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Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Chairman of the OFM/DFM Committee Danny Kennedy described as unsatisfactory the nature of the leaking of the names of the 4 appointments to the office of Victims Commissioner today.

In a statement Mr Kennedy said,

“I see the nature of the leaking of this announcement today as very unsatisfactory. As Chairman of the OFM/DFM Committee I should have had courtesy of being told and should have been contacted.

The appointment of 4 Commissioners indicates clear political deadlock and amounts to ‘government by committee’. Due to the manner in which this announcement was leaked people will now be scrutinising the individuals named to identify political allegiances. This is a bad start to their term of appointment. The fact that there are 4 Commissioners also indicates a clear carve up between the DUP and Sinn Fein.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has praised the number of schools from Northern Ireland, the Republic and Europe which had participated in the Assembly education programme.

Dr Coulter made his remarks during questions to the Commission at Parliament Buildings.

He said of the 125 schools which took part in the education programme, the vast majority – 112 – were from Northern Ireland. The time period was from the restoration of devolution in May 2007 until the present month.

Of the Northern Ireland schools, in terms of numbers, North Antrim represented the third highest with eight schools, or 7.14%.

The neighbouring constituency of East Antrim had nine schools or 8.04%, while South Antrim had one school at 0.89%, and was joint lowest with Strangford. The highest was Newry and Armagh with 20 schools, or 17.86%.

Dr Coulter added: “Several youth groups, further and higher education groups and adult learning groups have also participated in the programme, raising the number of participating groups to 218.

“The education programme of the Assembly has been one of the success stories since we started operation in May 2007,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has called on constituents to test their smoke alarms after it emerged less than three-quarters of people who have them, tested them.

Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, made his call after supporting a successful Assembly motion which urged the Health Department to ensure every Northern Ireland home had a working smoke alarm.

Dr Coulter said the Assembly motion and the subsequent debate, should they achieved nothing else, they would “heighten public awareness of the smoke alarm issue”.

The successful Assembly motion, supported by Dr Coulter, stated: “That this Assembly recognises the positive work of voluntary and statutory organisations in installing smoke alarms in homes; expresses concern that many dwellings in both the private- and social-housing sectors still do not have adequate working smoke alarms; and calls on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department for Social Development and the Department of Finance and Personnel, to undertake a coordinated programme to ensure the provision of working smoke detectors in every home.”

“Dr Coulter added that statistic presented to the Assembly showed there has been an increase of 98% in ownership of smoke alarms in Northern Ireland, and this was to be welcomed.”

“However, only 72% of those are checked regularly. Therefore, the question is not the problem of finance to supply smoke alarms, but the finance necessary to educate people to check their alarms regularly.”

“It seems that the real problem with inefficient smoke alarms is that, in many cases, the batteries have run down, and the householders have not renewed them. Would it not, therefore, be better if all smoke alarms were hard wired?”

“A further statistic that has, rightly, been quoted is the number of privately owned homes with either no smoke alarm, or whose alarm is inefficient.”

“Should this Assembly not recommend that all private homes be statutorily bound to have smoke alarms fitted and hard wired? Furthermore, should it not be the case that smoke alarms are fitted all public-sector houses?”

“The statistics for deaths in house fires are alarming. Although we may congratulate ourselves that the number of deaths has gone down, even one fatality from a fire in a house with no working smoke alarm is one too many.”

“If we are to ask the Fire and Rescue Service to go a bit further, we must look again at supporting resources for its educational programme for householders with smoke alarms.”

“I have wholeheartedly supported this very worthy motion, both personally and as a member of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety,” said Dr Coulter.”

Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott today sought assurances that if the First and Deputy First Ministers could not agree on issues that Westminster could not impose them against our will.

Mr Elliott pointed to a recent example of a European Directive called the Gender Directive On Goods and Services, which met with concerns from the First Minister because it made reference to transgender and gender reassignment, and which was taken back by Westminster by officials for a final decision. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said that this ‘taking back’ process if the First and Deputy First Ministers could not agree could have consequences for issues such as the Devolution of Policing and Justice and the Irish Language Act, which could be implemented against the will of the people of Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr Elliott said,

“I am seeking assurances that sensitive and contentious issues such as the Devolution of Policing and Justice and the Irish Language Act can in no way be circumvented away from the Assembly and Executive and simply handed back to Westminster for a final decision.

I fully understand that many EU Directives are binding in legal terms but I want to ensure that this is not in some way a precedent or a ‘get out of jail free’ card option for the First Minister to by-pass responsibility for deals that may have been made. EU Directives are one thing but we cannot ever find ourselves in a position where important and contentious decisions are taken out of our hands and dictated to from Westminster. This would be an unwelcome return to a form of Direct Rule and would be corrosive to the devolved Institutions.”

