03/07/2012 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to the final Stormont Today of this session, as

MLAs take a break from the stresses and strains of life on the hill.

But before hitting the beaches ,they had plenty of business to do.

The finance minister has been addressing the crisis at the Ulster

Bank. They're talking about next week though they wouldn't say the

beginning or the middle of the week, simply that they hoped and it was

that they hoped to have it resolved by next week. With the holidays

about to start, has the culture minister given away her dream

destination? I think it's important the people like me from Belfast get

on the bus, which leaves Belfast every half hour, and go to Derry

because it has a lot to offer. look back at the year in higher

education Gerry Campbell from It's the end of term at Stormont

and while members will get some time off, one minister has had a

bit of a reprieve. The Department of Employment and Learning was due

to be scrapped over the summer, but it's unclear now what's going to

happen. So is it worth saving? With me, Gerry Campbell from the

umbrella group Colleges NI. Is it worth saving? Department of

employment an learning has been supportive of colleges across the

last 14 months that the minister has been in post. In terms of the

decision the executive made in January in terms of abolishing them,

we had asked that time be take ton look at the decision to be made and

take some views on board of various stake holders of where the

functions will transfer to. I'm pleased to say the members of the

executive have take than on board and have listed to my sector and

the various colleges who put forward reviews, along with other

key stake holders in terms of the CBI, the Federation of Small

Businesses, the Institute of Directors and a range of business

organisations and employers, who have said that there is a strong

role that colleges have to play in supporting economic development and

in helping to create jobs and innovation and entrepreneurship in

the economy. It's important then to look at the role that the colleges

play within a new sector and the sector colleges NI and the sector

have come out strongly to support moving to a new department of the

economy or a defpt similar to what Derry exists at the moment. Has the

uncertainty affected your sector? It's been business as usual ats the

moment. Colleges have continued to deliver at the moment. However,

we're now at a stage where a decision needs to be made sooner

rather than later in terms of what department or the functions will

transfer across to. The dainker is moving over the summer recess and

moving into the Autumn, is that there becomes uncertainty that

leads to difficulties within the sector. The sector employers,

students, learners all stake holders need to know where the

sector will move across. In the intervening period since the

announcement was made, the sector and colleges have made great

strides to engage with employers, students and lecturing staff,

engage with the Assembly committee and other political parties and a

wide range of stake holders. It's fair to say they've listened to our

reviews. We hope they would take that on board in terms of the final

decision to be made. Staying at employment and learning minister

Stephen Farry should have been facing his last Q&A session as

we've explained. We'll hear from him shortly, but first up today was

Caral Ni Chuillin and a question on the city of culture. Cot minister

outline the benefits of this funding for not just Londonderry,

but the whole of the North West? Absolutely and I thank the member

for that question. It is accepted that that region has been

underfunded for decades. Certainly in terms of the economy, it will

help generate the local economy, help provide employment and the

development of skills which will hopefully make local people

employable. It will be on the culture, when the culture, City of

Culture finishes. As well as that, you've got hotel beds, restaurants,

local companies involved in design and production and indeed, you've

also got tourism, transport, local transport as well as that. And

that's just the economic, you know, there's estimated well over 30

million euro has been spent. Goes from 30 million to beyond. You have

the annual convention as well, which will bring substantial amount,

the social legacy that will leave also is very important. Again, it

will help build and develop good relations from the people across

the city, but indeed across the North West region. It will feed

into the border counties in surrounding areas as well. I think

it's only but good. Certainly the executive's contribution to this is

quite substantial. I understand that the Culture

Company is still to secure �7.75 million for marketing and

programming. They hope to secure part of this through sponsorship.

If this is not secured, does Decal plan to make up the short fall? If

so, would the minister give assurance that further funding

required would not be as a result of a further pillaging of the

Ulster Scots museum budget? I'll take the last point first. The

budgets weren't pillaged. When people don't spend their money it

gets brought back into central fund. It is a disgrace that they didn't

spend their money. If that continues to happen, I'm going to

make future arrangements for that because that can't happen at all.

Will the minister agree with ewith -- with me that not only will this

have a great impact on employability but a longer laster

effect with cultural legacy? I do. I thank the member for his question

and the legacy is one of the important issues for the executive.

