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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“Recently at the Health Committee, officials revealed to me that the trusts were on schedule for a deficit of some £130 million but were recently awarded £60 million by in-year monitoring. Would the Minister accept that when pressures first emerged this time last year and were not addressed by the annual Budget process, difficulties with inefficiencies and growing waiting lists were mounting up? We now also understand that there has been an increase in the number of elective operations cancelled because of staff shortages. Would he accept that there are major problems resulting in the failure to manage the finances of the health service?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, and I congratulate him on his appointment. Elective care waiting lists have grown significantly over the last year. In your statement, you indicated that the investment in elective care will not meet the current pressures that exist in the trusts. In fact, you said that it would lead to elongated waiting times. Can you provide us with some hope as to when our health service will improve, when elective surgery will be brought down to the levels that occur in other parts of the United Kingdom and when the pressures on our A&Es will be resolved?”
“Will the Minister accept that, for some individuals, it can be a very isolating existence if you have limited mobility and limited numbers of friends and family who are able to visit you? Supported living accommodation can provide communal living with independence, which many people wish to retain, and, therefore, it needs to be looked at and made a widespread option.”
“Does the Member agree that it is important that what is widely known as supported living is available in each area, so that independent living can occur and be in easy reach of friends and family, such as at Greenisland House and Lisgarel in Larne?”
“I know that none of my relatives would want to go into accommodation for the frail elderly; they would want to go in to receive additional support. When I highlighted that issue to officials, some of them changed their ideas and the term "extra care housing" was then used. Again, they were sort of making it up as they went along. Of course, in Northern Ireland, there is a body called Extra Care that provides domiciliary care. It is clear that, as the Committee has recommended, there needs to be a clear review of this area and wide agreement between the housing associations, health trusts and those who represent older members of the public so that terminology can be agreed, confusion can be removed and appropriate planning can be made for all levels of accommodation.”
“Around that time — in fact, two days earlier — a letter was received from the Department indicating that it was now going to review the terminology. In the middle of a study by the Committee in which we had unearthed confusion, the Minister and the Department decided that they would review the terminology. Clearly, in the course of our work, we had highlighted that there was a problem. I welcome the fact that that was taken on board, but it is a sad state of affairs that the Committee had to unearth that situation. As the issue proceeded and further evidence was gathered, it was clear that members of the administration that looks after supported living were making it up as they went along. <BR /> <BR />We then received a document entitled 'Supported Living', which looked at how support was provided for the "frail elderly".”
“Indeed, there is a large degree of confusion in the various bodies. First of all, we had the Department, in its evidence in February, indicating that there were 414 supported living accommodations. Then, on 26 March, we had the trusts indicate that there were 18. The trusts and the Department were not even able to agree the terminology between them. Then, we had the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations giving evidence. It was very clear about the difference between sheltered housing and supported living. When I took the opportunity to cross-examine some of its witnesses, they made it clear that supported living was the "next step up". That was one of the comments made. They also said:”
“Options for individuals and families are vital, because each person will have individual needs, and the more options there are, the better. <BR /> <BR />As part of our investigation we visited Cedar Court in Downpatrick. I think that every member of the Committee was very impressed by the facility. Having had an opportunity to speak to the residents, I felt that it was clear that they were very content with their facility and the support that they received. I was struck by one individual who indicated that he had regained a degree of independence and was now able to use his free bus pass to travel widely, when previously he was restricted. Having appropriate care is clearly vital. <BR /> <BR />The difficulty with supported housing is that it is not widely known about. Many people are unaware of it.”
“On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, I rise as a former member of the Health Committee and someone who contributed to the report that has now been completed and presented to the Assembly. It was a very useful piece of work, and I commend the Committee and its staff for their work in the area. <BR /> <BR />On a personal level, a number of members of my extended family are at the stage at which they need additional help and support. Along with my constituents, I see the pressures that are on families and the limited choices that are often available. This was a very worthwhile area to investigate. As has been said by other Members, Transforming Your Care clearly flagged up the issue of supporting independent living, but it appears to me that not enough has been done to develop that strategy and implement options.”
