13/12/2011 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to the final Stormont Today of 2011. Christmas

is in the air and winter has got a grip, with polar winds and ripping

around Parliament Buildings, but it is business as usual in the chamber,

and the Compton Report on health is published and the minister's

message is clear. I say to them, read the review report. It paints a

compelling picture of the need to reform. And the dark side of

Christmas - members call for greater protection from pay-day

loan companies. These rates represent extortion to say the

least. Whether they are illegal or suffer from a lack of regulation,

they are in scrupulous. With me tonight, Jo Black from the

Citizens' Advice Bureau. Also tonight, what does an MLA one

for Christmas? May be a couple of tickets for Westlife's farewell to

a. And iPad. By at least start tonight with the

publication of today's review into the health service, and the Compton

review may not be the first of its kind but unlike some of its

predecessors this one will not be left on the shelf, according to

Edwin Poots, the Health Minister, who unveiled details of the review

to the assembly today. The panel made 99 recommendations, and just

before the Minister began his statement, the fact that members

had only just received the document was raised in the chamber. Members

only received this 150 page document at 5-ten this morning. How

can this house have an intelligent, informed discussion about these

important matters, given the paucity of notice? I am just

dealing with that point. Because I have respect for this house, this

has received its first as opposed to someone leaking it for the media.

The purpose of the review was to examine the future provision of

services including our acute hospital Configuration, the

provision of primary social care, and there were very real concerns

that on that system was not sustainable to continue to meet the

priorities, with the consequences for patient care and safety. My

intention was to set a new reform agenda, to give us more momentum

towards my vision and priorities for social care services for

Northern Ireland. If the need for change was not clear before the

report, I say, read the review report. It paints a compelling

picture of the need to reform. We have ten acute hospitals in

Northern Ireland, serving a population of 1.8 million. This

contrast with other areas of the UK with some of popular -- populations.

Our in it must be the provision of resilient, sustainable and saved

services. It is in that strategic context that the review envisages

by 2016, 2017, the model of acute hospitals for Northern Ireland

would reconfigured to a more appropriate scale. It is only

likely to be possible to provide sustainable, resilient and acute

services on 5-7 sides. But may well prove to be the case, I cannot say

at this stage. Our services need to adapt to the ageing population, to

ensure that we can provide an appropriate level of services in

the future. It is not surprising that a significant section of the

report is devoted to improving services for older people, and for

those with long-term conditions. The report highlights that home

should be the highlight -- harbour of care for older people. Can ask

the Minister, he has mentioned the cost when you go to change anything,

it is bought at 25 million. Does he have that money within his current

budget to meet those extra costs, or will he be seeking money from to

fund that? Is the first place I will be seeking funding from the

DFB. It it is not forthcoming, we need to then find the money within

the system. Could the Minister assure this assembly that funding

will follow those most abominable in our society? Maybe it I had less

noise and a bit more listening, it would help the member. We are

looking at shifting �80 million from the hospital sector to the

community sector, so how clear red can we be. It is all in the

statement. I welcome the Minister's statement and my long awaited

opportunity to ask a question on it. Let me assure the House of my

party's unwavering commitment to the health service and our need to

improve it. I would like to ask the Minister, what are the implications

of this review for staff and staffing numbers, right across the

sector, that is including those caring in the community? Let us not

raised unnecessary concerns. We will manage those situations, and

will not be introducing a vast array of compulsory redundancies in

Northern Ireland as a consequence of this report.

So is the writing on the wall for some of our acute hospitals? I am

joined by the chair of Health Committee, Michelle Gildernew.

Edwin Poots talked about this vast sum of money, �83 million being

moved from the hospital sector into the community. Ali confident that

if all that and sick people are cared for more often in their homes,

but the services will be there to look after them properly? I hope

they will, and we have heard during the day that people are willing to

look at a better model of delivering care, and it is

certainly very clear that GPs will have an enhanced role, and they

need to have the resources to go with that. I would also welcome

more of the focus on community and primary care, and the emphasis on

prevention, and I welcome the North -- but I have concerns, and when we

have got time to digest the document and maybe dig into the

detail behind the document, for example we have the situation

whereby Minister has told us about the road map for the future and

about how at the 17 integrated care Partnerships will be able to

achieve sign-off. What does that mean? That is what we will be

asking the minister? If they can be a veto threat that process. So

approval needs to be sought. But I will be asking the minister

tomorrow who is going to be on the clinical Forum, and where others

people going to be from, and what is their role and how much power do

they have? We could have a situation whereby there is a local

plan worked out, and as that goes further up the line, that is vetoed.

