to the police immediately and there should never be any withholding of information of the type of abuse that we have witnessed?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I am happy to endorse the point that Mr Givan makes. I will widen it: anybody with any knowledge of any criminal activity has a duty to inform the police and to ensure that they assist in any way that they can in bringing the perpetrators to justice. That is nowhere more obvious than in some of the dreadful crimes that affect the welfare of children or, indeed, vulnerable adults.

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

Young people in care experience a higher level of grooming, but the problem also exists among vulnerable young people in our community. Will the Minister advise us whether the Minister of Education has engaged with him and the Minister of Health to ensure that the resilience of all our young people is reassessed so that those who would try to exploit them will be prevented from accessing and abusing them?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I certainly agree with Mr Beggs's point about the importance of ensuring that all young people are protected, not just those in the care system. The key issue there relates to the work being done by the Safeguarding Board, which, of course, comes under DHSSPS. I have not had direct engagement with the Minister of Education on the issue. At this stage, the engagement has been led by DOJ and DHSSPS.

Tom Elliott (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

2. asked the Minister of Justice to outline the process required to introduce the National Crime Agency legislative framework. (AQO 4824/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

To extend the remit of the National Crime Agency (NCA) into the devolved arena and to build in appropriate, local safeguards about its operation here, the Assembly's consent is required before secondary legislation can be made at Westminster. In practical terms, that would require me to consult the Justice Committee on a statutory operating model for the NCA and to secure the agreement of the Executive. The Crime and Courts Act 2013 provides the Home Secretary with order-making powers so that the NCA provisions can be fully extended to Northern Ireland, with the appropriate consent arrangements with the Assembly.

Tom Elliott (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for that answer. Will he confirm to us today that he will not permit so many concessions in the NCA legislative framework that it would have such diminished significance in Northern Ireland that it would not be of great importance to national security?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I appreciate the point that Mr Elliott seeks to make; indeed, he has made it in the Chamber before now. I am concerned to see that we get the NCA operating in a way that enables its full powers to be used against criminality and organised crime from a variety of sources in Northern Ireland, subject to the appropriate safeguards of the operating model here. I believe that we have made significant progress around that, and that has not involved diluting the powers of the NCA but has involved working around the accountability mechanisms. It is absolutely clear that we do not yet have the political agreement to enable us to make that progress, but I have not lost sight of being able to make that progress. My officials and I continue to engage with those in the House who at this stage are unable to agree the proposals as they stand. I certainly do not see any prospect of the kind of diminution that is spoken of by Mr Elliott.

Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Londonderry)

The Minister has been clear in spelling out the problems that are arising at the moment because we do not have the framework. Can he be equally clear about what the people of Northern Ireland are missing with the NCA not operating here and about the potential impact that it will have on the people of Northern Ireland if we do not have the full implementation of the National Crime Agency here?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Mr Campbell makes a good point, but he is almost asking me to define a negative. If we do not have full operational powers, the NCA will not be able to deliver the same assistance to the PSNI in the fight against organised crime as, until 7 October, we had from the Serious Organised Crime Agency. It will hamper a variety of crimes, including issues such as child exploitation and human trafficking, drug smuggling and fuel laundering. It will not necessarily mean that those activities cannot be carried out against such criminals, but it will mean that the PSNI has to devote resources that would otherwise be available from the NCA.

I suspect that there is a danger of a confusion of role, if members of various agencies are not sure exactly what the role of the NCA is in our current difficulties, and there will be a specific issue about being able only to use reserved powers for civil recovery. The NCA will not be able to use its powers of civil recovery in the devolved field. So, armed robbers and fuel launderers may well find that their assets cannot be seized as they currently stand. There will also be a problem that any claim made by the NCA for civil recovery for an issue here can be made only in the Northern Ireland High Court and cannot be replicated in London and Edinburgh under current restrictions. So, there are a number of restrictions, and, at this stage, we have the PSNI working to fill the gap as best it can and the engagement by my Department with other Members to see if we can get the arrangements fixed.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. Does the Minister agree that there is now an opportunity for him, as Minister of Justice, to introduce legislation that would tackle serious crime and make it very effective but, importantly, make it accountable?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I am not sure what legislation I could bring through in any meaningful timescale that would enable us to fix the current gap. Even if we were to seek to introduce a new Bill in this place and even if there were complete political agreement, there would be a significant gap to allow the consultation, the drafting and the processes of the House to be gone through, and I do not believe that we can wait for those processes to be gone through.

