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Mr Copeland, while supportive of the Housing Executive and his good working relationship with it, said he was alarmed at the many cases of hardship, living conditions and even rat infestations suffered by many of the constituents visiting Sir Reg Empey’s and his offices joint offices on the Alberbridge Road.

In a statement Mr Copeland said,

“There is no doubt that the Housing Executive performs a vital and valuable role particularly for those of limited means or suffering from severe economic hardship. They are also to commended for providing shelter and accommodation for people with family or relationship difficulties. I know this because of the sheer volume of cases that Sir Reg and I deal with on a daily basis.

However, there seems to be two common threads that stand out when looking at the overall situation. Firstly, the state of many of the properties are deteriorating or have already deteriorated to sub-standard levels. Secondly, demand is outstripping supply. This a problem that needs to urgently looked at.

Many of our cases deal with those who have been left with faulty heating systems, leaking roofs, overcrowding, damp and in some extreme cases, rat infestations. Nobody, whatever circumstances that they find themselves in, should have to live with these conditions.

I am well aware of the financial constraints that affect the Housing Executive. However I feel that in order to maximise the existing budget and offer a better and more responsive service to residents in East Belfast, a root and branch audit of Housing Executive properties in the constituency is needed.

Our Offices have details of a great many of sub-standard Executive houses and many horror stories of the residents of some of these properties. I am convinced that while large in number, our files are only giving us a pixel of the overall picture.

In a statement, Mr Armstrong said: “In recent weeks, there have been a number of disgraceful burglary-related attacks upon elderly people across Northern Ireland.

“It would appear that there are gangs systematically targeting older people, often these individuals are masked and are armed. They are willing to inflict physical hurt and psychological suffering upon their victims. It is a miracle that there have been no lives lost as a result of these aggressors’ actions.

“There is a very real sense of fear throughout the community. Whilst statistics suggest that an elderly person living in Northern Ireland is less likely to become a victim of crime than their counterpart in England, Scotland and Wales: there is an inbuilt perception and indeed fear amongst our older people that they are a target.”

He added: “I welcome the fact that the Police have at long last realised how serious this issue is. By establishing a special crime unit, supported with the necessary specialised resources, it is my hope that the PSNI will make real inroads into smashing the criminal gangs who are perpetrating these wicked crimes.

“Those who attack the elderly prey upon older people’s vulnerability and good nature in order to fuel their own selfish ends.”

He continued: “All of us can do something to combat this scourge. We must look after our elderly neighbours, whether that is through visiting them, phoning them or indeed ensuring that their home is secure and less susceptible to a break-in.

“We are prepared to look at proposals that any party is willing to put across. However we are not prepared to support a purely deliberative assembly or a talking shop model. We want to see the maximum amount of attainable devolution. We also believe that legislative and financial powers should be immediately devolved so that we can start to tackle and have real influence on the crucial issues facing us, such as the Review of Public Administration, education, water charges and the social and economic damage caused by escalating rates and energy cots which are now out of control.

When all is said and done the DUP accepted in 2004 the principle of power sharing with Sinn Fein. This was re-iterated in their election manifesto and subsequent statements where they did not rule out ultimately sharing power with Sinn Fein.

In a statement, the Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said: “There has been talk for some time of the possibility that Dard would be providing grant aid for a roofing scheme.

“Such a scheme would assist farmers in reducing the amount of dirty water produced on farm - and so lessen slurry storage requirements.

“Only last week, Dard officials met with stakeholders to discuss progress on the Nitrates Directive Action Programme. During discussions, which Dard described as “constructive”, the economic case for a roofing scheme was given consideration.

“Yet this week, it is my understanding that Dard will not proceed with such a scheme. While seemingly encouraging messages are being issued publicly, in private Dard appears to have turned its back on the initiative.

“Government must clarify the position. Can farmers count on the department’s support?

“If government supports the scheme, it would lower slurry tank requirements and allow more farmers to meet their obligations under the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme.

“If government fails to back this scheme it would impede progress and place many farmers at further disadvantage.”