So I would be concerned about the detail behind the document, probing

into what is not in the document, and I suppose I am trying hard not

to be cynical. Formal consultation - Mac no formal consultation - is

that a concern at all viewers? did press on the need for

consultation, and we thought that because there was so much Prix

consultation done, I would encourage people to download the

document if you have broadband provision at home. But to have a

look at the document and to send your thoughts to the minister on it,

because I think that when people get the chance to study it properly

there will be things that concerned them. It is important that we as

the health committee are able to scrutinise the department and John

Compton in this document. Is there a role city divided, that will

appear with the loss of any services and surgery in some of the

acute hospitals? Again, nothing is named in the report, it is careful

in that, that you have to be between the lines to see what is

being said. So he has left that as a political decision, rather than

the review team making the decision which hospitals have an X beside

them? We know that some times the decision is taken out of the hands

of the local minister, so there could be times when there will

college says that that service is not sustainable. So there are ways

and means of deciding that a hospital should close without

actually taking the political decision yourself. Thank you for

joining us tonight. Legalised extortion was how one MLA

described so-called pay-day loans today. Customers can face extremely

high interest rates if they do not repay the money within the time

agreed, and the number of companies offering the loans appears to be

increasing. MLAs are calling for the Government in London to

introduce tighter regulations in the industry. Many of these loans

on offer are lent with extraordinary rates of interest,

sometimes ten times the amount initially borrowed. These rates

represent extortion to say the least, a legal form of loan sharks.

One could compare pay-day loans to a scheme on offer for cash for gold.

These companies are preying on the vulnerable and disadvantaged, who

in hard times are desperate. think that it is incumbent on

people like the Financial Services Authority to look at the issue of

proposing a cap on the rates. I am not surprised that the proposer of

the motion said that the coalition Government have expressed

opposition. Many of their policies by what are driving people to was

unveiling themselves of these facilities. If you type pay-day

known into Google you get 9,300,000 references. The issue I believe is

very easily defined - for words would cover it. Rising costs,

static wages. That is at the better it -- a better end of it. At the

worst end it is no wages. As the unemployment figures goal north of

60,000. The Government has agreed to investigate the impact of a cap.

This to my mind is to be welcomed, but there is concern this is just a

holding response. And that it will not get much towards the research

stage. The only sensible option here is tighter regulation rather

How big an issue is those poor people coming to ask for help?

Citizens Advice dealt with �37 million of debt in the previous

year and only a small amount were pay day loans. The majority was

credit card loans. A report last week showed that millions of

Britons over the Christmas period may use pay day loans and hence the

publicity. I think pay day loans are beginning to cause problems

where people are facing a wider debt picture. Are they easier to

get up than a credit card? The OFT is currently looking at how it

these pay day loans are regulated. The application process is

different for each kind and section 5 of the Consumer Credit Act

regulates how people are able to apply and if you apply online there

are questions as to whether this constitutes a regulated agreement.

And they would be questions as to whether a credit check has been

established which is reliable and robust enough. So I think pay day

loans are coming on line in terms of whether it they are a viable

kind of credit. The Justice Minister may be glad to see the

back of question time this year as he seems to bear the brunt of most

ill-temper from other members. Today he tackled questions on a

possible Police Museum. Up first was the Education Minister and have

you ever wondered what marks a school lead for closure and what

marks the definition of a rural school? Rural schools are the heart

of their communities and it will leave a huge gap in that area it is

closed. Can the minister advise as to what Lee weight is given to

rural school that finds itself in an unsustainable position? In terms

of choice of language, if we have from rural school in an

unsustainable position but it begs the question as to why we should

maintain that school. We have to ensure that we do not allow the

majority of our rural schools to reach that condition. The

sustainable schools policy does allow for pariah the and the needs

of rural communities to be taken into consideration -- allows for

plurality. A school is considered rural air It is outside Belfast

City Council area or outside the urban area of Derry City Council,

said the vast majority of schools are classified as rural. But then

primary schools are based on 140, rural primary schools are based on

105, taking into account the accessibility of the community is

also important. Rural communities will be able to bring forward any

relevant information to the needs and requirements of that community

and why a specific school should remain. But all decisions will have

to be based on the needs of the pupils in the school. We cannot

plan our future education system on the needs of school buildings.

up, academic selection, and to his pain for some schools to run their

tests. Does the Department have concerns about the legality of

schools charging pupils to sit tests? While the school is funded

by it a private donor, and it appears that is the case in a

number of circumstances, that a private donor is being used to fund

the tests. Walid the school of parents are covering the cost

themselves. The fact is that parents are being charged to excess

a publicly-funded education. Even more worrying, parents are being

charged to beat rejected and their children are being charged to be

rejected from publicly funded education. That is a matter of

concern for us all because we have held on to the right to education

free at the point of delivery amicably have a case where a number

of schools are charging or a private donor is covering the cost

to allow a child into a school or to say that a child will not come

into that school. It is a matter I intend to further investigate.

up, David Ford was asked about progress on the planned policed

Museum. I continue to fully support the creation of a police museum but

there remain some issues to be resolved before the business case

can be approved and submitted. There are outstanding questions in

terms of running costs and planning issues. To say I am disappointed

would be an understatement. I have to impress upon the minister that

he needs to take personal control of this. There is a clear feeling

that officials are procrastinating, delaying, some would suggest

deliberately so... Question, please! I would ask the Minister to

make this one of his priority schemes and have a moving forward.

