With a cold autumn and winter looming, Roy Beggs MLA, UUP representative for East Antrim has urged eligible private sector tenants and home owners to consider applying for a Warm Homes Scheme grant.

Roy Beggs MLA said "The Warm Homes Scheme can help alleviate fuel poverty by improving the home insulation for home owners and private tenants who are in receipt of qualifying benefits. Some may even qualify for Warm Homes plus which can upgrade their central heating system."

The Warm Homes Scheme is funded by the Department for Social Development to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The Warm Homes Scheme is for people who receive certain benefits and own their home or rent it from a private landlord.

"Those who apply for the scheme can also receive a free benefit entitlement check. In the past, many applicants have been successful in receiving additional entitlements that they had not previously been claiming. I would urge anyone in receipt of one or more of the qualifying benefits to apply now, so that their homes might be upgraded in advance of the winter cold."

Roy Beggs MLA, speaking from his constituency office said "If you want to know more information on the Warm Homes Scheme, call the Warm Homes Scheme Helpline on 0800 988 0559 or contact my office to get an application form. Carrickfergus office: 028 9336 2995 (3 St Brides Street), Larne office: 028 2827 3258 (41 Station Road)."

The qualifying criteria is to be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits: Income support, Income related employment support allowance, Income based job seeker's allowance, Pensions credit, Child tax credit, Working tax credit, Disability living allowance, attendance allowance or Housing benefits.

Commenting on the safe removal of an aged explosive device from the Drumhoy Drive area of Carrickfergus, Roy Beggs MLA has praised the Police and the Bomb Disposal Unit and condemned those who planted it and endangered the live of others.

Roy Beggs MLA who had visited recently the area when assisting constituents on other matters said, "It is regrettable that those who placed the device some time ago in the Drumhoy Drive area of Carrickfergus have endangered the lives of residents and the many children living in the area. I understand that the device was in poor condition but was still viable. Local residents could have been seriously harmed by shrapnel had it went off. I and the entire community must thank the PSNI and the Bomb Disposal Unit for removing this dangerous device and making the area once more safe for the local community".

Ulster Unionist East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs has welcomed the news that the number of single-use plastic bags has been significantly reduced this year according to the department of the environment.

The 2009/2010 figures for Northern Ireland show a 9% reduction in the use of plastic bags compared to the previous year - equating to 19 million bags less in circulation in comparison to 2008/2009.

Commenting on the issue Environment spokesperson Roy Beggs said; "We all know the visible nuisance of rogue plastic bags - such an eyesore when they get stuck in bushes and in trees but they can also cause problems to the local wildlife including birds and animals. And even if they are discarded correctly, many end up in landfill sites after a very short life."

"These are just a few of the reasons why these figures are so welcome. We are now at a stage when most families are more environmentally aware of their surroundings - of the limitations of our natural resources and of the amount of waste they're producing. I would urge all retailers to end the practice of automatically placing goods in disposable plastic bags and for more people to reject offers of disposable plastic bags when they are not really needed and will shortly be discarded. Utilizing reusable bags are a simple and effective way of conserving limited resources and minimizing the risk of plastic bags that ultimately scar our local surroundings."

"I am pleased that more retailers are acting responsibly. As a family, we keep our reusable bags in the boot of the car which means it is much easier when we go shopping for bulky items. I would like to congratulate everyone who has taken a small step to help reduce waste in Northern Ireland, we all need to continue to try and conserve and protect our natural environment."

Roy Beggs MLA has welcomed the completion of the planned structural reinforcement of the North Road railway bridge and renewal of signage following frequent collisions from goods and other high sided vehicles.

Roy Beggs who had been calling for a review and up-grading of the bridge signage said "I am pleased that the North Road railway bridge has been strengthened and the warning signage on the bridge has been further up-graded. This will lessen the chances of a vehicle striking the bridge and the risk of harm or disruption to rail and road users.

However, it is of concern that within days of the structural improvement works, that yet another lorry clipped the railway bridge and indeed a Double Decker bus approached the bridge and had to reverse and create considerable traffic disruption.

Roy Beggs said, "Clearly there is a need for greater vigilance from drivers of high sided vehicles and perhaps even more prominent advance signage is required so that such vehicles would be less likely to approach the low railway bridge."

Roy Beggs Jnr, Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim has called for the introduction of Sarah's Law to Northern Ireland, following the example shown by England and Wales.

Mr Beggs, speaking on the issue said "Introducing Sarah's law to Northern Ireland will allow for youngsters to be further protected from paedophiles and the measure would also provide increased reassurance for parents. Sarah's Law has been piloted in areas of England with success; with initial fears for the safety of previous offenders proving to be ill founded so I believe now is the right time to implement Sarah's law to prevent people like Roy Whiting, a previously convicted sex offender, gaining a position of trust within our communities."

Sarah's Law will give parents and guardians the formal right to ask police to look into the background of people with unsupervised access to their children.

Mr Beggs added "The law would empower the parents and guardians of our children and will go a long way to prevent unfortunate cases like that of Sarah Payne, in 2000."

Theresa May MP, the Home Secretary has announced that the law will be rolled out across England and Wales with effect from next spring.

Roy Beggs MLA has recently attended the Anne Frank (+You) exhibition at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey following a reception by the NI Friends of Israel and recommended that local people should view the free exhibition.

Speaking after the exhibition, Mr Beggs said "The Exhibition inspired by the Anne Frank diary has themes on Identity, Prejudice and Racism, Conflict and Peace, Moral Responsibility and Freedom and Democracy, and I am sure that we all could learn something valuable from the Exhibition, no matter what age we are. It is relevant to NI given our experience and I would encourage individuals and indeed schools/groups to view the exhibition."

Anne Frank was a young German Jew whose family moved to the Netherlands to avoid persecution but following Nazi occupation were forced into hiding in an attempt to escape the Nazi death camps. It was then that she wrote her diary telling of her experience and thoughts. The Anne Frank Exhibition was first launched in London in June 2005, and this will be the only chance that visitors and locals to Co. Antrim will have to see the Exhibition. The Exhibition hosted by newtownabbey BC runs from 28^th July to the 30^th September, every weekday from 9am - 5pm and 9am - 9pm on Wednesdays. The Exhibition is also opened from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturdays.

Roy Beggs Jnr, UUP MLA for East Antrim has received assurances from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP that the issue of "legal highs" and how best to deal with the problem will be brought up at Cabinet level.

Roy Beggs MLA said "Following the public meetings that occurred in Carrickfergus and Larne, I had written to the Secretary of State seeking his support for spot listing of "legal highs" and to address Chinese laboratories that produce designer drugs to get around bans. I am pleased that the Coalition Government has made a commitment to 'introduce a system of temporary bans on new 'legal highs' while health issues are considered by independent experts in England."

In the initial letter sent by Roy Beggs MLA he said "I would ask you to take the issue of enabling spot listing of legal highs to the cabinet. This will allow us to stay one step ahead of the criminal gangs who are selling drugs like mephedrone in Northern Ireland.

I would also request that HMG should be applying pressure on the Chinese Government and other such states to better regulate and prevent the manufacture of designer drugs that are harming our young people."

In response to Roy Beggs MLA, the Secretary of State said "You can be assured that we will seek to use all methods available to us to challenge the trade in dangerous drugs from where ever it comes and I shall, of course, raise the points which you asked me to make with Cabinet colleagues."

Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire MP, commenting on the issue said "We're under no illusions as to the dangers of legal highs - the challenges of legal highs - that's why we're seeking to act quickly."

Speaking from his constituency office in East Antrim, Roy Beggs MLA said "the issue of "legal highs" is a very serious one and I am glad that our new Secretary of State is willing to fight for Northern Ireland on this issue at Cabinet level. I have also received assurances from our Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA, that we are being proactive in Northern Ireland in dealing with the problem. In a recent letter, the Minister stated that he was actively seeking for "legal highs" like mephedrone to be given a new class of drug, namely class D which will allow for the drug to be temporarily banned while their impact is fully investigated."

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has strongly criticized the suggestion that the 6 year old Larne campus of the Northern Regional College should be closed. In a written submission to the NRC consultation document which has advocated closure of the campus in 2011 if alternative uses can not be found to generate additional revenue for the college.

In his response to "NRC Business Improvement Plan 2010-2016" and its associated "Equality Impact Assessment" the East Antrim MLA urges the NRC to, "Maintain an FE present at the Larne Campus and concentrate on attracting more local students to the Larne Campus and sub letting any additional capacity to improve its performance."