I believe that we have now got to the situation where the accountability mechanisms are in place to allow the NCA to operate in Northern Ireland subject to our normal policing architecture here, subject to the primacy of the PSNI and the specific lead role for the Chief Constable in approving actions by the NCA and subject to accountability to the ombudsman reporting to the Policing Board. All those are issues that, I believe, we already have, and I do not see any way in which there would be any benefit from legislating in this place.

Dolores Kelly (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Upper Bann)

As the Minister will be aware, we all want to see an effective and accountable NCA operating as soon as possible. Given the Minister's previous comments, will he give us some indication of progress on those points with the Home Secretary?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The issue has not been so much, as Mrs Kelly talks about, progress with the Home Secretary at this stage; progress with the Home Secretary was made several months ago and has been refined on a couple of occasions since. The issue now has to be to obtain progress with the two parties in this place that are not yet happy with the arrangements.

Sydney Anderson (DUP, Upper Bann)

3. asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the current level of terrorist activity, including the threat to the security forces and the general public, between now and Christmas. (AQO 4825/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

At the outset, I should say that terrorism is primarily a matter for the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable. I can advise, however, that the threat level in Northern Ireland remains at severe, which means that an attack is highly likely. There have been 14 attacks up to 14 October this year. Police officers, soldiers and prison officers remain the primary targets. It is clear, however, that the terrorists are not concerned about the safety of anyone. Unfortunately, we have also seen paramilitary groups executing their own perverse view of justice, with the callous and brutal murder of Kevin Kearney in north Belfast on 8 October. There is no place for that in our society, and I utterly condemn all such violent activity, including the appalling murder of Barry McCrory. I understand that the two men arrested last week in relation to an attack on a woman in east Belfast on 25 September have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Murderous attacks, assaults, shootings, victimisation and intimidation by any paramilitary organisation cannot be justified. Neither unionist nor nationalist terrorists can be allowed to thwart the progress that Northern Ireland has made. There is no doubt that there would be more attacks were it not for the success of the security forces in disrupting and preventing them. Having met both the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence in the past week, I can also attest to the high level of cross-border cooperation. While the efforts of security forces on both sides of the border have contained the level of activity and undoubtedly saved lives, that has not diminished the intent of these groups. Everyone in Northern Ireland must remain vigilant and report any information that they have either to the police or anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity.

Sydney Anderson (DUP, Upper Bann)

I thank the Minister for that answer. In light of what he has just said and given what has taken place, what further discussions will he have with the police and the NIO to deal with further disruption and terrorist activity in the lead-up to Christmas?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I have regular meetings with the Chief Constable and the Secretary of State to look at the issues of the interface between her responsibilities and mine in the justice field. However, the key issue must remain the support of the entire community for the work being done by the PSNI, extending to the provision of intelligence when people have any information that can assist the police and a robust standing together against those who would threaten us from whatever side.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

Can the Minister inform the House whether any of the guns or ammunition used in murders in the past four years have a history before 1998?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The answer is that I cannot inform the House of that position. I suspect that it is a matter for Forensic Science NI to carry out such investigations and report to the courts at an appropriate time.

Alban Maginness (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast North)

Given the obvious danger from terrorists, particularly dissident republicans, does the Minister agree that those who engage in demonstrations and public protests divert resources from the fight against terrorism?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

As Mr Maginness hints, it is clearly the case that, when police officers are required in large numbers to deal with public disorder and a variety of demonstrations, it diverts officers from carrying out other duties. I would not stop where he stopped in respect of his concern about the activities of dissident republicans: it is clear that dissident unionists are also carrying out similar attacks and seeking to impose their will on communities across Northern Ireland. We need to ensure that police officers are deployed against both.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I should have pointed out that questions 7 and 8 have been withdrawn.

