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Mr Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Spokesman on Social Economy, Energy and Consumer Affairs, has slammed the forthcoming 3.9 per cent hike in electricity prices as “indefensible”.

And Mr Swann, who is also a senior member of North Antrim Association Management Committee, warned the rises to be implement from 1st November were “going to hit the most vulnerable in society, especially at this time of the year”.

He added: “Even the 3.9 per cent rise is a dramatic enough increase, but the 14 per cent rise on Economy 7 is totally inexcusable as this will hit those most at risk in the community, or already suffering from fuel poverty.

“To this extent, I would call on the relevant Stormont department to reopen the application period when people can apply for the Winter Fuel Payment Scheme to enable those who missed last month’s deadline to have a further application opportunity.

“It has been highlighted by Northern Ireland Electricity that these increases will make the cost of heating homes by electricity comparative to heating them by oil or gas. But many people living in social housing do not have the pleasure of such a choice as an alternative home heating option.

“This price hike will again make the Government target of eradicating fuel poverty by 2010 one step further away, as well as placing the most vulnerable in our society under even more threat.

“A further concern I have is that to ensure that this price rise is necessary and not just a commercial decision by NIE to prepare for the opening of the Single Energy Market on the geographical island of Ireland.

“However, it was originally envisaged that the creation of this Single Energy Market would make the market more competitive – not increase the costs for consumers in Northern Ireland.

“I would encourage everyone to avail of the support measures from the Energy Saving Trust to ensure their homes and businesses are as energy efficient as possible.

“As this November’s price increase is being atrributed to the world price of oil and gas, it further demonstrates our need to develop the altnerative energy market in Northern Ireland,” said Mr Swann.

Sam Gardiner MLA, Ulster Unionist Assemblyman for Upper Bann, today called for a new look at the grading of medical secretaries in Northern Ireland.

“I am concerned that, after three years medical secretaries across Northern Ireland have been told that they have been banded across the board as band 3 entry grade medical secretaries. Considering that some of the people have been in post for 30 years, I have to ask the question – what exactly does it take to be raised to the standard band 4 medical secretary grade ?”

“It would appear that the Northern Ireland health trusts have gone out on their own in this instead of waiting for other parts of the country involved in the agenda for change programme. This sends out a terrible message to staff of just how the Trusts view them and value them.”

“I am also led to believe that information on this decision under the freedom of information legislation has been blocked. This is a completely unacceptable way for the trusts as employers to behave.”

“I will be raising the matter with Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, who I know values the work of health professionals to see if anything can be done.”

Ulster Unionist Education spokesman Basil Mc Crea today met with a large number of classroom assistants who were picketing Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

In a statement Mr McCrea said the assistants didn’t want to be in this position but felt nobody was listening to them or their reasons for striking,

“I was struck today by the sheer numbers of classroom assistants who came to picket Stormont and try and lobby politicians. These are not militant workers but just ordinary people who want a fair wage for a fair day’s work.

Many I spoke to are visibly upset at being put in the position where they have to strike and deny the children, many with special needs, of their valuable skills and teaching skills.

The fact that they are striking is down to a failure of dialogue. Many assistants complained that they couldn’t get hold of or meet with the key decision makers in politics and as a result are feeling marginalised, ignored and consequently misunderstood.

I understand that the Education Minister herself avoided meeting 100 assistants at a school in Craigavon by cancelling her visit. This is no way to treat people. I offered the assistants my support and that of my party and we will continue to try and resolve this dispute to the satisfaction of all.”

Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone this week called for more to be done by the executive in addressing the ongoing problem of child poverty.

Mr Elliott noted “a recent Government report found that in Northern Ireland up to 120,000 children live in varying degrees of poverty. If we add to that the number of children who are deemed to be living in deprivation, the figure increases to 160,000.

“A start has been made: in the UK as a whole since 1999, 600,000 children have been removed from states of poverty. However, more needs to be done, including here in Northern Ireland. If government targets of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020 are to be met, action must be consistent and not dip in and out of dealing with the matter.”

The local MLA went on to state that there was need for a focal point from which to start the campaign to eradicate child poverty.

“The figure of 120,000 children living in poverty in Northern Ireland drops by more than 50% if the target group changes from including children living in general poverty to those who live in severe poverty. When we shift the focus, the number of children in Northern Ireland whose situations require what we would term immediate action decreases to approximately 44,000.”

“Differentiating between levels of poverty does not take away from the overall problem. However, if we were to make such a differentiation, the Assembly and Executive could execute a more strategic plan to help those who are in the most immediate distress.

“There have been several failings in the Government’s attempts to deal with child poverty. For example, they failed to reduce the number of children who are in severe poverty, with one in five children in the UK still living in a persistently poor household. I wonder how many people in the wider community know what it is like for those children and households who live in poverty. Do those children sometimes have to go without the basic essentials of life such as the food and clothing that many in our community take for granted? The issue demands action and must be addressed before more children find themselves in poverty stricken states of living.”

Ulster Unionist Social Development spokesman and North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain today supported Assembly moves calling on the Minister for Social Development to legislate for the mandatory registration of all landlords in the private sector.

In a statement Mr Cobain said,

“The case for registration is self-evident. The numbers of people living in the private rented sector has grown steadily over the last decade primarily because of our inability to satisfy the housing need in the public sector.

As an example many of the housing studies clearly show a need to build between 2000-2500 housing units each year in the public sector in order to meet housing demand.

In 2008 we are planning to build and complete 600 new homes in the public sector. That in no way addresses the need and obviously will drive a number of additional families into the private rental sector. We already have 80,000 homes in the private rental sector which represents over 11% of our total housing stock.