Roy Beggs added he was, "shocked by the proposal by NRC to close down the modern, £1.5m Larne FE campus, which would remove the only FE focal point within the town of Larne and indeed the entire East Antrim constituency (the Newtownabbey campus being located in the North Belfast constituency).

The East Antrim MLA, who was instrumental is getting the new Pound Street campus built after years of delay following the closure of Larne Technical Colleges said,

"The foreword of the NRC review states that its aim is to "modernise its college estate and its services by developing modern purpose built accommodation and updating current facilities and services". Given that the purpose built Larne campus is only 6 years old, I would have thought that it would have already met accommodation requirements and the focus should be on increasing utilisation of the campus rather than closing it down. "

The NRC are proposing to replace 3 facilities in Ballymena with a new campus building in their business plan.

Mr Beggs commented:
"I recognise the need for the NRC to up-date their ageing buildings elsewhere would need considerable investment. However I would question the scale of investment that is being proposed in areas out side my East Antrim constituency, to the detriment of my constituents and this plan to remove the FE focal point from Larne. It would be unfair on Larne students if our local facility were down graded purely to enable investment elsewhere. A fair proportion of FE investment should remain in Larne.

I would accept that the present 23% utilisation of the facilities during 9am to 4am needs to be improved. However, I understand that there is limited, if any educational outreach by NRC to provide basic education courses in any other setting within the Larne area. The prospect of removing this one central opportunity is unacceptable.

NRC needs to make greater efforts to develop closer community involvement and the take up of basic local courses in its state of the art Larne facility. Given the need to also gain better utilisation of the facility and reduce overhead costs, consideration should be given to community planning which is set to become a responsibility of local councils and indeed for statutory organisations such as FE colleges to participate in. I would suggest that one such likely outcome of community planning in Larne would be co-location of community development and FE provision in Larne. No decision to close should be made prior to such community planning assessment.

There needs to be discussion with local partners to ensure that a local Larne FE focal point continues on this site. It would be wasteful not to utilise this purpose built, modern building. I would urge this to be progressed rather than closure plans."

ENDS

Following a press release by Alastair Ross MLA, in which he highlights his own voting attendance record at Stormont, Roy Beggs MLA has reminded him of the old saying "self praise is no praise".

Roy Beggs Jnr, UUP MLA for East Antrim has responded to the self praising press release in the name of Alastair Ross MLA regarding his voting record in the N.I Assembly. Roy Beggs said "Self praise is no praise at all. Figures for voting attendance do not tell the full story of the work that MLA's carry out within the chamber, in their committees or within constituencies. The figures do not take into account the amount of contribution the member has provided to debates, nor does the figure relate to committee attendance and contribution."

The UUP MLA added "The majority of votes at Stormont for which Mr Ross would have voted are not on actual legislation with most of the votes being for DUP/SF motions which are not legislatively binding."

Roy Beggs MLA went on to add "I have had the opportunity to work alongside Mr Ross on the Environment Committee at Stormont, on which he did not have the best attendance record."

"Mr Ross missed 3 meetings but also left early or missed sizeable chunks of 11 of the 36 meetings of the N.I Assembly's Environment Committee in 2009-10. This is over one third of all committee meetings, not a record that anyone should be proud of. He has a pattern of getting marked present and then leaving early."

"Again I say, beware of self praise."

Responding to the closure of the Costcutter store in Larne Town, local MLA Roy Beggs Jnr said:

"This very disappointing news will have come as terrible shock to customers and to the staff at Costcutters who have lost their jobs. This is a timely reminder that in the food retail sector, jobs are often displaced rather than new jobs being created.

Most residents of Larne welcomed the additional choice that Asda has brought to Larne. Whilst Larne retailing will have gained some of the customers who would have travelled outside Larne for their weekly shop, undoubtedly it would also have attracted some customers from other local retailers such as Costcutters. Competition gives a greater choice to customers and normally forces retailers to reduce their prices and is good for customers. However as we have discovered in the case of Costcutters, a new supermarket can simply result in the loss of other retail jobs.

However, there is a particular danger with supermarkets being established outside the town centre boundary as this can weaken the town centre retail core and so endanger a range of shops within the town centre. The experience of Costcutters in Larne must be a lesson for the Planning service as it considers a number of applications for other supermarket developments outside the Larne Town centre boundary.

The current Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5) governs the location of new supermarkets in Northern Ireland was issued in 1996 and is woefully out of date. A new replacement policy was issued for consultation in July 2006 and has yet to be finalised. It proposed a sequential approach and a needs test in the identification of suitable sites for major retail proposals. In short it was a town centre first policy. Yet, 4 years after it was published it remains in draft form and is not official policy. This is a scandalous situation which I have repeatedly raised at Stormont.[1]

Questions need to be answered by successive DUP Ministers for the Environment- who have been in charge of the Planning Service since 2007. Our MP who was previously the Minister in charge of Planning loudly claimed the credit for bringing Asda to Larne[2] and boasted about it in his election literature[3]. But, is he now going to take equal responsibility for the closure of Costcutter and the pressures that are mounting on other shops within Larne town centre? Those who actively supported supermarket development outside the town centre and not even on the edge of the defined town centre must answer for themselves."

[1] http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2008-09-22.1.1

[2] The Assembly - Official Report Monday 23 March 2009

[3]

Local Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has expressed his concern at the amount of pedestrians using the hard shoulder of the A8 Harbour Highway to walk to and from the new Larne Asda Store at Redlands from the town centre.

Commenting, Mr Beggs said:
"The new Asda store is proving to be very popular with shoppers and is undoubtedly contributing to reducing the retail leakage of people leaving Larne to do their big weekly food shop in other towns. However, I am concerned at the continuing lack of safe pedestrian linkages between the supermarket and the town centre.

A busy bus system has been instigated to serve the Asda store, but for some reason this does not operate at the weekend. As a consequence, and particularly on a Saturday, many people, including those with Asda uniforms, are walking to the store along the hard shoulder on the lagoon side of the Harbour Highway . Clearly this is both contrary to the Highway Code and potentially highly dangerous. There is a footpath behind the cash barrier on the opposite side of the dual carriageway, but to get to the Supermarket and Hotel involves crossing 4 lanes of a busy A class Road."

The East Antrim MLA added:

"The lack of a safe pedestrian and cycle link will become more acute when the proposed and much anticipated Cinema and restaurants are opened at Redlands . Therefore I have made representations to the DRD Roads Service and others to look into the feasibility of providing a walkway from Redlands to the town centre, at the edge of the lagoon as a matter of urgency.

I believe this issue should have been addressed at the time of the planning application; given the situation that has arisen since Asda has opened, it certainly needs to be addressed now."

ENDS

Roy Beggs MLA recently took the opportunity to press the First Minister, Peter Robinson MLA, on the work of the British-Irish Council in combating legal highs.

Roy Beggs MLA helped Carrickfergus Community Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Group (CCDAAG) to organise the Public information evening about legal highs in Carrickfergus Town hall. He also contributed at the Public meeting in Larne organised by PAL which hundreds of local people attended.

The issue of legal highs is close to the hearts of many within the East Antrim area, with active Facebook groups like PAL (Preventing Addiction Larne) and Get Mephedrone of Our Streets set up in protest against such legal highs.

The recent OFMDFM report to the Assembly on the British-Irish Council summit indicated that discussion occurred on the issue of head shops and legal highs. During questioning of the First Minister in the Assembly, UUP MLA Roy Beggs asked "You said that head shops and so-called legal highs were discussed under the heading of substance misuse. Will the First Minister tell us whether the spot-listing of designer drugs was discussed? We recently suffered an epidemic of mephedrone use in Northern Ireland and found that it took three or four months to have that drug banned. Can we develop this idea so that we can follow the good practice of the USA and New Zealand and be one step ahead of the international criminal gangs"

Responding to Roy Beggs MLAs query, First Minister Robinson said "The issue came up at the Council only by way of a documentary report on all the work streams, so it was not discussed. There would have been considerable discussion on all those issues during the ministerial meetings on the subjects. I will draw attention to the Member's remarks so that the Minister can respond directly. However, as he outlined, that is precisely why the work streams exist and why the Council meets."

Speaking from his constituency office, Roy Beggs MLA said "I would call on the British-Irish Council to do more to help combat legal highs by allowing a speedier response to new designer drugs, following the examples of USA and New Zealand in being one step ahead of these criminals. I would call on the British- Irish Council to discuss the issue at their next meeting to see how we can further combat these drugs which are designed by international gangs to evade existing laws."

East Antrim UUP MLA Roy Beggs Jnr. has helped ensure that local retail businesses get requested water meters installed on their premises, which in turn will mean a reduction in their water charges each year.