I suppose in response, the -- to the question raised, economic

legacy will bring investment to a part of the north, which has been

deprived of investment for decades. It will also bring local employment,

and employability skills, above and beyond, it will actually put a part

of the north, which has a brilliant cultural hub any way, it will help

promote that, but leave a richer and greater legacy. It is crucial,

even the one-day concert, which had something like 8,000 to 10,000

people attending, all of which attended and spent money, not all

of which were from the city of Derry. It's important that people

like me from Belfast get on the bus, which leaves every half hour, and

go to Derry because it has a lot to offer. Onto employment and learning

and does an Irish passport guarantee free tuition in Scotland

or not? Here's Stephen Farry. understand that some Northern

Ireland domiciled students are applying to Scottish universities

as European Union members. I understand it's too early in the

application cycle to say whether there will be issue for places for

such students. As this is a matter for the relevant Scottish

authorities, Northern Ireland domiciled students who hold non-UK,

European Union nationality are advised to contact the Scottish

higher education institution where they intend to study and the

students awards agency for Scotland to clarify their fee status and

eljablt for tuition fee support. thank the minister for his answer

and appreciate that in many ways these decisions are taken by the

Scottish Executive. But it does leave a lot of Northern Ireland-

based or Northern Ireland originating students in a degree of

limbo through a lack of certainty. Account minister give any

indication has the Scottish Executive given an indication as to

the time scale for a difintive answer as to how their applications

will be treated? I think this is an important issue. I certainly want

to give as much clarity as I possibly can from the Northern

Ireland's perspective. But ultimately, the best and I think

the only real advice that we can give to students is that they, on

an individual basis, need to talk to both the Scottish awards agency

and also the institution to which they are applying. I think there's

a danger in anyone drawing generalities from this or coming to

any assumptions regarding their personal circumstances that may

flow from what has happened with somebody else. Of course, this

situation has arisen from the fact that the Scottish authorities have

taken their own particular decisions around free tuition for

Scottish-based students. We have done something similar in Northern

Ireland with our freeze on tuition fees. This is an aspect in terms of

what happens under devolution, decisions that both have taken are

done with the best of reasons. There are anomalies that may arise

and distortions to student flows. We have to take actions to mitigate

those. I do understand that the Scottish authorities are looking at

various means by which they can address this situation and that

there may be discussions in the near future between officials from

the devolves regions and the department of business and

innovation and skills in London in the veneer future. One of the main

criticisms of this year's Stormont session has been a lack of

legislation. First thing this morning the junior minister

outlined a plan to introduce 26 bills next year. He made a point of

answering the Assembly's critics. Members will know that a bill is

the culmination of a lengthy process of policy development,

public consultation and expert technical drafting. Insofar as it

places duties and obligations on government, specific bodies or

private individuals, it must both be necessary and fit for purpose. I

think I can confidently speak for the executive when I say it does

not intend to promote large amounts of hasty and ill-thought out

legislation, nor to overregulate society for the sake of generating

activity. It is that which would be abysmal, not a failure to meet

notional numerical targets. I'd also suggest that a customary

extension sought by committees for the scrutiny of bills indicate that

they share the executive view that legislation is too important an

issue to rush, other than in compelling circumstances. None of

this is in any way to deny the central role that legislation must

play in what is, after all, a legislative Assembly. But that

wasn't good enough to satisfy the Assembly's harshest critic.

months in office before it produces a tentative legislative programme.

I can begin to see now why this executive will need every one of

the 161 staff and press officers to spin this as achievement. But could

I comment on the total absence of any subStantive measures to deal

with the bloated nature and size of Government. And is it the case that

even the one step in relation to Dale is now stalled in. An answer,

six weeks ago, the minister's department said legislation would

be interdeuced by July. Now we don't even have a commitment the

legislation, we have some form of words which says that ministers

will confirm their legislative intentions. Is there still an

intention to abolish Dale? If so when? That's been to the executive?

And can I finally reassure the minister his department is in no

danger of falling into rushed legislation, because so far, it's

been nil on quantity and nil on quality.

Let's hear from the minister This is still under consideration

and this is a very important decision for Northern Ireland. My

Department is a major economic department and it is a top priority

for the Assembly and we have to ensure that whatever read to, we

protect the important economic drivers around skills and we have a

coherent agenda that brings together sticky players, and

employers, on to one roof to move ahead in a coherent manner. -- on

the one roof. Jim Allister does not see this as a key department.