There are a number of issues specific to the private rented sector.

In 2001 the level of unfitness in the private rented sector was in the region of 9% and although this figure had fallen to almost 6% by 2004 it was still higher than the overall unfitness level in Northern Ireland. The fact that this sector provides accommodation for the most vulnerable, has sector of 80000 houses, has unfitness levels higher than the overall average makes the case for compulsory registration.

No one wants to penalise landlords in any way. Instead we need to work with and encourage landlords to improve housing conditions and standards.

I believe that the registration scheme would be an ideal vehicle to achieve these ends.”

At the meeting of the Committee for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister yesterday the delay in the appointment of the Victims Commissioner was discussed.

Speaking after the meeting the Chairperson Mr Danny Kennedy said,

“Grave concerns were expressed by members regarding the lack of progress in appointing a Victims Commissioner. Recognising the importance of this issue to the wider community and acknowledging the growing speculation arising from the unexplained delay, the Committee believes that action on this issue is now crucial.”

Mr Kennedy confirmed that the Committee will be pressing the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an urgent response on the reasons for the delay and the current difficulties surrounding the appointment.

Mr Kennedy also said that given the sensitivities around this issue, the Committee will be offering to meet with the First Minster and deputy First Minister, if necessary in private session, to discuss this matter.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has given his full support to the Electoral Office’s campaign to get constituents registered on the voter list.

Assemblyman Dr Coulter said: “I would wholeheartedly support this campaign to get as many people in North Antrim and indeed right across the Province on the electoral register.

“The Electoral Office has stated there will be no annual canvass this year, so it is vitally important people register to secure their vote – especially given the considerable speculation the Prime Minister will call a General Election within a year.

“During the Second World War, many people from Northern Ireland served, were wounded or died for the cause of democracy.

“It would be a tragedy to their memory if people did not take the opportunity to register as a voter, and also given the fact there are nations in the world where the freedom to vote for parties of their choice is still not recognised.”

Speaking ahead of a debate on child poverty tomorrow, Ulster Unionist Social Development spokesman Fred Cobain said that in order to tackle and eradicate child poverty, an overall targeted approach to tackling overall poverty was needed.

Mr Cobain said that target dates for the reduction and eventual eradication by 2020 of Child Poverty were ambitious without attempts to tackle issues such as Social Housing, Education and Community renewal projects.

In a statement Mr Cobain said,

“The people of Northern Ireland were hoping that with Direct Rule Ministers away, the Assembly and Executive would begin tackling important issues, such as child poverty. So far we have had heard all the usual platitudes and well meaning rhetoric, with little or no difference being felt on the ground.

Tackling child poverty is not something that can be done in isolation, it is entwined in a plethora of social problems. We need to tackle poverty at a number of roots. Social Housing provision must continue to grow. It is estimated that Northern Ireland needs between 2000-2500 new houses to meet the growing numbers of homeless people. The Department of Social Development is building just 600.

We need to give breaks to the working poor, not cripple them with more rates or water charges, we need to inject meaningful funds into education, targeting areas of disadvantage.

Without a dedicated strategy to tackle the roots of poverty I fear that the target to reduce child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020 are nothing more than a utopian fantasy, being discussed without any real thought and without any contextual map.”

Kenny Donaldson, an Ulster Unionist Party Officer has called for all sides involved in the ‘classroom assistants’ dispute to get around the table immediately to negotiate a resolution so that strike action might be averted.

Classroom assistants across Northern Ireland are planning a one-day strike next Wednesday unless agreement is reached over pay.

In a statement, Kenny said: “Foremost, my thoughts are with the children who neither caused nor deserve to be adversely affected because of others’ inability to act responsibly.

“The Department of Education have said that they regret the move by Classroom Assistants, which they say could “disrupt the education of some children”. If that position was to be followed through to its’ logical conclusion then they would step up their efforts at brokering a deal with classroom assistants. Inaction is neither an appropriate nor responsible position to adopt.
“The reality is that if the present situation isn’t sorted out the children’s education will suffer more. Experienced and qualified staff will be forced to leave the job and many others will be deterred from seeking employment in this field.

“The Education Assembly Committee has indicated their resolve that this debacle should be resolved equitably. Common-sense and fairness must prevail. Classroom Assistants are a key component in the developmental experience, a child receives at School; they are an essential complimentary support for Teachers. They must receive their just desserts, they must be fairly rewarded for the priceless job they do. Classroom Assistants for too long have been looked upon with disdain by elements within Government. Let’s get real - without them, Teachers could not deliver the Curriculum to the standard and efficiency which they do,” concluded Kenny.

Speaking during today’s debate on an Ulster Unionist motion on Fuel Poverty, UUP proposer for the motion Roy Beggs said,

“In bringing this motion forward again I was concerned at possible complacency on the part of Department of Social Development Officials.

In entering a new Assembly term we wanted the issue to be fresh on everyones minds. We are now also approaching the winter and the cold and fuel poverty are much more real issues than when we were entering the summer when the last debate came up. But most importantly it is because we are approaching the critical budgeting process.

By having this debate fresh in our minds I hope that all of us will be able to translate it into actions as we approach budget priorities within our committee system and as an assembly as a whole.

There are serious concerns, not least from the Director of National Energy Action, who was delighted that this debate was happening again, that the set objectives to eradicate fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010 and by non-vulnerable households by 2016 would be missed.

The UUP is keen to ensure that these dates will most definitely not be missed.”