Roy Beggs
East Antrim · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I declare an interest as owner of 25 acres of agricultural land; also, my parents run a small agricultural business. <BR /> <BR />There is a shortage of fertiliser, and the Minister has referred to the present difficulties in Ukraine that are contributing to that. That shortage exists even at the exorbitant cost of £1,000 per ton.”
“of public bodies in Northern Ireland. That is vital in order to reassure the public that money is being spent appropriately. That is to be done independently.”
“There has been a very close working relationship and a close partnership. Where issues needed highlighted and where the Assembly, through its scrutiny mechanisms, needed to dig deeper to get better value and better accountability, that occurred.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also want to reflect on the close working relationship that there has been between the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Northern Ireland Audit Office, which the C&AG oversees and manages, and the Assembly, particularly the Public Accounts Committee.”
“As we consider this motion to nominate a new Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland, it is important that we reflect on the importance that the role has in any democracy. The C&AG in Northern Ireland is the head of the Northern Ireland Audit Office.”
“P&O has brutally cast its workforce aside in a Dickensian fashion. There was no consultation or notice, and the company delivered a live message by video link. Will the Minister clarify whether the P&O redundancy announcement is covered by maritime law, Northern Ireland employment law or GB employment law?”
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“They now, apparently, have no shame in preventing what limited amendments could have been made to the Bill by this Assembly. Their mechanism is making it virtually impossible for amendments to succeed. I look forward to hearing a shameful explanation from DUP Members who, presumably, all signed it and all have a responsibility in how they have, effectively, removed the democratic and more normal working of this Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Why should we not have the ability to debate the Bill, its individual clauses, and make amendments?”
“I wish to continue; I may give way later on. There is nothing that can be argued about what I just said. It is very factual. They have displayed the undemocratic nature of their attitudes as MLAs and as a party, which, of course, has the word "democratic" in its name. The other country that springs to mind that has the word "democratic" in its name was the Democratic Republic of East Germany, as it was at one time. Of course, that was a totalitarian state. It would appear that the DUP are much more akin with that attitude than that of normal Western society. That, unfortunately, sums up how they approach the whole issue of welfare reform. It is embarrassing enough how they tried to bring a copy and paste of the GB Bill across to Northern Ireland.”
“However, you would not think that today is as important as it really is by observing the shameful actions of the DUP last night in tabling multiple copies of their pre-prepared petitions of concern against every single amendment that has been put forward, other than by their Minister. They have effectively killed off discussion and the decision-making process in this Assembly. Disgraceful. They are attempting to steamroller the Bill through as they would wish it to be. They are attempting to prevent this Assembly from having its say. They have single-handedly potentially blocked almost 50 amendments, including well over 20 in this group alone.”
“I welcome this long overdue opportunity to open the debate on this next stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. It has been the most contentious and drawn out yet probably the most important legislation that this Assembly has ever considered. To date, we have had about £100 million of fines imposed upon us in reductions in the block grant. That has meant £100 million of reductions in public services. There have been clawbacks during this financial year, mid-year. Indeed, I suspect that has contributed to the lack of funding that would have been available to health. <BR /> <BR />In 2015, £114 million would have been set aside in potential fines, again from the block grant.”
“Local children in my community feel that they are being discriminated against. Will the Minister ensure that he deals with all members —”
“Will the Minister acknowledge that the pupils, the parents and, indeed, the community in Islandmagee feel that they are being discriminated against given that they agreed the amalgamation of Ballypriormore, Kilcoan and Mullaghdubh primary schools over 10 years ago but, as yet, no school has been built? Yet the Minister has been able to find perhaps over £2 million for his own pet project school, an Irish language school, which will operate at a projected running cost —”
“<BR /> <BR />With the final approval of the Bill, the control of off-road car parking will be in the hands of local people, who should best know their communities. It is not just about the traders: we have to think of the residents in our town centres and the customers who use the town centres. With that authority comes great responsibility for council officers and councillors, and I hope that they will use the power carefully and wisely. It can be an important tool in helping to regenerate our town centres and to improve local communities. I, and the Ulster Unionists, therefore support the Bill to devolve off-road car-parking powers back into the hands of local councils, as occurs in most other parts of the world.”