the past year, a lot has come through my department and we

announced a major scheme to address youth unemployment in Northern

Ireland and measures to address the needs and we have had a freeze on

tuition fees and a major departure from the rest of the UK and

devolution inaction and we have published a higher education

strategy and the skills strategy. We are doing a lot across a broad

range of activities to invest in the skills of the workforce and

create job opportunities. It is difficult, there has been

discussion that we are focusing too much and youth unemployment and

should be looking at the parents and keeping them in jobs to set a

good example? Unemployment is an issue across the board and we have

to address everybody's needs and we have programmes and place but

almost one third of unemployment falls within a very narrow six-year

gap between 18 and 24 or and in many cases many people who have

education and training but lack employable skills and that is the

intervention we're trying to achieve. We are trying to produce a

Budget that will be on a greater skill -- scale and comparative

schemes in the UK and we will invest in new measures to address

the needs and these are major achievements. Some people argue

that instead of these science and technology subjects, we are

training to many people because there are jobs at the other end?

have a report on the future skills needs of the economy and that has

shown that we will need more high- level skills and within that, more

people studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics and I

have completed a working group with an action plan for that sector and

there is a good footprint in ICT and the indications that there are

shortages and we cannot squander the opportunities by not investing

in the right skills. Corporation Tax is as far away as

ever. Gerry Campbell, do you think the department has done enough,

particularly for you sector? Over the last 14 months the Minister has

been a great supporter of the colleges and the work they do and I

think not only the department but the executive is to really

recognise the important role that colleges play as a linchpin in

delivering the programme for government and economic strategy.

Colleges are an important link between post-primary education

through to university and employment and the challenge that

we have ahead of us as a society is to win sure that we not only tackle

properly the needs issue for people between 18 and 24 but also to look

at adults who need to retrain and also this who are currently

unemployed to give them the opportunity to go back into

employment. There are challenges ahead if the Corporation Tax comes

on board and they need a requirement for the minister's

department to continue investment in colleges and in the right levels

golf professional, technical, vocational education and to make

sure the department works with other colleagues, particularly

education, to ensure that young people at the ages of 14 - 16 are

given the opportunity to make the right choices at that time. Are you

not concerned that in the Department of the economy, you will

get lost and not have the focus that you have now? Nor, we are the

key drivers for the economic strategy and with key links to

ensure that employers get the right levels of skills within colleges.

These are the key constituents in the charming be economically

relevant curriculum. The idea about getting people moving through post-

primary education, through university, and people will go

through apprenticeships, with 100 jobs and 100 days, so there is work

that colleges do. We will leave it there. The Finance Minister had

meetings with senior figures from RDS on the Ulster Bank over the

ongoing crisis which has left tens of thousands with little or no

access to their own money. In his third week and with little sign of

any resolution, the Minister had measured criticism for the

organisation. The one point that I made to Sir Philip yesterday was

that I believed the bank had probably done themselves sun damage

as well as raising problems for individuals by this drip-feed. It

will be fixed by Monday, Friday, next week. It would be better if

they had been up front and said this would be three weeks. I must

say, even after the conversation with Sir Philip, I am still not

clear as to win the problem will be sorted. It cannot be sorted this

week. They have made that clear. They're talking about next week,

although they would not say if it was the beginning or the middle of

the week. They hoped to have it resolved by next week. All of the

jumping up and down by the Finance Minister here and the Assembly, and

the intervention by the Chancellor or the Finance Minister in the

Republic, none of that will resolve what is basically a tactical issue

but I can only take the assurances that Ulster Bank and RDS have given

me. The reason for the sequencing is nothing to do with priority is

as far as who the most important customers are or what is the most

important market. The system failed in a certain way and then a certain

sequence and had to be repaired in a certain way. Since Ulster Bank

were at the end of that sequence, the They'll be the last to be dealt

with. Because of that, there is a bigger backlog of transactions that

has built up. Housing Executive is feeling talents and tax payers.

That is what the Social Development Bannister told the Assembly area.

Nelson McCausland men a statement following a report into multi-

million-pound maintenance contracts. He said he would introduce special

measures but warned that more radical change could be on the way.

On taking up the post, I expressed my concerns about the issue of

contract management, both on the briefing of the Government review

findings and under mentation and on the issues leading to the

termination of the Red Sky contract in 20th July 11. I wrote to the

chair of the executive board asking for assurance that they haven't

place robust and focused contract monitoring arrangements for all

contracts. I was assured that the monitoring arrangements for

response maintenance contracts were indeed very thorough. However, in

light of my continued concerns about the issues which led to the

termination of the Red Sky contract by the Housing Executive, that

might be present and other contracts which had not been the

subject of an a full investigation. It I asked that a forensic

investigation was carried out of a sample of Housing Executive

maintenance contracts to provide me with assurances in relation to the

other contracts, the quality of services to tenants and the proper

use of public funding. I have received, on 29th June, the draft

report in relation to the forensic investigation that I commissioned.

