Trevor Clarke
South Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“For recruitment to the current Youth Assembly and on the basis of research on the youth demographic in Northern Ireland, a minimum of 10 young people with disabilities were sought in order to be representative of the data. Of the 90 young people appointed to the Youth Assembly, 18 have a disability.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Youth Assembly regularly uses social media to promote its work, and, when preparing for a new mandate, targeted multimedia recruitment campaigns are used to engage young people and encourage participation.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission also has an apprenticeship and placement framework that provides the opportunity for people with a disability to avail themselves of short-term supported placements.”
“In 2025, 770 tours were delivered and the number of events hosted in Parliament Buildings almost doubled to 583. <BR /> <BR />Our Education Service promotes its programmes to schools and colleges through an annual September mail-out, outlining provision for the relevant Key Stages, including a focus on inclusive engagement for children wi…”
“Mr Speaker, I may require an extra minute to answer the question. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission's school work experience programme is facilitated through a partnership between our internal education services team and an organisation called Futures For All, a social mobility charity.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I may need an extra minute to answer the question, and I thank the Member for it. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission's public engagement strategy 2025-27 aims to increase awareness, improve understanding and enable participation in the work of the Assembly.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,151 lines we hold for Trevor Clarke, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 17 of 24.
“If the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party wants to criticise a Budget that is investing tens of millions of pounds in infrastructure in Northern Ireland, so be it. <BR /> <BR />I think a degree of certainty has been brought into the homes of those employed in that industry. He talked previously about mortgaging this place. There are people employed in that sector who have mortgages and are glad of the certainty that Fresh Start has brought. They are glad of the investment that has been brought to Northern Ireland and to its roads, securing their futures so that they can pay their mortgages. However, if the leader of the Ulster Unionists thinks that is a bad thing, shame on him, is all I have to say. <BR /> <BR />I welcome this Budget.”
“I can hear him laugh. Maybe he wants to speak to the Quarry Products Association (QPA), which, when his Minister was in charge, was considering laying off its workforce. The QPA has welcomed the investment announced by the current Minister for the security and jobs that it is bringing. <BR /> <BR />That is not ideal. However, it is better than having a workforce — you know this, Mr Deputy Speaker, given that we met them through the Committee — where some of the organisations employing those individuals were suggesting a month's notice and were going to be getting rid of them. We also heard in the Committee that some were going to England to seek work because there was nothing in Northern Ireland.”
“That was a very meaningful interjection from the Member who gave us all his woes and glows earlier, as well as a history lesson, but when he was challenged about who introduced some of this stuff and was pointed back to his party, he had nothing to say — just like he has nothing to say now, and just like his Minister had nothing to offer last year. I have to say that, with the Executive and all the problems they have had over recent months, "fresh start" is a good description of where they are going and the direction of travel we are on.”
“<BR /> <BR />The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party may want to reflect on the middle of last year, when his Minister could not keep the street lights on, could not fill potholes and could not give certainty to the industry in relation to fixing or maintaining the roads. There have been announcements in recent weeks about capital investment for our roads.”
“In case there is any shadow of doubt, I speak in my capacity as an MLA and not as Chairman of the Committee for Regional Development. <BR /> <BR />I have listened to the debate for the period I have been in the Chamber. My colleague referred to those in opposition today, and some of their comments are interesting. However, contrast that with the good news about the Budget and about the allocation for roads. Given that I am the Chairman of that Committee but speaking in a personal capacity, I think that we have to welcome the commitment from the Minister and the Executive parties about the money that has been released for the A6 project, the A5, Belfast rapid transit and the other projects that are referred to as flagship projects.”
“To a degree, I accept what the Minister is saying about the disadvantage to the children — I do not believe that it will affect the educational standards in our schools. Surely, however, the Minister accepts that, when employers are looking at the grades of young people coming out of school, it is the grades that they are looking for. Given that those are English exam bodies, it is going to affect employers and large firms that create employment in Northern Ireland. Is the Minister minded to look more at that, rather than disadvantaging the employment opportunities of our young people moving forward?”
“I thank the Minister for her very detailed answer. You talked about the technology, the difficulty with the implementation and the challenges that would be afforded to that. Can you give the House an indication of how many have been, or who was, consulted in relation to the system?”