“Some Speakers from other devolved Chambers were interested in the different style he used — and, I would argue, the success that that style brought for the benefit of this Assembly. His good humour, as others mentioned, was a key factor. He skilfully managed things and defused situations, avoiding conflict. <BR /> <BR />I wish Willie Hay a speedy return to good health so that he will be able to enjoy a quality of life and more time with his family, and to contribute elsewhere.”
“They were important because they had a calming role in the Assembly, trying to de-escalate situations for the betterment of the Assembly but also for the rest of the community, because there can be ramifications in the wider community from how we behave in this Chamber. <BR /> <BR />Willie Hay always tried to resolve issues amicably. Frequently he was successful, but we can be an awkward bunch and it is an impossible task always to do so. But he made every effort to try to do that for the benefit of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />As Deputy Speaker, I saw some of the challenges that he faced in the decisions that he had to make. He carried out his duty honourably and wisely.”
“I also support the motion. I add my appreciation of the work of Willie Hay not only in the Chamber but, as others said, in the other roles that are outside the administrative aspects of the duties of the Speaker's office. As an Assembly Member and as a Deputy Speaker, I have seen Willie perform those duties, and I have seen things from the other side. We all owe him our gratitude for the work that he carried out when he was in the position of Speaker. <BR /> <BR />"Due courtesy and moderation" was almost a catchphrase that Willie used frequently and encouraged the Deputy Speakers to use.”
“Previously during Question Time, the Minister indicated the significant financial pressures that he and his Department have faced. How has he been able to afford this expenditure?”
“The investment will improve transport linkages from the port of Larne to the M1, the M2 and throughout Northern Ireland, and even into the Republic of Ireland and the trade that exists between there and Scotland and the north of England in particular. I hope that new jobs will develop in the Larne area. Can the Minister outline what health and safety improvements we will see for road users as a result of the investment, and what will be the effect on journey time to the port of Larne?”
“Will the Member acknowledge that that fund does not go to the Department for Regional Development, and it is, in fact, the Department of Finance and Personnel that determines the budget that is given to the Minister to spend?”
“Will the Member indicate how he would have made savings at this late stage in the financial year, given that in-year cuts were required as a result of his party's policies?”
“Will the Member explain whose fault it is that the budget is £50 million short of achieving the target to maintain our roads?”
“Will the Member acknowledge that having in-year, last-minute cuts is the worst possible way to run a budget? It should be planned in advance, issues should be resolved, and this should not be repeated. Otherwise there is a possibility of similar issues occurring in this Department and other Departments.”
“— transparent processes will be put in place so that we can make better use of our limited funds.”
“We should be sorting out the Budget for next April now by taking decisions. If Members wish us to adopt their views on welfare reform, they ought to reflect that in policy and expenditure decisions. <BR /> <BR />In cutting Roads Service expenditure, the subcontractors have borne the burnt. One aspect of the motion that I can agree with is that the Executive need to have a more transparent annual Budget process. Of course, it is Sinn Féin that stopped that. It was their Minister — the Education Minister — who refused to go with it. So, the reason why we do not have a transparent and easily understood Budget process is Sinn Féin. That is further evidence of voodoo economics and further meaningless motions that they appear to be backing. What we need is a timetable when these —”
“Thank you. I concur with much that the Member said. <BR /> <BR />As a result of that £87 million cut and the reduction in in-year monitoring, we did not receive any additional money that had previously been expected. In fact, the Finance Minister announced a 2·1% in-year reduction across a broad range of Departments, with a further 2·3% to come. That is the worst possible way to manage any Budget: to distribute money, plan resources and then, at the last minute, four months into the financial year, change direction. At that time, many contracts will have been signed, employment levels will have been determined and, I suspect, there would be very few options available. That is the worst possible way to run a Budget and it is something that we must not repeat in the forthcoming year.”