I did make it clear that I personally net in July and my

officials have been following the matter up. The reality is that

business cases do have to be met. The issues relating to matters like

planning also have been met. That is my ambition but it is not

something the department can deliver on its own. Finally, will

the Minister be taking action against republican protesters who

camped outside 28 Fred prison last month? The department became aware

that there were plans for the protest. Following discussions, it

was decided to facilitate a peaceful protest in the grounds of

Maghaberry present in alliance with the Convention on Human Rights.

Officials attempted to make contact with the organisers of the protest

in order to establish boundaries which would facilitate the protest.

No response was received. The government arrange for notices to

be protest did -- to be posted making clear that the protest was

be conducted peacefully, without Fred to any persons, and must not

present a threat to the court order of the prison. During the protest

there was a minor it damage to property but there were no injuries

to police or prison officers. We are currently examining CCTV

footage of the protest. Any evidence of criminal behaviour by

individuals will be a matter to be followed up by the police service

and the Prosecution Service. All prisoners were given �five phone

credit in order to keep in contact with their families while visits

were suspended. That phone credit was paid from the prisoners amenity

Fund. During the debate on the pay day loans today, their boss some

advice from various MLAs. One suggested it was better to go to a

credit union, another suggested overdrafts. What would your advice

be? Our advice would be that there are cheaper ways to borrow than pay

day loans. There are complaints about the charges people are

incurring from their banks. That makes them extremely unpopular. I

was surprised to hear that appearing on the floor today.

Currently, credit unions are not regulated, that is coming in in

20th April 12. Our message would be due not overstretch yourself. It is

a long time to the next pay-day from the middle of December to do

middle of January. Where should people go, should they go and talk

to their bank manager if they have a bank account? An independent

financial adviser would be what we would recommend. We can refer them

to do financial ombudsman's service if they had been taken advantage of.

Complaints can be taken by a individuals if they feel they have

been treated unfairly. We would say keep an eye on your finances. If

you do have a number of debts, a pay day loans can put you in a

position that you would not expect. It is the time of year to look back

and reflect and who better to give us a sense of assembly business

than a political correspondent? There are those who will tell you

that nothing happens appear on the hill, but that is not quite true.

He is my history of what has been happening. Since September there

have been 27 plenary sittings of the assembly, a total of 72 motions

have been debated, 64 of which were carried. 65,400 questions were

tabled for written and oral answer. I am afraid not a single bill was

passed. On the plus side, at the programme for government was agreed

and is out for consultation. Not a single MLA managed to get himself

suspended during this term there there was some bad behaviour in the

public gallery last week. That is the first time such a thing has

happened in the history of the assembly. He won name for your

poetic genius in the political unit and you have penned a special one

for Russ. Modestly, I have to agree with you! What better way to

reflect what has been happening in the assembly than with some poetic

justice, with a festive twist? It was that night before Christmas and

all through the House not eight MLA stirred. Through the doors that

Peter Martin and their festive crystal ball. First the not in

Gwent -- inconsequential matter of the presidential election. Martin

escaped to the land of Nana. Martin raised to farce. Come, come, said

Peter, it is still them and us. Peter said, a little bit too loud,

you are no Gerald date. Coming dangerously close to making a scene,

Peter asked, would the minister meet the Queen? Never, and roared

Martin. You know, said Peter, you sound just like the dock. Both men

tested an absent friend. It is the season to be memory, Peter tasted

gym, and Martin tasted Jerry. should rename him our poetic

correspondent! Since it is the season of goodwill we decided to

ask some of our MLAs to play Secret Santa, their task being to choose a

present for a fellow MLA. He is what they said, company by the

choir from Newtownards Model Primary School. One thing I would

like for Christmas is a couple of tickets for Westlife's farewell

tour. They are in Croke Park and other places in 2012. And they are

a good group. I would laugh a brand new iPad2, thank you very much! I

watch my colleague using this in the assembly, and I think it is an

amazing device. So anybody out there thinking of buying me a

present, and nice iPad2 would be very much appreciated! If you could

be Secret Santa this year, he would you choose to buy a present form

what would it be. I was thinking about this. At the end of the day,

there are few people day you could buy presents for but definitely

fake smile for Michael. It would do him no harm around Christmas.

Obviously, I would have to buy a gym a high quality bottle of red

wine, mainly in the hope that he would give it back to me, as he

does not drink! It would be difficult but out of duty to my

constituents who would have to produce 107 p 45 so because I do

have to say that this place is a shambles. And, of course, other

tablet devices are available. People do tend to spend a lot of

money, particularly in the last few weeks. Any advice, without spoiling

Christmas? Thought for a kiss. Time spent together. Consider how long