“A sum of £2 million has been wasted to date on something that has a 15-year lifespan. Until the day comes that charges come along — if and when — it is time enough to put the meters in place, but we should not continue to waste money until that date.”
“I am happy to stand over my comments, just as you were with your party's position. However, if you set aside clause 3 today, you are bringing about the introduction of water charges. In the last five minutes of your contribution, you were giving all the reasons why water charges should start sooner rather than later. I am being a realist. I see a day when they may come. However, there is a commitment from my party and others that there should not be the introduction of water charges in this mandate. In relation to clause 3, this will not prevent meters being installed in the future, because it is only the meter caps that have to go in; the tobies are still in place. To be fair, I think that John Dallat was the first person to raise this in the Committee. He was concerned about the cost.”
“I appreciate the tone of what the Member is saying, but is he not concerned about the regulator, its independence and its concern that this is actually unnecessary?”
“I am happy to correct that. However, Mr Lyttle is one of those who, on many occasions, has pushed forward with the suggestion that we should look at the introduction of water charges. I know that Mr Lyttle is at pains to outline his party's policy and that he has raised the issue on numerous occasions. His drive is about introducing water charges. However, I will say again that, thankfully, the Executive made a conscious decision not to do that. <BR /> <BR />The DUP will support clause 3 as amended by the Minister and will oppose the amendments in the names of Chris Lyttle and Stewart Dickson.”
“I can hear the Member speaking from a sedentary position. I did not waste anything. The waste has come about because of water meters that were installed but not used. I am not sure what part of that the Member does not understand. The water meters are not being used, and there is a cost of £2 million that cannot be recovered. The water meters have a 15-year lifespan. We have been installing them for years, and they have not been used. I am happy to give way.”
“The fact is that the money has been wasted. Two million pounds have been wasted on installing meters that are not going to be used.”
“I thank the Member for his statement. It is interesting to note that he is blaming the party whose Minister is bringing the Bill forward today. My last recollection of the Executive's position was that all the parties in the Executive bar his own supported the non-introduction of water charges. If this were only a DUP Bill to prevent the introduction of water charges, I would be happy. However, all the parties bar the Alliance Party have opposed the introduction of water charges. <BR /> <BR />Maybe I will address the Member's other point about the costs. Of course, he went on to make a statement rather than an intervention about how the money could have been spent and how it had been wasted.”
“I will in a moment. One thing should be put on the record about the £2 million that has been wasted. The Minister did not touch on this. The water meters have a 15-year lifespan, so many of those meters that have been installed have been wasted because they have not been used. Because I was concerned, I did seek assurance that, if water charges did come along in the future, we would not be in the position of retrospectively fitting water meters. That is not the case. All the infrastructure is still in place and it is a case only of installing the meter heads. All the other functions that are in the ground would still be there, but the lifespan of the meters is only 15 years. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to give way now.”
“We have heard from the Minister today that £2 million has ultimately been wasted because these meters are going into domestic properties and have not been used. One of the things that the Minister did not touch on —”
“I want to put on record my thanks to the Committee staff for the work that they have done in preparation with the Committee and indeed to the departmental staff, who have given considerable time, in Committee sessions and at the additional outside sessions that we had to bring some of us up to speed on soft SuDS. <BR /> <BR />I have to say that I am astonished at the opposition to clause 3 and indeed at amendment No 7 in the names of Chris Lyttle and Stewart Dickson. To me, this probably fits in with their policy on the introduction of water charges because who else, in their right mind, would set aside something that had been debated at great length on the removal of water meters?”
“<BR /> <BR />However, in relation to clause 5, the Committee recognises that there is a role for property owners, the private sector and other public bodies to engage in the future management of SuDS, but concerns remain that the soft-SuDS option is not being adopted by the Department or Northern Ireland Water. For this reason, the Committee has recommended that the Department publishes guidance on the approaches to SuDS in the Northern Ireland context, which is based on authoritative industry standards. The Committee would welcome an assurance from the Minister that full and prompt consideration will be given to identify who should ultimately take responsibility for this. <BR /> <BR />Now, I will speak in my capacity as a member of the DUP and not as Chair.”