Roy Beggs MLA said "I welcome the indication from the Chief Executive of NI Water, Lawrence Mackenzie, that no business requesting a water meter should have to wait longer than a period of 3 months before installation."

Roy Beggs had been contacted by constituents who had been waiting over 12 months for a meter to be fitted. In response to the constituent enquiry, Roy Beggs wrote to NI Water, and brought the issue up at a Public Accounts Committee hearing with NI Water, of which the UUP man is Deputy Chairman.

Below is a transcript of the meetings proceedings between Roy Beggs MLA and Lawrence MacKenzie, Chief Executive of NI Water.

Mr Beggs:

I have a question to ask about your customer service. I recently received a letter from a business in my constituency that had contacted you over a year ago requesting that a water meter be installed. That business is not a big water user, yet it is paying large water bills that are based on the rateable value of its property. It was told that the meter could be installed in around a year's time, yet recently, it has been told that nothing is on the horizon. How would you ensure businesses that are not heavy water users are going to survive and are not going to get disproportionate water rates? When will they get water meters so that they will be charged for the water that they use?

Mr MacKenzie:

We have an ongoing programme of water meter installation. If any Member has a constituent who is concerned that we are being slow, they can come to me, and I will make sure that the matter is pushed forward.

Mr Beggs:

I appreciate the offer to resolve individual cases, but if a commercial business requests a meter, how long should it have to wait to have one installed?

Mr MacKenzie:

I would say that it should not have to wait for more than three months.

Subsequent to this discussion and letter to N.I water in June, the required water meters have since been installed on the premises and will save the local business a considerable sum of money.

Commenting on the issue, Roy Beggs said "If any business in the East Antrim area is having the same problem with having a water meter installed, do not hesitate to contact me or my team in my Carrickfergus (028 9336 2995) or Larne (028 2827 3258) offices."

Roy Beggs, UUP MLA for East Antrim and deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee has spoken of his disbelief that the North/ South language Body had not filed accounts since 2004, when the issue was examined by the committee.

The report entitled "A report on North / South bodies" was released to the public on Wednesday the 30^th June 2010.

The report lists 8 recommendations, but recommendation number one was by and far the most noteworthy. "…… Finalising its 2005, 2006 and 2007 accounts remains long overdue. DFP should ensure that a clear timetable and action plan is established to finalise these accounts.."

Roy Beggs MLA said, "I fail to understand why these accounts have been overdue for so long and I look forward to examining the finalised account for any explanation as to why such a significant delay may have occurred".

The report also highlighted the increasing cash reserves of Inter Trade Ireland whose "bank balance at its financial year-end had increased by £1.5 million to around £4 million in 2006".

Mr Beggs said "Public bodies should not hold levels of cash in excess of their immediate needs. Public money should not be allowed to sit in bank accounts, unused. This is particularly relevant today when so many other funding pressures exist throughout the public sector."

As a member of the first Assembly's PAC Roy Beggs MLA had received confirmation of the committee's ability to scrutinise North South expenditure. Roy Beggs MLA said "It is clear that North South Bodies, just as departmental and non-departmental expenditure will benefit from public scrutiny to encourage good use of public money, this applies as much to North/South bodies as it does to any other bodies."

The North/ South language body was set up under the Belfast Agreement and are funded by British and Irish tax payer's money. Their accounts are examined by both regimes and can be scrutinised by public representative in Northern Ireland or in the Republic of Ireland.

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has expressed grave concern at startling school attendance figures, and called on the Minister to urgently address an issue that "limits educational achievement, future job opportunities and could contribute to cycles of deprivation".

Pointing to shocking figures, which include some 45% of pupils in the 15-17 age bracket from Belfast's The Mount and Carrickfergus's Northland ward having an attendance of less than 85%, the East Antrim MLA said that the Minister needs to prioritise, rather than remaining "fixated with both Irish Language education and an ideological obsession that all the worlds ills will be solved by doing away with selection at 11".

"Belfast council overall has the greatest problem with poor attendance, with 17.8% of post-primary pupils having less than 85% attendance. Within this figure, some 42.8% of young people in the post-primary bracket in The Mount and Shaftesbury wards of Belfast demonstrate an attendance of less than 85%.

"If the habits of regular attendance are not achieved at school, how do we expect a young person to attend regularly at work and hold onto their job?

"The statistics showing high levels of absenteeism show a very close relationship between areas of need. Indeed there are acknowledged links between persistent truancy and a child's life chances.

"Only 8% of truants achieve 5 A*-C GCSEs and around a third achieve no passes whatsoever. Recent research by the Youth Justice Board also shows that two thirds of truants admit to having committed a crime within the previous 12 months, many whilst actually truanting.

"There is no doubt that absenteeism is detrimental to students' achievement, self-esteem, and employment potential. Given that our teenagers of today will be parents of tomorrow, if we want to increase the chance of employment and to minimize levels of Child Poverty in the future, then we must address the issues causing absenteeism.

"But when has school attendance been highlighted by our current minister"

Roy Beggs MLA has this week successfully moved an amendment to the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill which will ban the practice of Hare Coursing in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on progressing a 2007 UUP manifesto commitment Environment Spokesman Roy Beggs said: "Coming from a rural background, I am not an opponent of countryside sports, but I believe that Hare Coursing is simply unacceptable in this day and age. Hare Coursing involves catching a wild animal, keeping it for several day/weeks, and then releasing it in a restricted enclosure to enable dogs to chase after it and spectators to watch their dogs compete against each other and the hare in this manufactured setting.

Given the manufactured nature of the chase involving a wild animal in a restricted setting, I and many others believe that Hare Coursing is different to other countryside sports and should not be permitted to continue.

In conclusion Roy Beggs MLA said, "I am delighted that the Assembly backed my amendment and that when this Bill eventually receives Royal Assent, Hare Coursing will be banned throughout the entire UK, and the Ulster Unionist Manifesto commitment will have been honoured."

Hare coursing had been practiced by 2 clubs in NI until 2002, outside Dungannon and Ballymena. With the Minister of the Environment having indicated that he was not going to re-issue a Special Protection Order for the Irish Hare, there was a likelihood that Hare Coursing could recommence. In addition other loop holds existed which could have been exploited. The decision by the Assembly will make Hare Coursing illegal whether or not the Irish Hare is protected.

End

Ulster Unionist East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has condemned racially-motivated attacks on an Indian family and a Filipino family in Whiteabbey on Tuesday.

"This is simply not acceptable. Northern Ireland cannot become defined by its intolerance and violence towards other races and cultures.

"Not only were cars extensively damaged, but the families themselves could easily have been injured or perhaps killed had their homes been affected.

"This is a disgrace, and I am sure that the vast majority of local residents and the wider community are horrified by the actions of a thuggish minority.

"These are families who do not deserve to be afraid in their own homes, and have the right to live in peace. Indeed there are many vital jobs - particularly in our health service - being filled, of necessity, by overseas workers, and we are fortunate that they are here sustaining essential services.

"I would ask that anyone with information come forward to police, so we can purge our community of those who seek to destroy and maim for no reason other than their own narrow-mindedness."

Ulster Unionist environment spokesperson Roy Beggs Jnr MLA has said that the introduction of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill is a "welcome step forward in tackling the scourges of littering, noise and graffiti".

"In the East Antrim area we have been fighting a long standing battle to deal with littering, with areas of Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey on the receiving end of fly tipping amongst other forms of littering and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill is a step in the right direction.

"Anything that will improve the quality of our local environment is welcome. Clearly there are those who have no respect for the cleanliness of Northern Ireland, and the comfort of their fellow residents.

"Despite the best efforts of local councils - and most members of the community - we are continuing to fight a battle against litter, dog fouling and graffiti. These are unnecessary, unsightly and in some cases dangerous behaviours and they must not be tolerated.

"Councils need - and will soon have - the power to deal more robustly with such anti-social behaviour.

"In a time of belt-tightening we can ill-afford to spend money cleaning up after offending individuals.

"While this Bill is very much to be welcomed, it must be backed-up by community commitment to a cleaner local environment. Whether there are eyes on us or not, we all have a part to play in eradicating unsightly and dangerous pollution of our beautiful country."

Responding to a call from Environment Minister Edwin Poots for local government to move forward with him on reform, Ulster Unionist environment spokesperson Roy Beggs Jnr MLA said that "major questions remain unanswered".

"There has been a failure to implement RPA after 3 years under the direction of DUP and SF and millions of pounds have been wasted by these parties failing to deliver.