“However, the Finance Minister and the DUP and Sinn Féin, who lead the Executive, have refused to reprofile such issues in an annual Budget process. <BR /> <BR />We then, of course, have welfare reform, which is costing £87 million this year and will cost £114 million next year. When the proposers of the motion and Sinn Féin decide to oppose welfare reform, they are deciding to apply cuts to a wide range of issues including Roads Service and including the very contractors that they indicate they wish to support. Those cuts can be traced back to that.”
“The June monitoring round was, of course, delivered late, at the end of July, limiting the time and ability to react to those decisions. While the bidding was for £77 million, capital funding of only £12 million was received. On the resource side, the DRD indicated that it could probably spend an additional £48 million, yet only £5 million was received. <BR /> <BR />Why do I highlight this? It is clear that, with tighter budgets in these current times, less funding from in-year monitoring can be expected in future. This approach can no longer continue if we wish to maintain our roads. The Budget approach of 2011 has clearly failed to account for this change, and other pressures have emerged in other Departments such as Health.”
“<BR /> <BR />When considering the motion today, I think it is important that we recognise how the current and previous Finance Ministers have largely allocated the funding to roads maintenance on the capital and resource sides. The increased funding was delivered largely as a result of increased in-year monitoring, money that was passed to Roads Service for structural roads maintenance as a result of failures to spend by others. The Department, working closely with contractors, could react quickly to make use of that funding and improve our roads infrastructure; and therein lies one of the current problems that contributes to the significant reduction in maintenance being carried out and to the funding of contractors.”
“I have just started. <BR /> <BR />In a recent answer, the Minister indicated that the structural maintenance budget needed to maintain the current roads standard and prevent deterioration is £133 million a year. Looking at previous figures, you will see that in 2008-09, and again in 2010-11, the funding was between £63 million and £88 million. In 2011-12, it increased to £120 million, and, in the following year, it was £110 million. In the last financial year, £130 million was spent on structural roads maintenance. I commend the Minister and the Executive for that significant increase in funding up until the current year.”
“There is a fatal flaw in the motion, in that it is targeted at DRD rather than at DFP and the whole budgetary process. I must admit that I welcome the comment made by the proposer of the motion, who said that he recognised that failings in the Budget process have contributed to this. <BR /> <BR />Planned road maintenance minimises the risk of accidents and the long-term cost of the upkeep of our roads. Expensive, repetitive temporary patching can often result in increased costs as opposed to the regular, planned resurfacing of roads. As others have indicated, there is also the problem of potholes and the increased risk of compensation claims against the Department.”
“Does the Member acknowledge that policy decisions that he and his party have taken have contributed to that?”
“Critically, this must include the ability to fully question members of the intelligence services and for them to be obliged to disclose information freely. Like others, I agree that Kincora should be included in the Westminster-based historical inquiry into child sexual exploitation, with powers to enable full disclosures to be made. The Ulster Unionist Party is determined that for Kincora and, indeed, any instance of wrongdoing there must be no hiding place.”
“The question that must be asked is this: are there elements of that at Kincora? <BR /> <BR />In October 2012, the Labour MP Tom Watson claimed that there was a powerful paedophile network linked to Westminster. In late 2012, the Metropolitan Police commenced Operation Fairbank to investigate claims that the Elm Guest House in south-west London was the scene of child sexual abuse. That has been followed up by Operation Fernbridge. Clearly, there are ongoing difficulties. Further recent investigations have uncovered 13 undisclosed items, four of which have implicated Home Office officials. There are 114 missing files. <BR /> <BR />We need an open and transparent inquiry into Kincora, with all the necessary powers.”
“Talking about the role of Chief Whip, Fortescue said:”
“Then, in December 1983, James Prior appointed Judge Hughes to head up a public inquiry, with limitations, into Kincora, but still the allegations persist. All has not been uncovered. <BR /> <BR />Recent revelations about celebrities such as Jimmy Savile and former Liberal MP Cyril Smith have led to victims of abuse coming forward. In addition, there have been widespread claims of abuse involving the rich and the powerful in other parts of the UK, for example London, Jersey and north Wales. These have been uncovered, and there is emerging evidence that strengthens the argument that the Kincora story should be reinvestigated with appropriate powers. <BR /> <BR />It is worth pausing to assess the words of Tim Fortescue, Edward Heath's Chief Whip, as recorded in the 1995 BBC documentary 'Westminster's Secret Service'.”