Anna Lo (Alliance, Belfast South)

4. asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the need to retain flexibility in the justice system in the battle against human trafficking. (AQO 4826/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that has a devastating toll on its victims. I am committed to making sure that we have a robust and effective system in place in Northern Ireland to prevent people from being trafficked and exploited, to protect victims and to pursue through the courts those who perpetrate this crime. I accept that that involves reviewing law and procedure and promoting changes as necessary. For instance, Members will be aware of the new offences that I introduced under the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 and the progress that my Department is making against the human trafficking action plan. I agree with the Member that the approach requires flexibility.

Anna Lo (Alliance, Belfast South)

Keeping in mind the importance of flexibility, does the Minister share my concerns that some aspects of Lord Morrow's private Member's Bill may reduce flexibility and, therefore, could be counterproductive in our attempts to address human trafficking?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, it is no great secret that Lord Morrow and I have discussed aspects of the Bill, including those aspects which reduce flexibility around prosecution decisions, those around the automatic granting of immunity to victims and those around a mandatory minimum sentence. I have concerns about aspects of the Bill, but those are issues which I have discussed with Lord Morrow, which I suspect I will continue to discuss with Lord Morrow, and on which the Justice Committee, in particular, and the House, in general, will have an opportunity make up its mind.

Maurice (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

It is interesting to note that the question is more to do with Lord Morrow's Bill than with what the Minister is doing or not doing. Bearing in mind that the Minister has all the flexibility that he claims to need at present, we have had two convictions, to date. De facto, it is legal now. Does the Minister accept that what he has got is simply not working and that it is time for something better?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The fact that we can say that we have had only two convictions is clearly a matter of some concern, but we should also acknowledge that the number of cases which we believe we are talking about is very limited. If we looked merely at the conviction rates for some other offences, I am not sure whether we would say that we were being successful. They are there as a clear marker. The fact that we have had a guideline judgement with the case of Matyas Pis is an indication of how seriously the courts are taking cases.

However, as ever, I repeat the point that one of the key issues is that the police need information from members of the public; they need the public to report concerns that they have. If there are issues or matters that do not seem to be quite right, such as the number of people coming and going to houses, or people in a workplace who do not seem able to live their own life independently, they should be brought to the attention of the police. Ensuring that the community unites is the key issue.

Last week, I saw some very positive work in visits to Armagh college, Dromore High School and Regent House Grammar School. I have no doubt that many young people across society are learning the lessons and becoming aware, but we need to ensure that some older people become aware and report their concerns as well.

Rosaleen McCorley (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a chuid freagraí go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. Can he outline how many different types of human trafficking there have been since he came into office and the reasons for trafficking?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I can give the House the basic statistics, as they stand. Since the establishment of the national referral mechanism (NRM) in April 2009, until the start of October 2013, there were 104 referrals from Northern Ireland, of which 65 had positive decisions at the initial stage — the reasonable grounds stage — for acceptance into the national referral mechanism, and 37 positive decisions were made at the conclusive grounds stage. A number of cases are pending at both levels. It means that, so far, only 37 people have been accepted into the NRM in that period of something more than four years, which slightly predates my appointment as Minister.