The Ulster Unionist Party today branded the Finance Minister’s enhancement of the housing budget as a missed opportunity to really make a difference to so many working class communities across Northern Ireland.

Responding to the announcement on Tuesday that funding for 1,500 social houses was given to Minister Ritchie for 2008 in the final budget, Paula Bradshaw, Urban Regeneration Spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party, stated: “Let’s keep everything in perspective, DSD makes a bid for and receives funding to build 1,500 every year. For this coming year, funding for an additional 500 houses for Urban Renewal Areas was requested but never materialised in the final budget. If this money had been allocated by the Finance Minister then there would have been a real opportunity for the DSD and Northern Ireland Housing Executive to deliver on its commitments under the inter-departmental policy of Neighbourhood Renewal, which incidently was signed up to by all the Ministers.

“There are working class areas across Northern Ireland that has housing deemed, by independent experts, to fall below acceptable fitness standards, whereupon our housing authority has a statutory obligation to intervene. Additional monies above and beyond the year-on-year allocation would have allowed for targeted intervention in these communities that have suffered most in recent years to be regenerated.

“These communities are continuing to fail to feel any benefits from devolution and it is up to those in power to start using their positions to reverse the shameful dereliction across the Province. “

Ulster Unionist Department of Social Development spokesman Michael Copeland today said that the Assembly debate which called on the Departments of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Finance and Personnel to ensure the provision of working smoke detectors in every home was a missed opportunity.

Gas detectors, particularly in Social Housing were as much of a priority as smoke detectors he said,

“While I fully understand the merits of the Assembly motion and that smoke detectors are of vital importance in saving lives, I believe that an opportunity was missed to ensure that gas detectors were also included, particularly in Social Houses.

In East Belfast a common complaint our offices deal with is leaking gas in Housing Executive properties. Often most cases turn out to be small leaks, but gas, as an invisible killer, can have devastating consequences. I believe that both departments mentioned today should also consider the provision of gas detectors initially to Social Housing followed by all other gas receiving households at a later date.”

David McNarry MLA, the Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, has said that it was important for the NI Executive and for Invest Northern Ireland (INI) to set its sights high in attracting new jobs with pay rates which were above the industry average.

“In the past two years only 3,184 of the 6,016 new jobs created by INI had pay rates which were above their sectoral average. That is just 53%. What Northern Ireland needs is well remunerated jobs in high value-added areas.”

“The other problem with new job creation is the heavy dependence on the Business and Financial Services sector. In the past two years some 62% of all new jobs created were in that sector. While those jobs were very welcome, that sector was particularly susceptible to recession. Only 30% of those new jobs in the Business and Financial Services sector had pay rates above the sectoral average.”

“There needs to be a stronger analysis of the potential business opportunities which are home-grown, particularly those based on patents held in our two Universities. Home-grown jobs while initially fewer in number tended to have more staying power and to be less prone to move to low-wage locations elsewhere in the world.”

“It also has to be remembered that if there is to be a move from the public to the private sector, that many of our existing public sector jobs are comparatively well paid. There are concerns that well paid public sector jobs could be replaced by less well paid private sector jobs. The downside of that is that spending power in the economy will be reduced. This will have a major knock-on impact on the retail sector and it could lead to the unpicking of several local economies, particularly in the Belfast Travel to Work area.”

“I believe we need to look again at the strategy of INI and of the Strategic Investment Board with all of the constraints I have outlined in mind. The economy is complex and heavily inter-dependent and before we seek simplistic solutions to job creation problems we need to look at the knock-on impacts those create.”

Fred Cobain MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for North Belfast, has called on Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds to step up Invest Northern Ireland (INI) investment in North Belfast.

“INI is investing only £332 per head of population in North Belfast. This compares to £1,220 in South Belfast, £1,018 in East Belfast, £773 in Foyle, £670 in Upper Bann and £595 in neighbouring East Antrim. The Northern Ireland average is £439 per head and North Belfast is receiving, therefore, just 75% of the average.”

“How does Nigel Dodds expect the cycle of deprivation ever to be lifted from North Belfast if there is not to be some serious investment by INI, for which he is responsible, in this constituency?”

“In North Belfast INI is spending just 27% of what it spends in South Belfast. How can that be justified ?”

“North Belfast is strategically situated, close to the port of Belfast, beside a first rate road infrastructure, close to a University with top rate research facilities, with easy access to the Province’s two airports and with serious economic development potential. The Executive must target help primarily at those areas where the deprivation is worst. Those are the areas which need most help.”