“The Kincora story has long been plagued with rumours that the full story never came out and that the involvement of powerful people in MI5 led to a cover-up. That is still the case, some 32 years later. There have been numerous inquiries over the period, starting with a private inquiry in 1982 set up by Secretary of State James Prior. It collapsed a month later, when three of its members resigned because they believed that the RUC had failed to carry out an effective investigation. In 1983, we saw former Sussex Chief Constable Sir George Terry look at the RUC's handling of the Kincora inquiry. He found no evidence of a homosexual ring, cover-up or paramilitary involvement. Tellingly, however, MI5 refused the RUC permission to speak to any of its officers.”
“Justice demands that the perpetrators should be exposed and held to account. These were young boys who were already disadvantaged and were to be cared for by the state but were abused. They had no one to defend them when they were alone in that house at the mercy of those beasts.”
“Truth means that there must be no hiding place for the perpetrators of these crimes no matter who or where they are, no matter their connections or affiliations and no matter how inconvenient it may be for the powers that be, whether in Belfast or in London.”
“I, too, thank the proposer of the motion for bringing it to the House and indicate my support for it. <BR /> <BR />As we have heard, the Kincora story is quite a gripping one, with all the elements of the plot of a thriller. However, it is not an imaginary tale set in a far-off location; it is a tale of real lives, a real story, that happened about a mile from this Building. We must never forget that, at the heart of this dreadful tale, is the terrible and unforgivable exploitation and abuse of young boys in care. <BR /> <BR />Then there are the claims about the involvement of the most powerful — politicians, businessmen and the intelligence services. Regardless, we must focus on two things: truth and justice.”
“Could the Minister outline the attitude of the Health Minister — either the previous Minister, Mr Poots, or Minister Wells? Is he satisfied that there has been reasonable engagement to try to resolve this matter?”
“I would find it very useful if the Minister could clarify what happens in situations where, perhaps, tyres were gathered up 20 years ago, prior to all this legislation, because that is the case on most farms. What is required and how does he justify an additional cost to farmers, if that is what he is talking about? Why is there a need for change if there is no difficulty at present?”
“Of course, there were a number of illegal tyres on this particular site. It was not being handled well. I am pleased that planning permission was not granted for the site in that isolated rural community. Mr Wilson may have been wise to have advised his constituent to seek somewhere with an industrial unit. I understand that he was in the Creagh area originally, where there is an industrial unit and where such a proposal may well have worked.”
“With tyres, aside from the noise issue, there is a very real concern about the danger of fire and the horrendous smoke that comes from the burning of tyres. That could endanger —”
“<BR /> <BR />I am aware of some aspects of the case that Mr Wilson referred to, but, coming from the other side, as well as waste management, planning permission has to be got in order to set up a business in the countryside. Although the site in question above Glenoe was granted approval for restricted agricultural use a number of years ago, there was a fresh application. Who thinks that storing 32,000 tyres adjacent to residential property is wise? Who thinks that having a processing unit for baling tyres literally across a lane way from a constituent's bedroom is a good place to have industrial processing of that type? Generally, waste processing is encouraged to locate in industrial centres in units where there will be not be the conflict between industry and residential property.”
“It would be helpful to the farming community and the general public to learn more about this. <BR /> <BR />There has also been a number of illegal tyre stores throughout Northern Ireland. I remember from my time on the Environment Committee that there were some sizeable ones — some with perhaps one million tyres in them went up in smoke. Frankly, that was good business, as someone no longer had to pay to recycle them. They went up in smoke. Many of those stores exceeded their legal capacity and approval. It is clear that there needs to be greater monitoring by the Department of tyres, retailers, where tyres go and the whole product chain to ensure that they are not stored illegally or misused.”