It is absolutely clear that significant work is being done. Last week, I had a meeting, on a North/South basis, with the Minister of Justice and Equality and a number of relevant agencies. That was at a seminar dealing with trafficking there. I also attended the regular meeting of the interdepartmental ministerial group led by the Home Office but, on this occasion, chaired by the Prime Minister, and the meetings that I just mentioned, at which I engaged with one college and two schools. So, there is clearly a significant effort being directed against trafficking across all of the jurisdictions of these islands, but, fundamentally, those who carry out that work are statutory bodies, and they require the support of the community to do it.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

5. asked the Minister of Justice whether anyone seeking legal aid will be disadvantaged as a result of changes being brought forward. (AQO 4827/11-15)

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

The reforms currently published for public consultation in relation to legal aid would see the rates of remuneration for Crown Court work being reduced overall by 45% for solicitors and 30% for counsel. That would bring the fees paid in Northern Ireland into line with the fees paid in England and Wales. The reforms would also remove the higher guilty plea 2 fees, which could act as a disincentive to the entry of an early guilty plea, and introduce new fees to cover omissions in the rules. On the basis that this is an adjustment to the fees paid to lawyers working in Crown Court cases and does not affect anyone’s eligibility for legal aid, I am content that no applicant for legal aid will be disadvantaged.

The reforms being undertaken to civil legal aid will ensure that those who are eligible will continue to be provided with appropriate representation, paid for by the public purse. I have published proposals to introduce fixed fees for legal aid in civil cases, which will save £14 million annually — including £3 million in administration costs — and improve accountability. I have also proposed changes to legal aid funding for representation in civil cases, which will ensure that only the level of representation that is actually required is funded by legal aid. I am confident that those who are assisted by legal aid will continue to be able to obtain the level of representation that they need.

I have also published proposals to harmonise the financial eligibility tests for advice by way of representation and civil legal aid. Those proposals would deliver an estimated 8·2% reduction in eligibility for civil legal aid from 43·2% to 35% of the population. Although that will reduce the proportion of people in Northern Ireland who are eligible for legal aid, Members should note that in England and Wales only 28% of the population is eligible.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he guarantee that access to justice will not be compromised by any reform of legal aid?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I can certainly assure Mr Boylan that, as I have assured the House and the Committee for Justice before, it is my ambition to not take issues out of scope for legal aid unless an alternative and better method can be provided. However, there is no doubt that the financial challenges that we face are placing significant pressure, to the point that current expenditure on legal aid means that I am having to make cuts in other aspects of departmental expenditure in this year. That is an issue that needs to be addressed. The key issue is to ensure that we maintain, as far as possible, access to the legal advice that individuals need, without necessarily funding adversarial appearances in court.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

I understand that, at the weekend, the Minister announced to the Law Society that he intends to have a further review of access to justice. Will he give the Assembly some further information on exactly what that will entail?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I am glad that the Member referred to an announcement to the Law Society; I am not sure that all the members of the Law Society were entirely pleased with what they heard from me on Saturday morning, but that remains to be seen.

Following on from the access to justice review, which was carried out by Jim Daniell shortly after the devolution of justice powers, there are some issues that need to be further considered to underpin those reforms and to ensure that we continue to make the reforms to provide the best possible arrangements for legal aid and legal services across Northern Ireland. It is not something that will slow down the reform programme, because that cannot be slowed down.

We need to look at issues such as the possibility of making better use of advice agencies and alternative dispute resolution rather than, as I have just said, funding adversarial court appearances, and ensuring that we find better ways of resolving problems without always resorting to litigation in the first place. Those are the kinds of issues that I am hoping we will get some further work done on. I will make a formal statement to the Assembly at an appropriate stage.

Peter Weir (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for the responses that he has given so far. While there may not be a great deal of public sympathy for those who are at the higher end of the earnings scale in the legal profession, what consideration has he given to the impact that changes in legal aid will have on small solicitors' firms?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I appreciate Mr Weir's point but I am not sure that it is my job, as Minister of Justice, to ensure the maintenance of a specific model of the provision of legal services. I noted, for example, that in the president's speech to the Law Society dinner, he referred to a solicitor and named a specific small village in County Tyrone. I suspect that most people in that village travel to the district town in order to get their groceries, and I am not sure that they can necessarily expect that there will be a one-man solicitor's practice in all cases in every village, even though they might wish it.