“That arose as a result of Committee concerns in relation to clause 4. The Committee was concerned that sustainable drainage systems focused too significantly on the hard, engineered SuDS and not enough on soft SuDS. That view was supported by the Construction Employers Federation. The Committee therefore sought to amend clause 4 to make reference to soft SuDS. Unfortunately, at that time, the Department did not support the Committee's amendment but has since brought forward an amendment to clause 5 on landscaping, natural features etc. Following consideration of legal advice, the Committee is content that the alternative amendment would achieve the Committee's objective of including soft SuDS within the provisions of the Bill. The Committee is therefore content with the wording of the amendment to clause 5.”
“The Department agreed to the amendment to include "district councils" in the wording of clause 3. The Committee is content with the wording of the amendments to clause 3. <BR /> <BR />The amendment to clause 5 is to include:”
“<BR /> <BR />The Examiner of Statutory Rules provided advice to the Committee and raised concerns regarding the provisions at clause 3(4)(b) as drafted. The Department agreed to the amendments suggested by the Examiner of Statutory Rules, and the Examiner has confirmed that he is content with the amendments, as drafted. <BR /> <BR />Following oral evidence from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), the Committee sought a further amendment to clause 3 to include local government as a statutory consultee where the Department intends to make regulations amending the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 in respect of the removal or relaxation of the duty to install water meters when making domestic connections.”
“I welcome the opportunity to respond to the Consideration Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services Bill in my capacity as Chair of the Committee for Regional Development. In preparation for the Committee Stage of the Bill, the Committee for Regional Development was afforded a very in-depth briefing at an early stage by the Department. That briefing prepared the Committee for the scrutiny of the Bill. I have already put on record the Committee’s thanks to the Minister of the time and his officials for the considerable briefing that was provided to the Committee then and since the new Minister has taken post. I also thank the organisations that took the time to provide the Committee with written and oral evidence on the Bill.”
“The Committee also concluded that benchmarks on prescribing performance should be established to compare GP prescribing performance, and benchmarking data should be published periodically, sharing this data in order to improve efficiency.”
“The Committee is pleased that the HSC Board is proactively benchmarking prescribing in other parts of the UK to see the potential for generating future savings and that HSC is developing a three-year strategy that will incorporate a focus on these efficiencies. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the Committee's report had nine recommendations, and these have all been accepted by the Department. These included the Committee's wanting GP remuneration to be linked to prescribing performance. This would require renegotiation of a UK-wide contract, and the Department, in its recent memorandum of reply update, has stated that it will, through the annual negotiation process, discuss performance arrangements, including the introduction of specific performance arrangements for prescribing.”
“Given that we are the only region that incurred higher costs per head of population in 2013 than in 2007, the Committee concluded that we have been much slower in achieving savings. This money could have been better used elsewhere in the health service at a time of budgetary pressure. <BR /> <BR />Given the Department’s own acknowledgement that there may be scope to save tens of millions of pounds, the Committee was disappointed that steps have not been taken to quantify the savings that could be generated by the most cost-effective prescribing. The Committee recommended that the HSC Board take a more proactive approach to examining prescribing patterns in each of the 12 therapeutic areas to establish the potential for generating savings.”
“However, in an examination of GP prescribing patterns, in three out of the 15 therapeutic areas, the Committee learned that GPs here tended to prescribe more expensive generic versions of drugs compared with their UK counterparts. More cost-effective prescribing in these areas alone could have saved the health service £8·3 million in 2012 and £6·5 million in 2013. Additionally, reducing local prescribing levels of the most frequently dispensed drug in Northern Ireland, pregabalin, to those elsewhere in the UK would have released over £8·5million in 2012 and £9·7million in 2013. The Committee was concerned that prescribing costs per head of population here are not in line with other parts of the UK.”
“A key element in the savings has been achieved through prescribing lower-cost generic versions of drugs. The Committee welcomes campaigns such as Go Generic in reassuring people of the effectiveness of generic drugs rather than branded drugs and is pleased to see that the Department is taking steps to inform and educate patients on the rationale for prescribing decisions.”
“The Audit Office estimated that, if the prescribing costs per head of population in Northern Ireland in 2013 had been in line with those in Wales, overall prescribing costs in Northern Ireland could have been reduced by £73 million. <BR /> <BR />The Committee noted that the Department was reluctant to accept the validity of the cost comparison either locally between GP practices or with other regions. While acknowledging that there may be differences, the Committee questioned whether the regional service delivery differences outlined by the Department fully explain the extent of the cost differential. The Committee recognised that, working with the Health and Social Care Board, GPs had achieved savings in prescribing costs since 2010 but that there was significant scope for further improvement.”