"Nevertheless, despite the wasted effort by council officers and representatives and the resultant poor morale in the local government sector, we all have a responsibility to shake this off and once more try to refocus.

"The basic challenge is to deliver quality local accountable services as efficiently as possible. This now means working to improve delivery of services under the current 26 council model.

"Given the failure of the DUP and SF to agree boundaries, future decisions should not assume that these boundaries will miraculously be agreed in the future. Indeed, as there has been no agreement, no more funding should be committed on this basic assumption of 11 councils.

"Major questions remain unanswered. What can be efficiently delivered by the current 26 councils? What services are the various central government department still prepared to consider devolving to contribute to improvements in services provided to the public.

"Undoubtedly there are some areas of duplication and opportunities of saving and improving effectiveness. Some aspect of the RPA work may be able to be salvaged, but in other aspects we are back to the start point.

"A direction is urgently required for the future travel of local government to avoid stagnation."

Roy Beggs, UUP MLA for East Antrim has welcomed the "Two Wheels: Two Weeks" initiative from Travelwise Northern Ireland, running from the 13th - 27th June which hopes to encourage as many people as possible to get on their bikes.

Speaking at the launch of the Travelwise initiative, Mr Beggs said "As a recreational cycler myself, it is good to see cycling being promoted to encourage more people to use their bikes, as there are health and environmental benefits from cycling and you could even save a few pennies."

Mr Beggs, 2009 winner of the MLA challenger bike race, came 2nd in the 2010 edition, behind cycling enthusiast Connall McDevitt MLA of the SDLP.

Roy Beggs said "I am glad that I was able to support the Two Wheels: Two Weeks initiative this year, and would like to congratulate this years winner, Connall McDevitt MLA. This is just a spot of fun, but I hope it will encourage others to get on their bikes and feel the benefits of cycling."

"Connall McDevitt regularly cycles the round journey of 22 miles to Stormont each day for work. However, a 52 mile round trip from Ballyvernstown to Stormont would definitely be too much for me."

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has welcomed Beach awards given to 3 locations in the borough of Larne- Brown's Bay, Ballygally and Carnlough.

The East Antrim MLA said:

"It is highly significant that 3 out of 4 beaches in Northern Ireland who have been awarded 'exemplary' status are in the Larne Borough. This reflects great credit on the local residents and the local Council.

Larne is often negatively portrayed in the media, and its tourism potential is often ignored or overlooked. However the quality of the bathing waters at Carnlough, Brown's Bay and Ballygally, as shown by these Seaside Awards, is undeniable.

Hopefully we will have a decent summer -weather wise- this year, and more visitors will be able to enjoy what Larne's coastal resorts have to offer."

ENDS

Ulster Unionist MLA, Roy Beggs has urged the people of East Antrim to 'get on their bikes' for the sake of the environment and their own health as we look forward to Bike Week 2010 and has called for an improved cycling network in Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey so that more people feel confident whilst cycling.

Roy Beggs MLA, who regularly cycles himself, said "Bike Week this year is taking place from June 13 to 27 and this is a great opportunity to take positive steps towards a healthier life and a better environment.

"Clearly Bike Week is only a starting point, but it's a very good starting point.

"There are undeniable health and environmental benefits from taking a spin on your bike - or even taking it work - and I would urge anyone interested to give it a try in the coming weeks.

"Thanks to good weather, we currently have every opportunity to get out and about more, and cycling is an excellent way to improve your cardiovascular health and cut down on expensive fuel costs!

"We could all benefit from more exercise, and anything that gets people out and about is to be welcomed. If you can slot in some cardiovascular activity as you make your way to work, school, or even on a trip to the shops, then so much the better.

Roy Beggs recently attended the Belfast Cycle City conference organised by Sustrans and Friends of the Earth. Guest speakers included Philip Darnton, CEO Cycling England and Ciaran Fallon, Dublin City Cycling Officer and illustrated the benefits to health and the environment as a result of increased cycling in a number of cities.

Roy Beggs said "There is a need to build a cycling network in Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey so that more people will have a greater level of confidence to get on their bikes and feel the benefits of cycling."

"Given that some 25 per cent of car journeys are less than 3km, clearly there is the potential to put on your trainers, hop on your bike, and put the environment and your health first."

Cllr Beggs MLA sits on the Environment Committee at Stormont and won the annual MLA Challenge bike race at Parliament buildings in 2009. He intends to take part in the 2010 race on the 14^{th June, hoping to regain his crown.}

Roy Beggs, UUP MLA for East Antrim, is urging community groups to look into Big Lottery Funding, as an "opportunity to develop community facilities and services".

Roy Beggs said "This funding could make a real difference to groups in the Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey areas. With a bit of ingenuity and a lot of commitment, local organisations can improve lives and offer new opportunities and I know that all financial support is gratefully received."

The Big Lottery Fund is opening a series of new funding programmes, which will give community, voluntary and statutory groups the chance to apply for grants of between £500 and £10,000.

"The Big Lottery Fund's NI Awards for All programme funds projects that help people bring about positive change in their lives, improve health and well-being, develop skills and create safer communities, and I am certain that a great deal of potential exists within East Antrim.

"I would urge groups in the local area to look into the potential for a financial boost by visiting www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or phoning 028 9055 1455.

"I am happy to assist groups in sourcing this funding, so please don't hesitate to get in touch with my offices in Carrickfergus 028 9336 2995 or Larne 028 2827 3258."

Roy Beggs MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for the Environment has broadly welcomed the Publication of PPS21 by the Minister for the Environment today. However, he has suggested that the key to its success will be in how it is interpreted and implemented throughout Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr. Beggs said: "I welcome the fact that the long and drawn out process of developing PPS21 has finally come to an end. This should give families, businesses and planners, throughout Northern Ireland the certainty they need to plan ahead.

"On first analysis of the statement it strikes a balance between environmental protection and ensuring the viability of rural communities, businesses and farms.

"However, the success of PPS21 will be largely decided by how it is interpreted by planners and implemented by the Department. There are a number of areas that should be monitored going forward, for example the accumulative effect of new single dwellings approved in the countryside and ensuring suitable drainage and sewerage arrangements for new homes that consolidate clusters. Clearly there will be a need to review this policy in light of experience.

"The Minister will also have to ensure consistency of implementation throughout Northern Ireland.

"It is vitally important that we avoid the bungalow blight as seen in Donegal - this would harm not only our environment but our tourist trade as well."

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has said that access to pre-school places in Northern Ireland needs to be improved.

Speaking during an Assembly motion on the issue, the UUP children and young people spokesperson said that while access had improved in recent years, better planning was needed to secure places for a child's immediate pre-school year.

"I have been contacted by constituents who have not been successful in any of their four applications. One family applied to a nursery school that was 200 yards from their front door, in what is deemed an area of need, yet the application was unsuccessful."

"I welcome the announcement of an extra £1∙3 million for additional places. However, where is the joined-up government in this? Why can we not predict roughly the number of places required in each ward - These statistics are available on a Government website? It should therefore not take a great deal of work to decide whether additional places are needed."

"We need to alter the procedural criteria to ensure that children who are in their immediate preschool year are given priority at that vital time. I would question why two year olds are being given funding places in some areas before all children in their immediate pre-school year have been given reasonable offers. Clearly the current system needs to change. "

"I would also question why voluntary or private sector playgroups receive less funding for children than those in the nursery school sector? What are the reasons behind this inequality? Why are children who cannot get a place in a nursery school not given a similar level of funding so that they can receive a similar or higher quality of education elsewhere."

"The Ulster Unionist Party strongly believes that access to early years education will be a huge boost to a child's growth and development - it is essential that every child in Northern Ireland is given that opportunity."

An Ulster Unionist delegation of MLAs comprising Roy Beggs Jnr, Ken Robinson and Danny Kinahan have met with Colm Donaghy, the Chief Executive of the Northern Health and Social care Trust about the transfer of Accident and Emergency services from Whiteabbey to Antrim Area Hospital.

Describing the meeting as a useful and frank exchange of views, Roy Beggs MLA said:

"I expressed the widely held view of my East Antrim constituents that Antrim Area Hospital is currently not fit for purpose, and that it is ill equipped to cope with the extra workload caused by the closure of the Accident and Emergency Departments at both Whiteabbey and Mid -Ulster Hospitals.

In response, the Trust Chief Executive expressed his confidence that with extra full time A&E Consultants being redeployed that the service will improve, and Antrim will cope. That remains to be seen, but initial media reports of long waits at Antrim are very worrying. I would encourage people to report to their elected representatives their experiences at A&E at Antrim.