I want to see that people get access to advice. I am afraid that it is not my responsibility to ensure that the current model continues to be there. I wish to see that the current model of solicitors' firms across Northern Ireland continues in operation so that people have those opportunities, but it simply cannot be assumed that it will be maintained without change, as other services are changed.

Patsy McGlone (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Mid Ulster)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Has the Minister been made aware of the concerns of many solicitors that the proposed cuts to the legal aid budget will reduce or minimise access to proper legal services for many people right across the North who are at the lower end of the income bracket and will, in fact, have a negative effect on society as a whole?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I have to say to Mr McGlone and others that I am not in the process of reducing the budget for legal aid. I am reducing expenditure to get it down to the level of the budget; that is the fundamental challenge. Expenditure on legal aid has been running in the region of £100 million against a budget of £75 million every year since just before devolution. That position cannot continue.

On the issue of access, I repeat the point that I made in my original answer. Some 35% of the population of Northern Ireland will still be eligible for legal aid, as opposed to 28% in England and Wales, which is the nearest comparable jurisdiction. I believe that that is a significant statement of our desire to protect our people.

Fra McCann (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

6. asked the Minister of Justice for an update on any discussions he has had with the Chief Constable regarding the ongoing breaches of the Parades Commission's determination of the protest at Twaddell Avenue. (AQO 4828/11-15)

Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ceist uimhir a sé. Question 5.

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I will happily answer question 6 for Mr McCann [Laughter.] Although, naturally, I have had general discussions with the police, I have not discussed specific policing decisions. That is because the policing of individual parades, protests and related disorder is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. As such, his accountability rests with the Policing Board. I have had no discussions with him regarding the ongoing breaches of the Parades Commission’s determinations in respect of the protest at Twaddell Avenue.

I want to take this opportunity to highlight my concern at the recent call to increase protests, including the threat of civil disobedience. I encourage all those with influence to consider an alternative way forward to bring about a peaceful conclusion to the issue. It is vital that they show leadership and work with their communities and the police to ease tensions where they exist.

Fra McCann (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Minister for his correction. I was daydreaming. Will the Minister join with me in calling for everyone, including certain Members of the Assembly, to desist from further political confrontation with the PSNI on the streets of Belfast and to uphold the rule of law in keeping with the determination of the Parades Commission?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

I will happily repeat my comments in answer to Dr McDonnell's topical question. I believe that we all have a responsibility to encourage people to obey the law, to desist from confrontational activity and to ensure that we do not continue with the current £60,000-a-night expenditure on policing Twaddell Avenue and Ardoyne. That is unnecessary and has significant opportunity costs compared with the use of those officers in normal policing duties. As I said, I hope that we will see a reduction in tension around the city centre, Woodvale and Ardoyne.

Jo-Anne Dobson (UUP, Upper Bann)

Will the Minister give an assessment on the impact on community relations of the unveiling of a plaque to Shankill bomber Thomas Begley yesterday?

David Ford (Alliance, South Antrim)

Although I do my best to answer questions, an assessment of community relations lies with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and not with me. However, even in the context of what happened yesterday, it is clear that there was public disorder that had a policing cost.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Questions 10 and 13 have been withdrawn. We begin with topical questions.

Jonathan Craig (DUP, Lagan Valley)

1. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline what additional support is planned this year for the sporting organisations in Lisburn, given that, as she will well know, Lisburn was awarded the accolade of European city of sport this year, and we are rightfully proud of all its sporting organisations. (AQT 251/11-15)

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. A bid process will see the City of Lisburn Racquets Club receive additional money. Additional money has also been allocated to Salto Gymnastics Club through the governing body for gymnastics. I have had approaches and will certainly look at opportunities around soccer, boxing and other sports.

Attracting the Chinese male gymnastics team, which is ranked first in the world, to Lisburn was no mean feat. I have absolutely no doubt that Lisburn will be banking on that in order to attract additional investment in the future.