He added: “There is unanimity from all major stakeholders on the necessity for a roofing scheme. I know of many anxious smallholders who have been waiting in anticipation of the scheme’s adoption.

“These new Eurloland rules which are set to go through the European Parliament this week are an effort of harmonise packaged food throughout Europe. Under the rules, which replace British imperial measures with a European metric system, the pint-sized milk carton would be cut to half a litre. The danger in that is that with 68 millilitres fewer in the pack, the price will remain the same.”

“This temptation to profiteer by producers will have more serious consequences than just short-changing customers, however. It could be a spark that ignites price inflation. In the last six months the British economy has responded well, with inflation dropping from 2.5% to just 2%. This is just the sort of thing that could set it back.”

“In addition the cost of replacing the traditional pint sized glass bottle would be a prohibitive cost for the dairy industry. The producers would have no other option but to pass on this increased cost to the consumer further fuelling price inflation.”

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“While biofuels are not the only answer to our energy concerns, they should be an integral part of easing them.

“Biofuels are good for our environment, good for our agriculture industry and would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

“The European Commission has set out its own action plan for increasing the use of biofuels but the British government’s approach appears to be in disarray. The European Commission issued a warning to the United Kingdom last year because it was failing to reach its agreed biofuels targets. Only 0.3% of the UK petrol and diesel market was taken by biofuels in 2005 when the EU’s target was 2%.

“The European Commission has formally rebuked the UK for failing to meet its biofuels targets. Britain’s next target is to replace five percent of our forecourt fuels with biofuels by 2010. Unless the government stops paying lip service to its biofuels commitments and puts in place a strategy, we will fail to reach that target too.

In a statement Sir Reg said,

These were very worrying announcements. The common denominator was increased costs in a competitive market. Much of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing is living on the edge of competitiveness and as a community we need to be focusing on what we can do to move our economy to higher levels of efficiency and productivity.

Instead present government policy is to continue to push manufacturing costs up by persisting with massive rates increases. Whatever the circumstances in the past, it must now be obvious that trying to impose rates on manufacturing is threatening a large swathe of our industry and threatens many more jobs. An immediate freeze should be placed on increasing the percentage of rates that manufacturers pay until a full review is carried out.

One of the reasons given for taking away manufacturing’s rate-free status was that energy costs were being brought under control. This is no longer the case. Gas costs are out of control and electricity costs are on the rise again.

Dermot Nesbitt said: “I view this report, costing £110k, as adding little to our relevant knowledge to help solve our problems in the equality field. Not only did it not deal with important issues, such as whether or not government policy is successful, but it avoided asking important questions. For example, is there a position today where protestants are losing out in the jobs market – this was a no go area for the consultants. Their excuse in this and other matters was that a line had to be drawn somewhere as to what they were able to do. Of course, their priorities were wrong and by not examining the effectiveness of some areas of equality policy suits Government.”

The problems that existed before this Report was produced are still present. The £500m spent on training, which could have helped the disadvantaged: that was money down the drain according to a PAC report. A skills strategy is still awaited. And, addressing the concerns of the Protestant community regarding equality issues, though recognised in the consultants’ Report, was inadequately addressed.

The future of Magilligan is currently being considered by the Prison Service as part of a wider review of the prison estates strategy following an independent Efficiency Review of the Prison Service published in June of last year.

Speaking following a visit by the Minister to the County Londonderry jail on Monday, Mr. McClarty said: “Mr. Woodward says he has been impressed by the operation of the prison and the rehabilitation work being undertaken there.

“He should also realise the consequences to the region if the prison does not continue to function on its existing site.

“The impact on the local economy of relocating Magilligan Prison would be devastating and I hope that now the Minister has seen the success of the facility at first hand, he will is persuaded that it would make much more sense economically to modernise and develop the existing site.

“The Limavady and Coleraine areas depend heavily on the prison being operational at Magilligan. It provides vital employment and brings much needed revenue into both areas. The services industry would also suffer adversely if the prison were to be relocated.”