The future of Whiteabbey was also raised by the Ulster Unionist delegation. Mr Beggs said:
"Regarding services at Whiteabbey, the nurse led minor injuries unit will continue to have a doctor in attendance. I would encourage people to use the Whiteabbey unit if their problem is not a medical emergency. We were also informed that Whiteabbey is going to be the bowel screening centre for the entire Northern Trust area."

Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim, Roy Beggs has expressed his concern over the sudden and imminent decision by the Northern Health Trust to close A&E at Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster and transfer services to Antrim Area Hospital.

Mrs Beggs said:
"It has been understood for some time that the accident and emergency unit at Whiteabbey, which has for some time been open on reduced hours, would be transferred to the Acute Hospital at Antrim. However the abrupt announcement that this will happen in two weeks has come as a shock.

The Trust has reconfirmed that a nurse led Minor Injuries Unit will continue at Whiteabbey. That is to be welcomed, but many of my constituents are deeply concerned at the prospect of the additional pressure on Antrim Area Hospital.

At a very basic level, even trying to park anywhere close to the A&E at Antrim has become a nightmare. I am also aware that Antrim A&E is currently overstretched, with trolley waits being the norm. I have written to the Chief Executive of the Trust requesting an urgent meeting. I am seeking reassurances on what steps are being taken to increase the capacity of Antrim to deal with the extra workload. I also want to raise the issue of ambulance cover for East Antrim, and to press the case for the proposed new Health and Care Centres for Larne and Carrickfergus. There is a severe lack of confidence in East Antrim in the capability of the Antrim Hospital to cope with these sudden changes. On a wider level, with continuing talk of budget cuts at Stormont, I believe that the Finance Minister should make no further reductions to the Health Budget, and to ring fence the Department's finance. We are without doubt entering a period of austerity, and public spending restrictions, but priority must be given to health"

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs, member of the Assembly Public Accounts Committee, has said that " Northern Ireland needs to get real when it comes to the cost of car insurance".

"It's all very well complaining about our exorbitant car insurance costs, but until we're prepared to deal with the reasons for those costs, then this is just political show-boating.

"We know that there is a staggering difference between the car insurance premiums for drivers here and those in other jurisdictions. We also know that there are those in Northern Ireland who now simply can't afford to pay for insurance. But until we are prepared to tackle the issue at its roots, complaining about it is just a cop-out.

"We need to identify and drive down the costs incurred by insurers if we are in turn to feel the benefits. The maths on this is simple - cut the cost to insurers and you will cut the cost to drivers.

"Put simply, the major costs to insurers are compensation and legal fees. Legal fees in Northern Ireland have risen a staggering 50% over the last 10 years - four times the rate of inflation. This is totally out of step with the broader economy.

"We have to then ask the question - who sets the rates for legal representation? The answer is the County Court Rules Committee, a body consisting of solicitors, barristers and judges.

"Likewise, compensation levels in Northern Ireland are double those in England and Wales . Who sets those rates? The Judicial Studies Board, which comprises solicitors, barristers and judges.

"The pattern is very clear, and it is up to the Northern Ireland Assembly to make the necessary change happen. If we are serious about bringing our insurance costs into line with the rest of the UK , then we need a more representative spread of people setting the bar in terms of compensation rates and legal fees.

"Calling on the DETI Minister to strong-arm the insurance industry into bringing insurance premiums into line with the rest of the UK is laughable. That is why I have submitted questions to our new Justice Minister, calling on him to rectify this problem.

"It is our duty to ensure that car insurance is within the financial reach of the people of Northern Ireland - too many are being disadvantaged by the growing burden on the industry."

Roy Beggs MLA the UUP spokesman on Environment and Local Government has called on Edwin Poots to consider his position following the revelation that he plans to postpone the review of local government until 2015.

"It is appalling that after three years and wasting £9 million that this essential reform has collapsed again. Mr Poots has proven he is not up to the job of Minister of the Environment. He must consider his position, now.

"The DUP cannot even agree among themselves. If newspaper reports are correct, Sammy Wilson has circulated a memo to Executive colleagues strongly objecting to new powers being granted to councils until reform in 2015.

"So now we see the DUP Finance Minister's criticism of his colleague's ability to deliver these critical reforms. It is even more worrying that at a time when public services are threatened by the inability of the Finance Minister to deliver a credible budget that we see this appalling waste of money and resources.

"I and my party have been warning for some considerable amount of time that the reform of local government was in serious trouble - the failure to build consensus, the lack of leadership shown and the ridiculous boundary proposals. This is the worst possible outcome and will expose the DUP/Sinn Fein led Executive to yet further public criticism.

"It is one more failure to add to a long and sorry list. Alongside the stalemate over post-primary selection and the chaotic approach to the reform of the Education and Library Boards, it is clear that the Executive is failing to deliver on key issues for the people of Northern Ireland".

Ends …

When pressed today at the Assembly's Environment Committee by Ulster
Unionist Roy Beggs MLA, the Minister responsible for the Planning
Service effectively blamed his predecessor, multi jobbing Sammy Wilson
MP, MLA, for the staffing difficulties that he inherited.

Roy Beggs said: "Edwin Poots, the current Environment Minister, and his senior staff
effectively blamed Sammy Wilson MP, MLA the previous Environment
Minister, for the dramatic plan to cut staff that he has had to adopt.
Initially it was blamed on the reduction in planning fee income. But
this has been known about since the property crash of 2007. Then they
advised me of the new more efficient planning software, the EPIC
system. When I questioned why they were proposing such dramatic cuts
and asked why their workforce planning had not taken these issues into
account at an earlier stage, I was advised by Minister Poots that he
had identified the problem in August 2009, on coming into office."

"The Question is therefore why had the then Multi jobbing Minister of
the Environment, Cllr Sammy Wilson, MP, MLA not effectively managed
the Planning service staff requirements? Why were new planning
service staff being taken on as late as June/July 2009 when it was
clear that the department could not sustain their employment and one
third of planning service staff will now have to be transferred out of
the department or face redundancy"

Roy Beggs MLA has questioned the planning role of the DUP MP for East Antrim whilst he served as the Planning Minister for NI.

Roy Beggs UUP Environment spokesman said, "I was astonished to learn that my Member of Parliament, whilst also serving as the NI Assembly Minister responsible for planning, has been so active in contacting his own department on planning issues which could undoubtedly put his own civil services staff in a difficult position, when responding to their own minister. However, I was even more surprised to learn that of the 162 contacts he had with the Planning Services he neither supported nor objected to the proposal in over 92% of occasions; objected to only 7 (4%) and indicated his support on 3%. So what was the point of the interaction? Did he tell 9 out to 10 constituents who contacted him that he would neither be supporting nor opposing the applications that he has been lobbied on? What did he say"

See details of MP/Minister interactions attached AQW5567 Annex

Summary

Total contacts - 162

Indicate no preference -117 No. / 72%
Update - 32 No. / 20%
Objections - 7 No. / 4%
Support - 5 No. / 3%

Roy Beggs MLA continued, "However, your current MP for East Antrim and then environment minister did find the time to lobby on behalf of developers who wished to build 24 acres of houses on land zoned for open space at Knock Golf Club. This is in East Belfast and is even outside the DEA area of Belfast City council for which our multi jobbing MP served as a councilor until recently. The meeting is referred to in the planning file REF Z/2006/0599/0 which was raised at the Assembly's Environment Committee on which I serve."

The planning notes concerned indicate that current MP for East Antrim convened the meeting on the 9^th December 2008 in Belfast and makes interesting reading:

"the then Minister, Sammy Wilson, convened a meeting (on 9^th December 2008) attended by the Principal Planning Officer and various local politicians including the First Minister Peter Robinson. The majority of politicians were strongly in support of the application"

In conclusion the Ulster Unionist MLA said "Would the current Minister for Finance and East Antrim MP tell us why he took the trouble to organise a meeting to support developers alongside the First Minister when it neither involved the East Antrim constituency nor the Council DEA in which he served as a Belfast councillor? This was at a time when the Ulster Hospital had withdrawn its interest and so there would be minimal community benefit. In comparison, why does he neither support nor oppose over 92% of applications he made presentation for. Given the concern about land transactions and close relationships between politicians and developers, the people of East Antrim deserve an answer. It is also interesting that the current DUP minister did not put the detailed answer of how his colleague acted into the public domain and it was only obtained electronically when I pursued the matter."

Note to the Editor:

AWQ 5567/10

Roy Beggs: To ask the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 5016/10, to list the planning applications in the East Antrim constituency in relation to which his predecessor Mr Sammy Wilson (i) made supportive representations; (ii) objected; and (iii) indicated no preference during his tenure as Environment Minister.