As this was on the receipt in the last few days, by officials need

time to consider this in detail. Nevertheless, I am very concerned

that the findings of the evidence clearly demonstrate that there are

considerable issues in relation to the Housing Executive's management

of Response maintenance contracts. I will be copying this report to

the Housing Executive for comment and will ask what they consider the

issues raised and respond to me by mid- August. I believe that a

Northern Ireland Housing Executive has failed to date to demonstrate

the required response to the known shortfalls and contract management,

either in a manner which recognises the importance and significance of

these issues, or which demonstrates an unequivocal demonstration to

address these matters with the necessary pace and urgency. Hyphae

that tenants and the tax payer are not getting the quality of service

that they have the right to. I do believe that there has been a

culture within the agencies and perhaps other departments that are

responsible we never seemed to lie with anyone and I want to assure

the Minister that whenever these reports are being worked through,

the responsibility right through from the agency and into the

apartment if need be, that we get to the bottom of that

responsibility. We're getting to the 0.4 we can see the overall

picture. -- to the point where we can see. We need to see how that

revealed within the Housing Executive for such a number of

years. I will want to know how that happened and we need to get to the

bottom of this and we need to see were the responsibility lies and I

will pursue that to the very opposite of my ability. This

Stormont a suitable place for children? MLAs thinks so. They want

to make it easier for school groups to come and visit. The issue was

raised to the Assembly commission. Would he consider through the

commission liaising with the Department of Education to ensure

that funding is made available to allow schools to get access to

Stormont? I thank the number for his supplementary and sometimes I

think that he is more parochial than I am, he mentions that also

quite a bit around you. The figures for Mid Ulster, incidentally, are

23 inward visits from your constituency with 711 participants.

That is in the last year. There were to agree to visits involving

126 per to some of its and obviously the Assembly benefits

from the enthusiasm of the individual member, such as Mr McRae,

who is enthusiastic about the service. There is a travel subsidy

available to visiting groups and within the commission, I am sure

you will appreciate that there is an atmosphere of diminishing

budgets. Having said that, it is a good idea that you should contact

and be in dialogue with the Department of Education about ways

and means of encouraging more and more schools to take up this

invitation and an informed at 95% of the school's have taken up the

education service in either of the direct way of coming here are

receiving them in their individual schools but that does leave 5% and

the Assembly commission is looking that -- looking at that. Those

schools that have not engaged, we want to look at that.

Environment Minister told the chamber today about plans for a

one-off payment to councillors who are leaving after decades of

service. As Mark Devenport told me, it is part of a plan to reduce the

number of councils from 26 to 11 councils. This is part of the local

council shake-up and that has been complicated. They will streamlined

best down to 11 and they expect some other veterans who have been

sitting through the years of the Troubles to buy out at this stage

and some of them say, well, after so many years, we deserve a pay-off.

Payments to politicians are always pretty controversial and I detected

some nervousness on the part of the Minister, Alex Attwood, about all

this but he did justify the play- offs in the following terms. There

will be some criticism about pay- offs to politicians and many people

would regard this in terms of recognition for unsung heroes.

says that what he is proposing is going to be less generous than what

had been previously envisaged in 2009 when people talked about a

scheme costing more than �4 million. He was unable to come up with any

overall cost, that depends on how many councillors and feel of the

scheme but he says these payments will be capped. At no more than

�30,000 for the longest serving. And to the MLAs and the TD's, we

have information today about this Inter-Parliamentary for them.

would ahead of the game because Martin McGuinness told you on the

Sunday politics that this was going to go ahead. Maybe some pay back

from Sinn Fein who have been keen on this for long. They made that

move with the Queen and we have some kind of agreement about to be

announced. There will be a meeting tomorrow involving Willie Hay and

his counterpart in Dublin and we would expect them at that meeting

to come out and give us a date for the North-South parliamentary forum

which in the olden days would have been rejected by Unionists as an

embryonic All-Ireland Parliament but nowadays there seemed prepared

to go along with this because in the new spirit, this is all about

practical co-operation. A final word, in terms of the recession,

high army being affected? Come Lodges are working with efficiency

savings and they have been giving efficiency saving go for the last

five years for -- over the last five years. Colleges are continuing

to deliver the same mind if not more to students but within this

diminishing budget. -- same amount. That challenge is maintaining that