“My question to the Minister — it would be helpful if he could clarify this because I also heard comments on the radio about a farmer required to get an exemption — is this: why do some farmers require exemptions if they are using tyres on their silos? Surely that regulation entitles farmers to retain tyres and use them. I have to say that the amounts of silage that are made by individual farmers vary. Some years, such as this one, are bumper years, where more tyres are required; other years, not as many are needed. Some years, big bales become more suitable than precision-chopped, so it is not as popular. There can be tyres left over from year to year. I would be interested to know why there is a particular issue on farms, given the regulation that is there.”
“This question strikes me: are some people profiting from putting tyres on bonfires? When you go to get a new tyre, you pay for your old tyre to be recycled. Has someone just dumped that tyre on a bonfire and made money? Clearly, there needs to be greater traceability of what happens to our tyres. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to the farms issue, which was mentioned by the Member who preceded me. I declare an interest in that my dad grows silage and has a silo that uses tyres, which is in a part of the farmyard that I own and live beside. So, this is real, and it affects me as well. I noticed that a regulatory position statement issued in September 2014 by the NIEA and the Department of the Environment states:”
“Further to that, the industry has called for a moratorium on tyre exemptions until the growing problem with waste tyres has been reviewed. This has to handled carefully so that tyres are not misused and profits are not made by those behaving illegally. <BR /> <BR />Tyres can be recycled into rubber crumb. They can also be used to generate energy, particularly in the cement industry. With a controlled burn, energy can be extracted safely, without carcinogens being emitted that would endanger the public. Of course, this goes back to the bonfire issue mentioned by Mr Wilson. Clearly, when tyres are burnt on bonfires, huge dangers arise, particularly to those in the immediate vicinity, as a result of emissions from the fire, as well as other fire hazards and dangers to the public.”
“Thanks for that correction. I knew that it was up there in the north-west. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has made a start, but this is clearly an area of ongoing work for it and the Department. <BR /> <BR />One of the other points that the Committee highlighted was that the current rationale for allowing some businesses to operate under an exemption from a waste management licence in relation to used tyres should be revisited because of the risks associated with it and that the NIEA should conduct compliance checks before issuing licences to carry tyres. I noted in a letter that a constituent of mine received from the previous Minister, Alex Attwood, that the Environment Agency in England has been made aware by the waste tyre sector of widespread abuse of waste exemptions.”
“This is a very interesting subject. A variety of issues has to be addressed, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss some of them. <BR /> <BR />The Environment Committee carried out an inquiry into waste tyre management in Northern Ireland. In its interim report, it highlighted that waste tyres, if handled illegally, have the potential to generate financial benefit for those involved. We know that, in the world of waste management generally, particularly in the constituency of the Member who spoke previously, sizeable illegal operations have been uncovered, and individuals have profited from the misuse of waste management, which is detrimental to the environment.”
“The Minister has still failed to explain why he adjusted what could easily have been the provisional Budget. Does he acknowledge that many Ministers are saying that they are making cuts but not the cuts that they would have made had they had a choice? Rather, Ministers say that they have very limited choices to make unplanned in-year cuts, which is the most inefficient way to make cuts and savings in any Department.”
“The Minister has previously avoided answering my question, so I have had to ask it again.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I understand the cost of mitigation to be of the order of tens of millions of pounds. Therefore, it would have a significant impact on our overall Budget. Will the Minister explain why he attempts to solely blame the difficulties in the health service on welfare reform rather than on his failure to review the annual Budget and take these very significant changes that have occurred into context in that Budget and do it in a planned fashion rather than in the inefficient, unplanned fashion that is happening with the cuts at present?”
“As previously stated, ISIS is one of the chief architects of the oppression and genocide. In recent times, it has targeted Western aid workers and journalists through gross, barbaric murders, as well as others whom we may not have heard about. What is religious or godly about the actions that it is carrying out? My thoughts and prayers are with Alan Henning and his family. He selflessly sought to provide aid to the vulnerable, was targeted and now lives under threat of execution. We must all work together, and I am pleased that a wider community has assembled, including Sunni Arab countries, to prevent the spread of this fundamentalist regime.”