“Thank you for your intervention. I believe that we have to trust local people. They will be accountable to their ratepayers, to local traders and to democracy. It is much better that they face the challenges. We have to accept that, on some occasions, the best long-term result may be to sell off some small car parks. Who knows? So, why should we put in protection? Are we not going to trust local government? Are we not going to trust those given the authority by their community to make these decisions? The Ulster Unionists believe in delegating that authority so that decisions can be made quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy: you either trust your local councillors or you do not. I am not quite sure what the Member is saying, but I fully believe that local government is best placed to make those decisions.”
“It is important that councillors look to the long term and do not take any decisions for a short-term advantage. <BR /> <BR />So, with the final approval of the Bill —”
“Local councillors can now make that decision, and it is much better that the responsibility lies with them. <BR /> <BR />As we move to the future, local government will also have wider town centre regeneration powers, including community planning, the development of town centres and even developing area plans. Putting all these things together creates a much better method of enabling local government, local councillors and local people to make adjustments to their town centres for the benefit of all. <BR /> <BR />There will be challenges. Some may be attracted to selling off car parks. Remember, though, that these are community assets, and I caution those who may take control and wish to make a quick buck by simply selling them on.”
“I hope that, in future, councillors, working with traders and with their communities, will be able to think of such things and bring about benefits. <BR /> <BR />Councils will have to look at how best to balance the pressures: how to keep down costs yet meet the community's needs; and how to ensure that car parking spaces close to town centres are available for those who wish to use them, to ensure that there is a degree of turnover. Some Members spoke about cost difficulties. I have no doubt that it would be wiser to meet the cost of some car parks in east Antrim rather than charging for them, because there are so many vacant parking spaces in some of our town centres. Perhaps councils can examine that and keep a smaller number of pay-and-display charging spaces. They can also decide to provide more free parking, if they wish.”
“Councils will be able to decide what mechanisms to use in the future. They will be able to look to tailoring new schemes to suit their area, perhaps in the run-up to Christmas. They may identify a lack of activity in their town centre and look to innovative ways to try to attract additional custom and address their community's needs. Town centres are very important to communities, and it is important that we keep the heart of our town centres. I think of recent innovative schemes. Last Christmas, the Minister came up with the idea of the five-hours-parking-for-a-pound scheme, which brought more activity to our town centres at the same time as raising money when appearing to give a discount. By presenting better value for money, it was possible to bring about wins on all sides.”
“Many have wanted these powers to be devolved for some time, so it is good that we are finally reaching the last stage of the legislative process that will enable that to happen.”
“We will have a greater level of local accountability and a faster decision-making process to react to local needs.”
“I think that it is, and I hope that everybody in the House will support it despite their comments. Parking has been a big issue in many town centres for years. Town centres are vital to local communities, yet many of those town centres are experiencing difficulty. They are under threat from online retailers and out-of-town shopping centres. <BR /> <BR />We are entering a new era of local government with our super-councils. I believe that local people, who will be able to take on board the views of local traders, local residents and local officials who may see issues arise much more quickly, will be able to react with the support of their local councils to deal with the needs in those communities. <BR /> <BR />So I, with the Ulster Unionists, support the Bill and the transfer of the powers over off-street car parks to those councils.”
“I, too, welcome the fact that we have reached the Final Stage of the Bill, which will see the transfer of ownership of off-street car parks to the new super-councils in April of this year. We have to remember that this is the transfer to local government of assets to the value of tens of millions of pounds. That is the right thing to do. Local government is best-placed to make the best use of those assets and determine how best they will be used in the future. I hope that they will exercise that authority carefully and with their local communities in mind. <BR /> <BR />Having listened carefully to some of the comments of others who have been so critical of this process, I am actually wondering how they are going to vote at the end of the debate. Is the Bill the right thing to do?”
“I declare an interest as a member of the Carrickfergus Community Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Group. Given that many voluntary groups provide value for money and value to the community and community safety issues, how will the Minister ensure that very worthwhile projects will not adversely affect the community by their absence during the transition to the new PCSP arrangements within the new council boundaries?”
“Will the Member accept that there is not a pollution issue in rural communities where there is plenty of fresh air and the countryside? Not only that, but if he were to support a Northern Ireland-wide ban on bituminous coal, he would also have to support a ban on the burning of peat, because it is even more pollutant. Would he support a ban on peat burning?”