“The Comptroller and Auditor General and his team should be congratulated for the work that they do. Committee members were given a remit for what we were supposed to say today on different areas, but it will be difficult for me, given that the previous contributor has covered most of my points. I will read my script out anyhow. <BR /> <BR />Primary care prescribing costs around £460 million a year. That is approximately 10% of health and social care expenditure. This, I am sure Members will agree, is a significant part of the healthcare budget, and we need to ensure that we get the best value for money, especially with the immense squeeze on all Executive budgets. It is clear that prescribing costs in Northern Ireland are not in line with the rest of the UK.”
“I think it would be wrong to characterise every member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland who handled them as being the same. Only one incident of this kind was found, albeit that shows that there was an opportunity for that to happen. I would like to put on record that only one was ever found guilty of that crime.”
“As a former Chairman, you may be aware that this report indicates that the figures are inflated and that it does not allow for modern teaching methods. The figure that your Department uses in relation to the number of empty places is actually a false figure. What is your Department going to do to rectify that and print an accurate figure for whatever the schools estate has?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. I am sure that she will be as surprised as I was that samples are taken from those fish, or tests are done, only in some cases. Can the Minister give us an assurance that, given the number of incidents, particularly in the Sixmilewater and the Three Mile Water in my constituency, or indeed anywhere in Northern Ireland, the work that her Department does is instrumental in trying to find the source? One way would obviously be to test all the fish to actually see what killed them and whether we can identify those polluters and bring them before the courts.”
“I, like others, welcome the Minister to her first Question Time. Following on from the initial question, what preparation plans does the Minister have to prevent an incident like the freeze/thaw event in 2011 happening again?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. You still wasted £214 million.”
“Is the Member saying that he would deny people in a constituency bordering his, such as those who live in Stoneyford, a good rail link? Would he also deny Belfast International Airport the opportunity to expand?”
“I am glad that the motion is bringing forward a project that will deliver and continue to move Northern Ireland forward for everyone's prosperity.”
“However, dare I put a wee sting in at the last? I mean nothing personal against the proposer of the motion, he and I have grown very friendly over the last number of months — I do not know how — but it is ironic how much has been wasted on welfare, and his party is one of those that have held back on welfare reform. Some £214 million in welfare reform fines have been handed back to the British Treasury to date. Had we had that £214 million, we could have built the road from Randalstown to probably three quarters of the way to Dungiven; we would have had a road and something to show for it. We would have secured investment and jobs for the Quarry Products Association and its members. Instead, that Member's party and the other Members opposite decided to stand in the way of welfare and progress and hand back £214 million.”
“I do not think that anyone should be disadvantaged just because they are from the west of the Province. Given that the Executive have previously made a commitment for those projects, I encourage the Minister and her Executive colleagues to do whatever they can to expedite those projects and get them delivered as soon as humanly possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />In speaking about the quarry products, we have to recognise that there have been considerable job losses because of the reduction in the budget and what the Minister — and, indeed, the previous Minister — had to spend. I suppose the motion does seem somewhat aspirational in relation to the amount of money that it is actually going to take to deliver the projects that are outlined. I think, previously, we heard that from the M2 to Londonderry was costing in excess of £350 million. If we just focus on that one scheme alone, we are talking about a considerable amount of money. However, it would be foolish for any of us to say today that we do not want to see that project, or, indeed, any other project, whether in the east of the Province or the west of the Province. They all bear a certain degree of merit.”
“I know that the Minister is relatively new in post and that she has taken the opportunity to meet, for example, the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland on the value that it would put into new road projects. It is not only them. I am sure that other Members will speak about pet projects in their constituencies. That is why I am happy to join this one today — because the A6 is actually in my constituency, albeit that it joins a considerable road from Randalstown right up to Londonderry. The members of the Committee will know that I and others made representation when we were up in the port of Londonderry a few weeks ago about the significance and importance of that and how it would be useful for everyone to join that up.”