Minister of the Environment: I have attached a list drawn up from my Department's records of all planning applications on which Sammy Wilson MP MLA made representations to the Planning Service in relation to his East Antrim constituency during his tenure as Environment Minister. The list includes details of correspondence where it relates to specific planning applications and to applications discussed in office meetings with the Divisional Planning Manager. The applications are open to public scrutiny by request to the appropriate Divisional Planning Office.

See also Annex to AWQ 5567/10 attached to the email which given the detailed background of the planning ministers engagement with the Planning service..

Summing up in an Ulster Unionist sponsored debate on the Presbyterian Mutual Society in the NI Assembly, East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs Jnr called on action from the Stormont Executive, the Treasury in Whitehall and the Church to compensate savers and investors who have had their assets frozen.

Mr Beggs said:

"Several constituents have told me about the distress that the current uncertainty is causing. I am thinking of one particular family who were in the process of moving home, and who, during that transaction, put the entire value of their home into the PMS. They thought that they had parked the money somewhere securely and were caught up in the situation and lost the value of their home. The situation is very serious for some people, and it must be resolved."

The Ulster Unionist MLA went on to advocate that HM Treasury should provide a guarantee to the Northern Ireland Executive with a possible contribution from the Presbyterian Church

He added:

"The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment did have a role to play, and we have to accept that. If we want a solution, we will have to contribute to that solution if we have contributed to the problem. Perhaps the Church will have to contribute. I welcome the Minister's comments that we may be moving towards a firm proposal.

As Members are aware, Gordon Brown indicated that not one British saver had suffered as a result of the financial difficulties. I am thinking of the buy-over of Northern Rock, the Dunfermline Building Society, and the billions of pounds that went into the Icelandic banks. On that scale of things, the £100 million discrepancy in the PMS is not a huge amount of money. Where there is a will, there will be a way of resolving that."

The Ulster Unionist motion was passed unanimously[1]

[1] That this Assembly notes with concern the conclusions of the House of Commons Treasury Committee report 'The Failure of the Presbyterian Mutual Society' and, in particular, the conclusion that 'the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment should have taken a lead in identifying the problem, and in seeking a solution'; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to advise the Assembly of the reasons why it has not been possible to achieve a positive resolution to date.http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?gid=2010-03-16.5.19

The delay in the building of a proposed amalgamated primary school for Islandmagee has been raised during Question Time at the NI Assembly by local Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr. The proposal to combine 3 primary schools- Mullaghdubh, Kilcoan and Ballypriormore into a new amalgamated school was first mooted in 2002, and Ballypriormore closed in December 2003.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Education, "for her assessment of the time taken by her Department in handling the agreed amalgamation of the primary schools in Islandmagee."

In response Ms Ruane referred to falling enrolment figures in the remaining primary schools in Islandmagee but failed to give any assessnment of the delay in taking a decision to build the new school. In a supplementary question The Ulster Unionist MLA criticized the delay and attributed the falling rolls directly to the continuing lack of certainly regarding the new build.

Mr Beggs said, "With due respect to the Minister, my question asked for her assessment on the length of time it has taken to build the new school. Does the Minister accept that the inordinate length of time taken in getting the process through departmental structures is causing problems, and that that delay and uncertainty may well have resulted in many children passing what would be their local primary school to travel out of the area to other schools? Does she, therefore, accept that the Department has a degree of responsibility, in that that delay may well have caused the numbers to decline, thus creating that uncertainty? Will the Minister carry out a survey of the number of children who are travelling out of Islandmagee to be schooled elsewhere"

In reply the Minister said, "I cannot take responsibility for previous Ministers; all I can do is take responsibility for what I am doing. I absolutely agree with the Member that the best scenario is where children do not bypass local schools and parents support their local schools, because that is the best way of building strong, cohesive, vibrant communities. The difficulty with the Islandmagee situation is that the original economic appraisal was based on a long-term enrolment of five class bases, or 116 to 145 pupils. However, enrolments at the existing school have declined year on year since 2004. As I said, the long-term enrolment at present for the proposed amalgamated school is 79 pupils - only three class bases. However, I absolutely agree with the Member; it is important that all of us support our local schools."

Speaking later from his constituency office Roy Beggs commented:

"I was very disappointed by the standard response by the Minister. She did not take the opportunity to comment or respond to my specific points about decision making, uncertainty and local pupils being schools outside the Island . It remains deeply frustrating that land has been acquired by the Education Board, full planning permission has been granted and a positive economic appraisal has been completed long ago, yet still no Ministerial decision is forthcoming to go ahead with the new school."

ENDS

Link to Hansard source:

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100315.htm#6

Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim, Roy Beggs Jnr has reacted to the news that negotiations to appoint a new agent for the Post Office in Ballycarry and relocate the facility in a local convenience store on Main Street have broken down. The original Ballycarry Post Office has been shut since a fire on the premises around Christmas 2008.

Mr Beggs said:
"The Post Office carried out a public consultation last year and proposed reopening the service within the nearby shop at 42 Main Street, pending agreement with a new agent. It was announced that November 2009 was likely to be the re opening date. I wrote to the Post Office recently about the delay, and it is therefore very disheartening to learn that they have been unable to confirm the appointment of a new agent."

"Whilst the Post Office have re-confirmed their commitment to providing a service for the village, it is imperative that they produce a workable plan to provide the facility in the short and longer term. The longer Ballycarry is deprived of a Post Office, the more difficult it becomes to re-establish the service, so the community needs to see action not just words of comfort."

Ulster Unionist environment spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA, has condemned the DUP's attempts to "abuse" the Assembly Environment Committee, and said that he fully supports moves to rescind the decision to ban further discussion on the Knock Golf Club Planning Application.

Expressing concern at the perception that the DUP "ganged-up" in committee to silence debate on this contentious issue, Mr Beggs said: "It has been reported that Peter Robinson and his discredited wife Iris lobbied for the housing development, which was originally refused planning permission as it involved building on a area identified as open space within the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. The DUP would be well advised to offer transparency rather than seeking to block further public scrutiny should the committee deem it appropriate."

"At last week's Environment Committee we had the rare situation where all four DUP members of the committee were actually present at the same time. I am disappointed, if not surprised, by their attempt to abuse the committee system by moving a motion to prevent any future discussion on the Knock Golf Club Planning decision when they briefly held a majority on the committee. Their majority in this instance could hardly be viewed as a coincidence - indeed it appears that they were sent on a mission.

"What does the DUP have to hide about the decision to grant Planning approval to build houses on this area, which was previously zoned as green space? The more they protest and attempt to block scrutiny the more suspicious I become.

"I look forward to next week's meeting, when the committee will vote on whether it rescinds the ban on discussion on this matter. If successful, we will once more be free to investigate the Knock Golf Club Planning decision, as might be expected of a properly functioning scrutiny committee. Attempts to prevent this process are quite understandably being viewed with a great degree of suspicion."

Roy Beggs MLA has highlighted the unacceptability of the Housing Executive's continuing reliance on expensive basic electricity to heat 201 of their homes and how they themselves are contributing to fuel poverty.

Roy Beggs said "I became aware of a constituent who has no option but using his 13 amp plugs to heat his home as no alternative form of heating has been provided. In response to my assembly question, they have advised me that 201 Housing Executive tenants are in a similar situation. In effect, the Housing Executive are forcing some of their tenants to pay significantly larger sums to heat their homes, therefore creating fuel poverty. I find this unacceptable given their responsibility for social housing and fighting fuel poverty through programmes such as the Warm Homes Schemes. I have tabled a further question seeking clarification on when the Housing Executive will upgrade these 201 homes to more efficient forms of heating. I believe these homes should be upgraded as a matter of priority."

The Ulster Unionist Assembly member tabled a question to the department for Social Development (AQW 4787/10) asking for a breakdown of homes under Housing Executive ownership that currently relies on Economy 7 heating and on basic electricity heating.

Basic electricity heating using conventional 13 amp plugs will incur a substantially larger fuel bill than oil or gas heating. The figures given in response to the question showed that a significant amount of homes including 102 homes in Castlereagh, 25 in Lisburn (Antrim), 17 in Carrickfergus and 15 in West Belfast were still using basic electricity heating to warm their homes.

Mr Beggs, a member of the committee for the Environment said "Basic electricity is also one of the least efficient means of heating and is therefore wasting limited energy resources and contributing to unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions."

The assembly answer also revealed that a further 11, 051 NIHE homes are heated by Economy 7.