“Is the Member aware that, over Christmas, I visited a home in which there was clearly fuel poverty? The family could not afford to fill their oil tank, and there was a young child in that family. Their only option for heating their home was to use the open fire, which, of course, is not suitable for smokeless coal. Therefore, there are great risks and a danger of fuel poverty if bituminous coal were to be banned.”
“Climate change regulations can increase energy costs and contribute to fuel poverty, so care is required. When I say that great care must be taken to avoid inconsistent outcomes that lead to greater fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, I am thinking about the all-Ireland study into bituminous coal and about a constituent who relies on a coal fire because they cannot afford an oil fill.”
“I welcome the consultation on anti-bullying legislation to protect our children and young people. However, does the Minister not find it rather ironic that he as Sinn Féin Minister is leading this, given that, of recent times, his party supporters and, indeed, some of its elected representatives have been involved in the cyberbullying of Ann Travers and Maíria Cahill, not to mention his party's history of actual physical violence?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In that answer he indicated that there would be some £15 million of a shortfall. That is quite a significant amount of money. What practical options will be there for Northern Ireland Water to operate in such circumstances? How will water quality and supply be maintained, given that that level of funding is significantly below that set as part of the price determination?”
“Fuel laundering has been a highly lucrative operation for criminal gangs, involving hundreds of millions of pounds, yet few, if any, have gone to prison, never mind having substantial assets seized. Does the Minister accept that the proportion of assets seized is very small compared with the profits that have been made in this area? What more does he intend to do to address illegal fuel laundering?”
“The Minister will be aware of the high regard in which the Larne Enterprise Development Company and Carrickfergus Enterprise are held as a result of their innovation, flexible rental terms and training and support. Will the Minister indicate how, when companies want to develop in the future, Invest NI will step in and link well with the new councils so that companies will be able to grow further? Will she also assure me that the information on the NI Business Info site will continue to be updated centrally and will be available to all business in Northern Ireland that need it?”
“As the Executive and, indeed, the Assembly debate the Budget and try to ensure that adequate funding is provided to further education, will the Minister assure me and my constituents that constituencies such as East Antrim, where there is no effective centre of further education, will not be further marginalised and that there will be adequate outreach into local communities? At present, the Northern Regional College recognises that parts of Carrickfergus, Larne and, indeed, Moyle are not adequately provided with FE opportunities.”
“Does the Minister accept that the RQIA was slow to move to such enforcement action against Cherry Tree House and that, as a result, the poor standards were allowed to continue? It does seem as if, once it moved to that, there has been improvement. So, would he accept that its threshold for requiring evidence of change has been too high and that there needs to be a review of that area?”
“Cherry Tree is an option, and some patients are happy to reside there. It is important that there are facilities available locally for our constituents, and I hope that, with proper enforcement and the cooperation of the management, a high quality of care can be provided.”
“I have been talking to some relatives as well, and what they have been telling me is that there have been improvements. We have to recognise that. But they also indicated that there needs to be further improvement and that there is not the high quality of care we would all want for our own loved ones. There need to be further improvements, but let us recognise that there has been improvement.”
“No lessons were being learnt, and no effective enforcement was being enacted on the home. It appears that the RQIA had more power; it could have muscled in and enforced. Previous requirements were not being corrected. Surely that could have warranted warnings or, if necessary, the removal of status and making people aware that that could easily have happened. If that had happened, the improvements would have happened much sooner, which would have benefited all concerned.”
“Again, a very fundamental assessment, you would have thought. When you are given a warning that there is a problem in an area, that area should be concentrated on, and any issues that arise should be addressed. Clearly, aspects of the RQIA inspection methodology and practices need to be implemented over the period. Lessons must be learned, as I said at the beginning, for the benefit of all our vulnerable elderly people or those who need care in such residential and nursing homes. <BR /> <BR />It must be a concern to us all that one relative is quoted as saying:”
“You can see how that would cause a very practical difficulty, but it goes on:”
“The whistle-blowers included an agency care assistant, three care assistants, three members of the Cherry Tree House staff, an observer in Carrickfergus and two other members of Cherry Tree House. Alarm bells should have been ringing very loudly during the process. It was not just someone with a gripe against the employer; the frequency of the complaints is unbelievable. Allegations of abuse of residents were mentioned at least 16 times. The standard of care delivered to residents was mentioned at least 25 times. Other care issues, such as failure to implement procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults, were mentioned at least 15 times. Glaring issues were raised, but they were not addressed. <BR /> <BR />Another fascinating detail in the report is this:”
“Where is making sure that what needed to be improved was improved? That is fundamental. What a basic failing it was that the previous inspection was not gone through in detail before the next inspection so that you know what things should be rectified in order that standards can be improved. Those who made the complaints and met the review team expressed concerns regarding how their complaints were handled. That is also of concern. People should feel that they are given a fair hearing when they make a complaint. <BR /> <BR />The primary reason why the failings were highlighted was the whistle-blowing, as others have said. With a number of the recommendations, I am alarmed that they have had to be made in the first place. You would think that they would have been in place from the start. What are we talking about here?”