“However, as a Committee, we have also continued to liaise with counterparts in Dublin to ensure that the project is progressed. It does, however, remain a commitment, as is frequently evidenced in the North/South ministerial meetings. I fully accept that there will be little progress on the project in what remains of this mandate. However, the Committee would encourage the new Executive, and, indeed, the new Committee for Infrastructure, to ensure that that remains firmly on the agenda. <BR /> <BR />The A6 has been debated over the last 40-odd years. Whilst I am not as old as the Member who moved the motion, I know that it has been about for a considerable time, so I do not think that we are going to see any resistance from the Committee in relation to that. <BR /> <BR />I will add a few remarks in my own right.”
“<BR /> <BR />The A5 project has also been debated and has been subject to oral and written questions in the House on numerous occasions. It is also referred to at the Committee on frequent occasions by Members on the Benches opposite and, indeed, on these Benches. There is no division on it, or the A6, which is equally important to Members in the east of the Province and those who travel to Dungiven or Londonderry daily. The Committee has travelled to both those routes and has taken evidence from landowners and householders in Omagh — those in favour and those against. Again, there was an Executive commitment on the project. The economic climate in the Republic of Ireland and the judicial review in this jurisdiction have slowed that project considerably.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate in my capacity as the Chair. I will add some comments towards the end in my own capacity. <BR /> <BR />I trust that it is in order to welcome the new Minister. I have been fortunate to attend one of her first ministerial functions today. I suppose the announcement of that will be next week in relation to the winter programme, and that was useful. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has consistently supported all four projects referred to in the motion. It was, after all, the Committee that put pressure on the previous Minister to bring forward the first phase of the Coleraine to Londonderry project in order for the City of Culture celebrations to be exploited to the fullest potential. We are thankful for that.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer to my question. Indeed, I welcome her comments. I am sure that she will be all too familiar with the case in my constituency where a member of the public was given a very lenient sentence despite letting her dog hang to death on the ropes of her curtains. I think that the public have got behind this because of that case. In your response, you talked about that the fact that we are coming towards the end of the mandate. Is there a possibility that this can be expedited and brought in as quickly as possible? There is a fear among the community about other people who have treated animals in the appalling way that that lady in Antrim did.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has undertaken pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and worked very closely with the Department in ensuring that this tight deadline can be kept to, including consulting on the Bill, with Committee officials meeting the departmental briefing team during summer recess. The Committee agreed during a recent strategic planning exercise that the Bill was a priority and confirmed its commitment to continuing to work with the Department to ensure its passage through the House.”
“The Water and Sewerage Services Bill will amend and confer power to amend the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and for connected purposes. The Bill was introduced on Tuesday 16 June 2015, with its Second Stage taking place on Monday 29 June 2015, following which the Bill moved on to Committee Stage. The Committee agreed at its meeting on 1 July 2015 to seek the permission of the House to extend the Committee Stage to 25 November 2015 to allow for a full consultation and consideration of a number of important aspects of the Bill.”
“I thank the Member for that intervention. We will consider that once we get into scrutinising the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has agreed that, when it receives the Bill at Committee Stage, we will consult on it over the summer recess. The Department has a very tight deadline to ensure that the Bill receives Royal Assent before the end of the mandate, but that will not affect the detailed level of scrutiny that is normally applied by the Committee. I am sure that issues such as that which the Member has just brought forward will be of concern to other Members. We will, however, endeavour to work with the Minister and his officials to ensure that the deadlines are met and that we can have the legislation passed.”
“Clause 6 offers householders protection, particularly when they are purchasing or renting a new home, as they can now be assured that the sewers connecting to their home are up to an appropriate standard.”
“During the inquiry, the Committee expressed its extreme concern that there was no mandatory requirement in the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 for a developer to submit a drainage plan to Building Control or even to enter into an agreement with NIW on a bond. The Committee understandably considered those to be major flaws that needed redressing urgently. As the explanatory and financial memorandum details:”
“I think that the Bill will go some way to addressing that. <BR /> <BR />Clause 5 will go hand in hand with SUDs, as it will add sustainable drainage to the reasons that Northern Ireland Water can refuse connection of surface water to its public sewer network. If drains, sewers or now SUDS do not meet the required standards or would prejudice the system, they can now be refused. That is an important protection. <BR /> <BR />Clause 6 is an example of how a Committee and a Department can work together, as it will bring into effect a recommendation that was made in the Committee inquiry's on unadopted roads, which the Minister has already spoken about.”