Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers Council Total No of invoices (i) WA 542 Paid within 30 days (ii) (a) Paid outside of 30 days (ii) (b) North Down 10,217 8,456 1,761 Omagh 6,607 4,955 1,652 Strabane 4,706 4,201 505 Total 289,300 211,527 65,660 Notations * Not provided (a) Based on Invoice dates not dates of receipt of Invoice. (b) Includes invoices disputed/queried or requiring further clarification prior to payment, thus delaying processing. (c) Extrapolated from a sample of 419 Invoices. (d) Extrapolated from a sample batch of invoices - 95% of all invoices passed for payment by the budget holder were paid within 30 days. (e) Extrapolated from a sample of 120 invoices for the 11/12 year. (f) Figures calculated from estimated 20% paid beyond 30 days and 80% before. Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Mr Agnew asked the Minister of the Environment (i) what action his Department is taking to ensure that the built environment is adapted to changing climatic conditions; and (ii) whether he intends to introduce a climate change adaptation strategy. (AQW 13548/11-15) Mr Attwood: I am taking a range of actions to ensure the built environment is adapted to climate change. My Department jointly chairs a Stormwater Management Group with the Department for Regional Development. This Group is examining a range of approaches to stormwater management to assist in the development of more integrated and sustainable systems. A current pilot study in Ballyclare is exploring the benefits of the implementation of sustainable drainage systems within the catchment of the town. I am considering legislation which will make it mandatory for new / retrospective planning applications to install open / soft engineering stormwater management systems. By applying Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 15, which takes account of climate change, my Department adopts a precautionary approach to development in flood risk areas and seeks to avoid inappropriate development in these areas. In addition, Policy LC3 of the second addendum to PPS 7 encourages greater use of permeable paving within new residential developments so as to help reduce flash flooding from surface water run off. In conjunction with the Rivers Agency in DARD my Department published guidance in December 2011 on the use of the Strategic Surface Water Flood Map. I have commissioned research which will assist my officials in implementing an appropriate management response to the impacts of climate change on our cultural heritage. Owners of listed historic buildings have also been provided with advice and information on how to protect these buildings. Most importantly, as you are aware, my Department is currently developing a Northern Ireland Adaptation Programme, which will be presented to the Executive in early 2013. This Programme,
Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers co-ordinated by my department, will further develop my Department’s actions and provide a cross departmental response to the risks and opportunities identified in the Northern Ireland Climate Change Risk Assessment for the built environment. Furthermore, work is at an early stage in the preparation of a single planning policy document for the north. Its preparation will require a fresh look across all areas of planning policy, including climate change. Consequently, I have no current plans to introduce a climate change adaptation strategy. Clause 24 of the Marine Bill Mrs Dobson asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQO 2188/11-15, to detail under what specific circumstances his Department would need to use the powers, proposed by Clause 24 of the Marine Bill, to make byelaws, given that there are similar byelaw making powers provided by Article 21 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985. (AQW 13710/11-15) Mr Attwood: Byelaws under Article 21 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985 are intended to manage activities which are not subject to regulation or control by other public bodies, and are potentially damaging to the features of a Marine Nature Reserve (MNR). In this context an example of an activity which could be managed through a byelaw could be the use of anchors or moorings which drag on the seabed due to strong tides or currents. These objects could be detrimental to a seabed habitat. Another example could be to restrict the use or speed of jet skis near a seal haul out area during the breeding season. Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), legislated for under the Marine Bill, are intended to replace MNRs designated under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985. All MNR provisions, including byelaw making powers under Article 21 of this Order will therefore be repealed by the Marine Bill. The Marine Bill will provide the Department powers to designate and manage MCZs. Management measures include the introduction of byelaws as set out in Clause 24 of the Bill. Department of Finance and Personnel Departmental Policy on Junk Mail Mr Allister asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel why civil servants have been receiving unsolicited emails to their work computers promoting the Líofa campaign, along with a promotional newsletter; and what is the relevant departmental policy on junk mail. (AQW 11329/11-15) Mr Wilson (The Minister of Finance and Personnel): The internal Northern Ireland Civil Service e-mail system is used by departments to distribute information about events and issues that are relevant to their work, as well as more general information about health related issues, appeals from charitable organisations, transport issues etc. Individual departments are responsible for the material that they issue. IT Assist, which is responsible for maintenance of the e-mail system, uses a system for the detection of e-mails which may contain unwanted content that could present a security risk or contain undesirable content to prevent such e-mails from reaching Northern Ireland Civil Service addresses. EU Funding Mr Allister asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, in relation to EU funding, to detail how much Departments gained from the currency fluctuation between Sterling and Euro in 2010/11; and what became of any such gains. (AQW 12910/11-15) WA 543
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Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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