“It is vital that every resident and every new resident in every home knows that information and feels empowered to do something if they feel that improvement is needed. <BR /> <BR />The summation of complaints received between January 2005 and January 2013 is quite unbelievable: 19 allegations of abuse, including 12 of abuse by staff, and 27 cases involving personal care in respect of individuals. There were 40 other care issues, including residents falling, poor hygiene and loss of residents' property. There were 13 staffing issues, including poor staff attitudes and inadequate staff training. It is really interesting that, in some instances, RQIA did not follow up on the issues raised in complaints during the next investigation of the home. Where is the intelligent inspection? Where is the thought process?”
“RQIA inspections need to be rectified, as many families rely on them to give a degree of reassurance, when they may be unable to be present, that their vulnerable family member is being cared for and looked after appropriately and protected. Lessons need to be learned for the benefit not only of this home but for the RQIA and, indeed, all residential homes throughout Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I am keen to learn why it has taken so long to identify that there were such basic failings in the methods used by the RQIA. Only by changing the inspection process can failings be identified and addressed and standards of care for the elderly improved. <BR /> <BR />One of the recommendations is that new residents and their families should be provided with information on how to make a complaint. How fundamental is that?”
“I, too, thank my East Antrim colleague Stewart Dickson for bringing this Adjournment topic to the Assembly. Cherry Tree House has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons. It is important that lessons are learned from it and that others will not face similar circumstances. <BR /> <BR />First and foremost, we all have to welcome the fact that the whistle-blower had the courage to take a stand and highlight the worrying aspects of the care that residents were receiving at Cherry Tree House. The subsequent publication of the highly critical report, 'Independent Review of the Actions Taken', highlighted very basic failings in the original RQIA inspections.”
“The expansion proposal that was included in discussions of the area-planning process could benefit all young people and schools in the area. However, should expansion occur in advance of the process, the local grammar and integrated schools will be oversubscribed, and, as a result, the pupils will come from the controlled secondary sector. Does the Minister recognise that Protestant boys in particular are already underachieving and that it will be they who are adversely affected? Will he ensure that an appropriate equality impact assessment will be undertaken so that we do not further disadvantage members of our community because of any change that may occur in advance of the area-planning process?”
“The Northern Ireland Audit Office follow-on report from February drew particular attention to the close linkage between absenteeism, truancy and poor educational attainment. That is a fundamental issue: if you are not at school, you will not reach your full potential. Will the Minister advise on what action he has taken with other Ministers to ensure that parents and local communities are empowered? What action is he taking in his Department to empower schools and educational welfare officers so that they can help parents and young people to reach their full potential?”
“Will the Minister acknowledge that, on occasions, publication of reports has been excessively delayed as a result of what he is saying, that it appears that there is little probability of agreeing, and that there is still a need to bring such matters into the public domain to have them addressed and openly discussed?”
“Does the Member agree that it is astonishing that, in 2014, education welfare officers do not have full access to pupil attendance at school in their own office? We are only now carrying out pilots with a couple of officers to see whether that could be widened. Does he agree that that significantly inhibits their ability to do their work? Given the high levels of absenteeism in certain areas, does he agree that there is a lack of concentration from the Department and perhaps other contributing Departments on addressing the high levels of absenteeism in specific areas — generally socially disadvantaged areas — where action is needed?”
“I welcome the report that has been published and the drive to improve school attendance and increase the opportunities that will be available to our young people.”