Mr Beggs went on to say "The Economy 7 heating system is also not the most cost efficient heating option and I welcome the fact that they are continuing to phase out Economy 7 and to offer alternative forms of heating."

Note to Editor: See attached Assembly Question. (AQW 4787/10)

To ask the Minister for Social Development how many Housing Executive properties are currently reliant on (i) Economy 7 heating; and (ii) basic electricity for heating in each Housing Executive district; and what plans she has to replace these with more efficient heating systems.

The table below details the Economy 7 heating systems and basic electric heating systems in Housing Executive properties by district office. Replacement of existing heating schemes is carried out on a planned basis where Economy 7 exists in an estate undergoing heating replacements. Tenants are offered the opportunity to switch to oil or gas where available but may opt to retain Economy 7 and significant numbers do so for reasons of convenience. The Housing Executive has provisionally planned to replace a further 624 Economy 7 heating systems in 2010/11, although this will be dependant on the availability of funding. It also plans to offer replacement heating to remaining Economy 7 users over the next five years.

Roy Beggs MLA has backed the proposal from the Department of Finance & Personnel to retain rate exempt from Automatic Telling Machines (ATM's) in rural areas. The proposal will aim to give an additional incentive to rural businesses and banks to locate ATM's in rural areas, and benefit the rural community.

Roy Beggs said "If the rates exemption was abolished for rural ATMs, then we could expect to see a decline in the number of ATMs in rural communities. There is evidence that a significant amount drawn from ATM's is spent locally. The retention of ATM's will therefore play an important part in retaining rural shops and minimizing the risk of rural isolation. This would then mean that people would have to travel further to get money and in doing so incur a significant cost in travelling. This could be a significant proportion of the income of pensioners and those who are reliant on benefits."

The rural ATM rates exemption is expected to cost around £80,000. Mr Beggs said "Although the total estimated cost is relatively small, the exemption could play a critical part when a rural business is determining whether or not to retain or install an ATM."

Commenting in the wake of ATM burglaries in Northern Ireland, the UUP Assembly member said "Following the spate of ATM robberies, the future of some ATM's appears uncertain. The exemption from rates for ATM's in specified rural areas are another measure that may encourage the replacement of these ATM's and will give increased stability to some rural shops."

Roy Beggs, the UUP MLA for East Antrim has backed proposals that would see a rates deferral scheme for home owning pensioners. The proposal represents a new payment choice for owner-occupier pensioners who may not have the means to pay high rates bills or who are ineligible for rates relief or rates rebates.

Speaking in the debate at Parliament buildings on 2^nd March 2010, Mr Beggs said "Many pensioners are asset rich but income poor. They may have worked all their lives, saved, paid off homes, reared their families and their children may then have moved on. At that point, being reliant on pensions, for example, how do they continue to pay rates that may be disproportionate to their income? I welcome the regulations as they will provide an option that pensioners can consider and which may enable them to continue to live in their family homes and to defer payments."

Mr Beggs went on to add "these proposals will hopefully avoid pensioners being forced to move, saving the considerable cost involved. They will also be able to stay in communities that they have lived in all their lives in which they have made friends who could support them in later life."

The minister for Finance & Personnel stated that the scheme would only be open to those over the age of 60 and who have as least 40% equity on their homes.

Roy Beggs MLA welcomes these criteria as "there should be a minimal risk to the public purse, yet it will bring advantage to some pensioners. Therefore I support the exemption."

East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has welcomed progress in providing more NHS dentists in the Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus districts. These areas were indentified by the Department of Health as lacking access to NHS dentistry, and as a result Minister Michael McGimpsey announced a new contract to provide access for an additional 57,000 health service patients across Northern Ireland last year.

Roy Beggs commented:
"There has been a dearth of NHS dentists in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey for some time now, and people have been struggling to get access to a dentist without having to go private. I am pleased that the Minister has taken positive steps to rectify this. I asked a question in the Assembly and am pleased to learn that two new practices run by Oasis Dental Care are due to open very soon at Lancastrian Street, Carrickfergus and 350 Antrim Road, Glengormley. This is excellent news and will go some way to ensure that the general public in East Antrim has access to a health service dentist."

The Ulster Unionist Party MLA asked the Minister what progress has been made in rolling out the contract awarded to Oasis Dentistry to provide more Health Service dentists; and when and where the service will be provided in the Carrickferus and Newtownabbey districts. In response Michael McGimpsey said:

"As you are aware I announced in May 2009 that the Department had awarded a tender to Oasis Dental Care Ltd for additional dental services which will result in 38 additional dentists being available in various areas of Northern Ireland. I can confirm that excellent progress has been made. The first practices in Enniskillen and Londonderry opened on Monday, 16 November 2009 and we are currently on schedule for the rest being operational within the next 3-4 months.

Subject to planning permission, it is intended that the Carrickfergus Oasis dental practice will be based at Lancastrian Street, Carrickfergus and is scheduled to open in late March 2010. The Newtownabbey Oasis dental practice will be based at 350 Antrim Road, Glengormley, Newtownabbey and is also scheduled to open in late March 2010, again subject to planning permission."

Doe Planning Service have subsequently granted approval of the change of use at Unit 3 Lancastrian street after the recent consultation meeting with Carrickfergus Borough Council.

ENDS
Note to Editor:
NIA Q&A: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/qanda/2007mandate/writtenans/2009/100226.htm#9
Minister McGimpsey announced to award of a contract to Oasis Dental care on May 13 2009 to provide 38 additional dentists across Northern Ireland in hotspot areas. 2 are being provided in Carrickfergus and 4 in Newtownabbey.

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has expressed his concern following a report which indicated that more than 1,000 sex crimes against children were recorded by the PSNI in Northern Ireland last year.

The UUP's children and young person's spokesperson said, "This figure is a shocking insight into the difficulties which some of our children and young people are facing on a daily basis. As we know, most abuse is unreported and so the true extent of the problem remains hidden. Undoubtedly, the real total is significantly higher.

"These figures show that three children are disclosing sexual abuse every day in Northern Ireland. Many are frightened of disclosing abuse to someone; they are scared that they will not be believed. These children need to know that help is available. Society needs to listen to these children, take their concerns seriously and give them the protection and support which they need.

"The services operated by ChildLine offer invaluable support to a child or young person who is not sure where to turn. Children can call ChildLine on 0800 1111 to talk to trained counselors who will comfort and advise them.

"Research shows that children are more likely to be sexually abused by someone who they know including family members, friends of the family and people in positions of trust than by a stranger. The recently released figures also show that girls were five times more likely to be the victims of a reported sex offence than boys.

"I will be working with my colleagues on the Policing Board to ensure that these crimes are highlighted and that the PSNI have the best policies to ensure that vulnerable young victims are dealt with sensitively and receive the best care possible. It is clear that we need to continue to raise public awareness of this insidious problem."

Roy Beggs Jnr, UUP MLA for East Antrim has welcomed the Public Accounts Committee report on the 'Performance of the Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland' and in particular welcomed recommendation 6, which calls for early intervention so that children and their parents are better informed of health issues at an earlier stage.

Roy Beggs MLA said 'Initiatives such as Sure Start can enable our children, young people & their parents in disadvantages communities, to learn about the advantages of healthy eating and regular exercise. There is much evidence linking lifestyle to health inequalities and it is important that our children and their parents are guided so that they are more likely to have healthier and longer lives.'

Recommendation 6 states that 'the committee welcomes the Department's view that concentrated support, targeted at the most needy children and their parents, can reap long-term benefits. The committee recommends that DHSSPS continues to engage with relevant education authorities and primary care services to ensure that early intervention occurs and that initiatives such as Sure Start are consistent across N.I and that everything possible is done to ensure that these reach the most vulnerable children in society.'

Mr Beggs, Vice-Chairman of the PAC said 'I have had the benefit of working as a member of the Horizon Sure Start committee in Carrickfergus & Larne and I have seen the benefits to parents and their children in the local community. It is vital that initiatives like this are recognised for the long term health and education advantages that they provide to children and their parents in the qualifying areas. It is also important that the Health and Education departments work closely together to continue to champion initiatives such as Sure Start which give our children a better start in their early years.'

The Ulster Unionist Party's spokesman for children and young people's issues went on to say 'Children are significantly influenced in the 0-4 age group and increased education and health support will hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives.'

Recommendation 21 in the report states 'that the DHSS takes appropriate action to ensure that all children in preschool education are offered dental care services and oral health advice including a daily tooth brushing programme. In response to this recommendation, Beggs states 'serious tooth decay has been evident even in some pre school children. Some parents are failing to recognise the importance of a healthy diet and regular brushing of teeth, the earlier this is rectified, the better. Poor diets not only affect tooth decay but can have implications for diabetes and obesity in future years.'