Jonathan Craig (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Minister for that answer. It is recognised that Salto pulled off one of the key achievements from the Olympic Games in getting the Chinese gymnasts there. Unfortunately, Salto is a victim of its own success. It is bursting at the seams and has plans to develop that facility further. Will the Minister and her Department support that extension, which will benefit all the people of Northern Ireland, further than Lisburn itself?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

The Member is right in saying that the facilities at Salto are an exemplar across the island when it comes to gymnastics. I am happy to meet representatives of the Salto gym with the Member, members of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Sport NI to look at the potential expansion of the facilities at Salto. As yet, there has not been a request to do that, but I anticipate one. I have been at the gym on several occasions; it was flagged up to me that it has a waiting list that it cannot facilitate, and it is not happy to be in that situation. However, I am happy to meet the Member and a delegation from the gym to see what we can do.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

At the beginning, I informed Members that questions 10 and 13 had been withdrawn. That refers to the oral questions. Topical question 6 has been withdrawn.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

2. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether she can confirm that the City of Culture legacy plan will be brought forward this year and further confirm that Derry City Football Club will be included in the IFA subregional stadium development plan. (AQT 252/11-15)

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

There is certainly a theme of local politics emerging in topical questions. I appreciate that all politics is local.

We were very successful in securing an additional £2 million, as part of the monitoring round, for the City of Culture's legacy fund. That is important, particularly when you are looking at the legacy, and there has been much in the media about the legacy. However, our focus — the entire Executive, through the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) — has always been on addressing opportunities, and there is no better opportunity than tackling poverty and social exclusion. I am happy that that will happen. The other facilities — the Brandywell, the Showgrounds and the rest as part of that legacy — will be included in that. We are working with the council on the production of a robust legacy plan, and we will bring our own in addition to that. I have no doubt that, right up to the last minute, I will hear from the people of the city and the surrounding communities about what they would like to see the money invested in.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I call Mr McCartney for a supplementary, and I encourage the Member to ask one question only.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Well spotted, a LeasCheann Comhairle.

I thank the Minister for her answer. I will ask her one question. We heard this morning, and the Minister alluded to it, that the Executive have, through DCAL, ring-fenced £2 million for the legacy process. Can she confirm today how that will be used and, in particular, how it will advance the Brandywell and the Foyle valley master plan?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

With not just the £2 million from DCAL but the £3 million from Derry City Council, a quare dent — as we say in Belfast — will certainly be put into the Foyle valley master plan and help to address one of the legacy projects that has been flagged up in the city. It is really important to use opportunities through sport and physical activity, through the arts, through community development, through health, and through social development and the rest to make sure that we leave a good footprint. I believe that the Foyle valley project is one of those. I look forward to seeing how it rolls out.

David Hilditch (DUP, East Antrim)

3. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether she believes there was good uptake for the tranche of funding that was available for local boxing clubs, for which the deadline has recently passed. (AQT 253/11-15)

Following a great weekend for boxing in Northern Ireland, Belfast in particular, I am sure that the Minister will congratulate Carl Frampton as he heads on to greater things.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

First, I concur with the Member's statement on Carl Frampton, and that goes for all the other boxers who succeeded at the weekend. I believe that the wins that they achieved and the support that they got from right across the community was probably unprecedented. Many other sports can learn from that.

There was huge uptake. I do not have the figures with me, but it will come as no surprise to the Member that the demand far outweighs our funds, so we need to look at ways to support that. Certainly, the uptake has been huge. As the Member — and other Members who, I am sure, will raise the issue today — will know, the state of facilities in boxing clubs are probably the worst across sport.

We aim to ensure not only that we invest and that facilities are fit for purpose, but that all other Departments and bodies have an opportunity to contribute. That includes local government. Some councils have done great work. Other councils have expressed an interest. I am keen to ensure that that deadline is not a cut-off for boxing forever. We need to see what money we have to try to meet the need.