“First, I welcome the fact that the report has been published and has highlighted the issue to the Department of Education, but it is astonishing that the Public Accounts Committee and the Northern Ireland Audit Office have had to deal with the subject. I declare an interest as a governor of Glynn Primary School and Horizon Sure Start. One would have thought, given the hundreds of people employed — senior officials within the Department of Education — that greater priority would be given to attendance at school. I have been asking questions on attendance in school since 2007-08. There are some worrying figures in my constituency, and some wards with 25% of pupils with less than 85% attendance at school, which limits their ability to achieve their full potential and contribute to society in the future.”
“Some 21 had been indicated but had not really been measurable, and it had not been demonstrated that they had been clearly achieved. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was concerned that, in 2012, only 55% of Account NI customers thought that it was a good or very good service. Departmental financial directors wanted better management information. That is after investing hundreds of millions of pounds. Clearly, that is not good enough, and improvement is needed. <BR /> <BR />The Department has accepted the Committee's recommendations, and the Department's memorandum of response details how these are to be implemented. <BR /> <BR />I will briefly touch on the report on improving pupil attendance at school.”
“The Department has retained some staff to process payments, when all of the work should have been passed to Account NI. Account NI's staffing levels are higher than planned, though it has to be acknowledged that it has taken on some additional work. The Committee wants DFP to review staffing levels in Account NI and to work with other Departments to reassess their needs for processing staff to eliminate the duplication of work and unnecessary checking. <BR /> <BR />The Committee found little evidence to support the Department's claims to have achieved improved decision-making, which was among the wider benefits that had been indicated. It is clear that, in future projects, the Department must limit its non-financial objectives to a few key targets that are capable of being measured.”
“Perhaps they are unconvinced of the savings and benefits, and there has certainly not been any evidence provided to the Committee and none shown in the report to demonstrate that savings are achievable and that there are significant benefits that would warrant buying into it. <BR /> <BR />As I said, the Committee considered that elements were extraordinarily high, and there really must be a detailed review of Account NI costs to identify potential savings. The total cost of the project will be some £213 million, and, given that huge investment of public funds, one would have expected to have seen clear evidence of the project delivering value for money. Again, that was not the case.”
“Some might argue that they are not exact, but, in the absence of any being provided by the Department, it is good to have an estimate, especially as the Department never attempted to benchmark. It cost £9·73 to process an invoice, and it is estimated that £2·73 was paid to the IT company per transaction. That is a way of printing money. <BR /> <BR />Shared services centres were developed as a result of the 2004 Gershon review into public administration to achieve those efficiencies, but today some 45 public bodies could have chosen to join and perhaps create even more efficiencies but have not done so.”
“The Committee also recognised that the introduction of a common accounting system across all Departments was a significant advance on the previous outdated system, but there has been a lack of focus on delivering efficiency savings, which was the fundamental purpose of the process. <BR /> <BR />There is an absence of key performance data, even five years after Account NI was set up. That is unacceptable. I notice that, in the memorandum of understanding, the Department is in the process of establishing proposals on benchmarking categories. Many years later, it is just identifying categories. There is a lack of urgency. In the absence of benchmarking, the Audit Office collated some preliminary benchmarking figures.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee recognised that Account NI has made some worthwhile contributions and achievements in improving the accounting process, such as through ensuring that companies providing goods and services to Departments are paid within seven days on average against a 10-day target. That is quite a remarkable target and quite a remarkable performance, but at what cost? Is it justifiable? Normal businesses operate on a 30-day cycle. So, what are we paying for that improved performance? We heard recently of supermarkets going the other way. I am not advocating that, but they are abusing their suppliers by stretching well beyond 30 days.”
“I wish to concentrate on the report published by the Committee on Account NI and, if time permits, also touch on the report on increasing pupil attendance. <BR /> <BR />Account NI provides a financial processing shared service for Northern Ireland Departments and 18 public bodies. It processes some one million transactions a year, which are worth over £10 billion. This was quite a high-cost project that cost some £213 million. One of the selling points of the shared services project was big efficiency savings. That has not worked out in practice with Account NI, and it is important that the Committee investigates projects such as this to identify lessons for the future.”
“The Minister, along with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, appears indifferent to the possible poor use of our limited public funds. Why has a full cost-benefit analysis not been published to ensure good practice? Will she ensure that money is spent in the most efficient way and we minimise the money that has to be spent on buildings and future travel costs? Does she accept that, in getting there, there should be agreement with the Department of Finance and Personnel? Indeed, has her accounting officer agreed with this proposal?”