“So I say to Nigel Dodds – get a move on and push up the level of investment per head of the population which INI puts into North Belfast. The complacency of this Executive worries me. It is time we began to see some action which made a difference to people’s lives.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

(AQW 2086/08) Invest NI Mr N Dodds: The table below presents assistance per head of adult population offered to businesses by parliamentary constituencyIt should be noted that parliamentary constituency areas are not self-contained labour markets. A project assisted in a particular location has the potential to create benefits across a much wider area. Northern Ireland is a relatively small place and evidence indicates that many investments draw their workforce from areas beyond constituency and council area boundaries. In addition, Invest NI has limited scope for ‘directing’ investment to specific geographic areas. Although it has been able to influence the location decisions of some inward-investment projects, the final location decision rests with the business.

Invest NI Parliamentary Constituency Area Assistance per Head (2002/03 - 2006/07)

Parliamentary Constituency
ASSISTANCE PER HEAD (£)

BELFAST EAST
1,018

BELFAST NORTH
332

BELFAST SOUTH
1,220

BELFAST WEST
383

EAST ANTRIM
595

EAST LONDONDERRY
339

FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE
326

FOYLE
773

LAGAN VALLEY
242

MID ULSTER
355

NEWRY AND ARMAGH
288

NORTH ANTRIM
245

NORTH DOWN
167

SOUTH ANTRIM
480

SOUTH DOWN
163

STRANGFORD
119

UPPER BANN
670

WEST TYRONE
274

NORTHERN IRELAND
439

Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, Ulster Unionist Health Spokesman, today called for a new code of practice in advertising to children covering television, the internet and the schoolroom.

“Advertisers know that promoting brand loyalty among younger children about seven years old builds a brand loyalty which lasts for a lifetime. That is why big firms sponsor classroom packs and educational aids. It has nothing to do with their social conscience. It has more to do with them poaching customers early.”

“Similarly, pop-ups on the websites children use on the internet has the effect of using their suggestibility to get them to buy products. Television advertising is even more obvious though there has been more progress made in that area than in either the internet or the classroom.”

“I want to see a comprehensive code of conduct introduced across television, the internet and the classroom which governs the use of advertising to influence children. I am particularly concerned with food items which could lead children to become obese or lead them into health problems such as childhood diabetes.”

“One idea might be to provide a kite mark for internet sites which would need to be present to stop that particular website being blocked by parental controls. Likewise, schools and school governors should look closely at free educational packs in use in their classrooms which may be promoting a product.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey said that the last opportunity to achieve a step change in the Northern Ireland economy could be presented by the second report of Sir David Varney. In a statement Sir Reg said,

“This report was announced when Varney 1 was published last month with its disappointing finding that there was not going to be any special rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland.

What then are the alternatives? If the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, with Alex Salmond breathing down their necks, feel unable to risk such change, what can be achieved, and where should we be steering Sir David Varney?

Some years ago Northern Ireland had special capital allowances to help our economy. These could be used again, especially for things such as training and they have the advantage that there is a precedent.

But one idea I have been advocating since 2001 is a reduction in Excise Duties on fuel sold in Northern Ireland.

For some inexplicable reason, the Treasury has tolerated the existence of a massive smuggling empire which has been operating for many years, spreading corruption and environmental damage throughout this island. I suspect that paramilitaries have been deeply embedded in this crime ring to their very substantial advantage. This trade must run into millions of pounds every year.

Surely it makes sense for the Chancellor, with the co-operation of his counterpart in Dublin, to move decisively to eliminate this business? This would clean up these gangs, and avoid further environmental damage, whereby large volumes of toxic chemicals are dumped in our countryside with as yet unknown long term consequences.

If all the fuel sold in Northern Ireland was taxed, even at a lower rate, a rate that represented a sufficient reduction to eliminate the profit margins of the gangsters, then the Treasury would be getting tax on all fuel and not part of it. Added into this equation must be the costs of all the customs and revenue officers, court time etc chasing after these criminals.

With the pro-active help of the Irish Government by perhaps raising slightly its excise duty to narrow the gap, this long running problem could be solved.

At Downing Street in early 2007, the then Chancellor Gordon Brown promised to let this matter be examined. Now is the time.

Lower fuel costs would help businesses improve their competitiveness and as Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, it would be very difficult for the devolved regions to complain as this is a unique problem for us.

I hope this will be one of the ideas considered by Varney 2. Our task in coming weeks is to put forward a suite of proposals that really can make a difference to our economy.”