David Hilditch (DUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for her answer. Now that the deadline has passed and we are in a period of assessment, when does the Minister expect to see delivery on the ground?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Certainly, most clubs, if not all, have received certain minor capital for equipment, such as head guards and bags. I anticipate that, by December 2015, not only will a lot of the technical assessment for capital needs have commenced and be well under way, but some will be nearing completion. I am still hopeful that, even at this late stage, where city councils have boxing clubs in their areas, they will also help them, maybe contribute some funding and look at a better way to deliver some of those much-needed facilities.

Pat Ramsey (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

4. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline what process she would envisage that would allow sporting clubs outside the three main sporting bodies to, on a subregional basis, take advantage of modernisation and improvement programmes. (AQT 254/11-15)

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Certainly, as the Member will be aware, the IFA has subregional facilities. It is in the process of looking at a facilities development plan. That will be completed and presented to me. Based on what is there, I will make a final decision at the end. It is really important to ensure that local clubs, be they small or big, have themselves in a state of readiness. As the Member will also be aware, not everybody who puts a plan forward will get funding.

Pat Ramsey (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

I thank the Minister for her response. Can she give the House the fullest assurance that Derry City Football Club will not be disadvantaged by playing in the League of Ireland and that it will become part of a funding stream in the current comprehensive spending review period?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I know that the Member is aware of the response that I gave to his Foyle colleague Raymond McCartney, which is that we have already submitted £2 million towards Daisyfield and the Showgrounds as part of the overall Foyle valley programme. Derry City Football Club, along with many other football clubs, has met and will continue to meet the IFA to ensure that its facilities are certainly on the list for approval.

Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

5. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to confirm that the NI Events Company investigation is complete, to state when the findings will be published and to clarify whether the Department intends to reinstate any of the events. (AQT 255/11-15)

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

The Member will be aware that the Events Company was transferred to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in April 2010. A report is being compiled on the findings of that investigation. Basically, as far as I am concerned, the Events Company has been transferred to DETI along with the Tourist Board. There are events here that we need to look at collectively in the Executive. There is no better example than 2013 of what we can do to hold events on a world stage. I want to see the conclusion of the investigation and the publication of the report.

Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. Can the Minister assure me that those events will happen right across the North rather than just in the two main cities?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Given the impact that the events have on tourism and, indeed, the local economy, a lot of people are concerned that areas outside Belfast and Derry city may not be given an opportunity to host them. I would say to those people that there is absolutely nothing to stop them bringing forward projects now. I would like to see the report published to make sure that the lessons that need to be learned are learned and that we bring forward collectively those opportunities that need to be progressed in that way.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

As pointed out at the beginning, question 6 has been withdrawn. Mr Declan McAleer is not in his place. Mr Alex Attwood is not in his place. Mr Daithí McKay is not in his place. Mr Ian McCrea is in his place.

Ian McCrea (DUP, Mid Ulster)

I was not expecting that.

Ian McCrea (DUP, Mid Ulster)

10. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether she is aware that the Northern Ireland pipe band scene has had very good results during this piping season and to comment on how that success could be maintained next season. (AQT 260/11-15)

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I am delighted that the Member was in his place, because he asked a very valid question about pipe bands. Some of the pipe bands that I visited and witnessed this year have enjoyed a lot of success, and rightly so, because that has not come without a lot of hard work. I have no doubt that that success will continue next year and that DCAL, the Arts Council and the Ulster-Scots Agency will play their parts in ensuring that that success is realised.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

That concludes the —. My apologies, Ian. You have a supplementary question to ask. It is the least that we could do.

Ian McCrea (DUP, Mid Ulster)

I think so. Will the Minister join me in congratulating a young fella called Matthew Wenlock who became the under-16 world champion at — if I get this correct — the world solo drumming championships at the weekend?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Of course I will join you in congratulating him. Such competitions are an opportunity for people not just to compete but to excel and to try to improve their skills and move from one category to another. I admire anybody who plays a musical instrument, regardless of whether they are in a pipe band, a marching band, a pop band or a traditional band. It is absolutely no mean feat. So, I extend my congratulations to Matthew, and I hope that he and others succeed next year.