ENDS

The timing of Sammy Wilson MP MLA's announcement that he is to stand down as a Belfast City Councillor has been described as 'utterly cynical' by Ulster unionist MLA for East Antrim , Roy Beggs.

It has been reported that he is stepping down to 'concentrate on the forthcoming general election[1]. He has been combining his East Antrim MP and MLA and Ministerial role with being a Belfast City Councillor to the tune of over £122,500 in combined salaries, not counted two full sets of allowances..

Roy Beggs said,

"Sammy Wilson has again shown an utterly cynical attitude and contempt for the electorate with the timing of this announcement. He is freely admitting that he is not doing this to concentrate fully on his other constituency - East Antrim, where he double jobs as an MP and MLA, or to put his focus on his role as Minister for Finance at Stormont. No, Sammy wants to spend more time trying to get re elected to Westminster ."

"The electorate will soon have their chance to give their verdict on the real double jobbing issue here- a part-time Westminster MP and Stormont Minister receiving a vast amount of salaries and allowances all on the public purse. Sammy Wilson has no credibility as a Finance Minister making budgetary cuts, and taking money out of the Health and Education funds given the drain he personally makes on public finances."

ENDS

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8511888.stm

"Mr Wilson said he decided to step aside so he could concentrate on the forthcoming general election."

Following the decision of the District Commander Superintendent Henry Irvine to further restrict policing operation from Carrickfergus Police Station, Roy Beggs MLA said, 'As a Public Representative and a Member of the Carrickfergus District Policing Partnership, I was astonished to learn of the decision to restrict policing operations from Green Street PSNI Station via an email from the media. This is particularly unsatisfactory as during previous discussions on changes to policing operations within Carrickfergus I was advised that consultation would happen prior to any further proposed changes.'

The Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim added, 'The PSNI have advised that the decision to restrict night time Station operations will enable PSNI Officers to carryout patrolling duties rather than having to man the Station. However, given the previous decision to redeploy most of the operational staff from Carrickfergus to Newtownabbey, we do not even have any guarantee that the redeployment will result in additional police patrols within the Carrickfergus Borough'.

Roy Beggs added 'I have written to Superintendent Irvine expressing my concern about the decision and the manner in which it has been taken, and asking him to reassess his decision.'

Speaking during a debate on public sector job location in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr , has pointed out that the perennial complaint from the west of the Bann about unfair distribution of public sector jobs was a myth. Using official statistics, Mr Beggs claimed that East Antrim has a valid claim for a fairer deal in regards to civil service jobs.

Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, Mr Beggs said:

"My constituency of East Antrim is ranked as one of the lowest of the 18 parliamentary constituencies when it comes to public sector jobs, having only 2·4%, or 5,171, of the 219,000 jobs listed. That already low figure is set to decrease still further, with the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) office in Larne being earmarked for closure and relocation, changes happening in the Department for Social Development (DSD), centralisation in north Belfast , and a new processing office opening in Ballymena."

Mr Beggs argued that the Bain Report on public sector decentralization had partially obscured the reality of the low level of public sector jobs in East Antrim by burying it in the Belfast travel-to-work area.

"Page 58 of the Bain report states that councils in East Antrim have among the lowest number of public sector jobs per 100 of the working age population. Larne has only 8 public sector jobs for every 100 of the working age population, Carrickfergus has 8·2, and Newtownabbey has 10·3. Those figures compare with 35·6 public sector jobs in Belfast for every 100 of the working age population, 21·8 in Omagh and 19·2 in Londonderry .

Other areas are similarly affected. For example, the Ards council area has 8·5 public sector jobs for every 100 people. Again, the issue of huge variations within each travel-to-work area was not addressed by the review. It is not only an issue for areas west of the Bann, as some of the issues also affect areas in the east of the Province."

Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Roy Beggs has raised the issue of supplies of salt/grit to treat roads in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

During question time, the Minister for Regional Development, whose Department includes the Roads Service stated that, "approximately 3,500 salt bins that are provided on public roads. There have been no cutbacks to that service because of financial constraints. An ongoing top-up is available from the salt suppliers in Carrickfergus to ensure that we have enough to keep us going for as long as is necessary.

Mr Beggs raised the issue of supplies in a follow up supplementary question:
"Cutbacks in Great Britain have led to grit shortages. I accept the Minister's contention that there are no shortages here at present. Nevertheless, can he assure us that stocks remain to enable roadside gritting points to be replenished and that secondary routes, where necessary, will continue to be covered? How many days of grit stocks remain in Northern Ireland"

The Minister replied referring to the recent very cold spell, "because of the freezing weather conditions, Roads Service was using approximately 2,000 tons of grit a night. That may change if the weather alters. Roads Service was also getting 1,000 tons of grit back into the system from the suppliers in Carrickfergus. At that stage, under those conditions, it was estimated that there were enough supplies to last for another fortnight at least. However, we must bear in mind that the supply is being continuously topped up with 1,000 tons from the Carrickfergus supplier … the service that is being provided to date, on the roads and at the grit piles, will be available for the foreseeable future."

Commenting later from his office, Roy Beggs MLA added:
"In general I think that the Roads Service staff have done a sterling job in very difficult circumstances, replenishing the boxes and verge side piles in country areas. However, I do have concerns that if we have another prolonged cold spell before the end of the winter, whether there would be enough material left to grit the roads. Many of my constituents have noted that the latest material to be deposited in the grit boxes, and on the verges are screenings, not rock salt."

Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Roy Beggs Jnr has expressed his concern and sympathy for the newspaper photographer Philip Coburn, a fellow native of Larne who has been seriously injured in a bomb attack in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

Mr Beggs said: "My thoughts are with Mr Coburn and his family and they come to terms with the severe injuries he has suffered in Afghanistan. My sympathy also goes out to the family of Mr Hamer the Mirror correspondent who lost his life in the same bomb attack.

This is another reminder of the highly dangerous circumstances in which journalists and news photographers have to work, when reporting where our troops are currently engaged overseas."

Unionist East Antrim MLA, Roy Beggs Jnr, has condemned a suspected arson attack at Carrick Rangers Football Club in Carrickfergus.

"An attack of this nature is totally unwarranted, and demonstrates the complete lack of respect those responsible have for others.

"While the impact on the club is likely to be huge, this incident also caused problems for neighbouring residents, given that people living at Barnhill Cottages - a residential fold - were subjected to thick smoke. Those who started the fire have caused concern to many vulnerable individuals and could have impacted on their health.

"The suggestion that this blaze was started deliberately is shocking. "While I am pleased that no one has been hurt, this is certainly a very disturbing development. For Carrick Rangers, who are due to play their next home game at the grounds in early January, this is an unfortunate start to the new year's football."

Ulster Unionist environment spokesperson, Roy Beggs , has said that we must "plot a way forward to mitigate global warming and enable us to adapt to it".

Speaking during a report on the Inquiry into Climate Change, the Assembly Environment Committee member said that, on this issue, " Northern Ireland is lagging somewhat behind".

"Recently, while watching the Met Office forecast on 'Countryfile', I was struck by the statement that this autumn was the third warmest autumn since 1914 and that rainfall in the United Kingdom in the same period was 184% of the average expected.

"Those things were both predicted in the Met Office's climate change models. We should take cognisance of its scientific evidence and the models that it uses to predict what might happen in the future; we cannot just ignore that.

"It is not enough to do nothing; clearly, we need to take action," the East Antrim UUP MLA said.

Calling for the support of all Departments in the Executive, Mr Beggs said: "There is little point in having individual silos that do not contribute to the collective change that is needed in Northern Ireland . I hope that all Departments and their Ministers, including our new Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, will recognise that climate change is a serious problem that affects us all.

"The Committee was presented with very strong scientific evidence and also heard from a range of those who are concerned about the environment, all of whom said that climate change is happening and that man is contributing to it. If we are contributing to climate change, we should take action to minimise its effect so that we mitigate it and protect future generations from the damage that we could be doing."

Ulster Unionist East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs has expressed concern that consumers are being let down by Northern Ireland 's single electricity market (SEM).

"A fully working single electricity market (SEM) should lower consumer costs. However, I am less than satisfied that the single electricity market, as it stands, has benefited consumers. Instead wholesalers appear to be reaping the benefits.

"The fact that many large-scale energy users are facing huge increases in their electricity bills, some close to 40% to 50%, is indicative of the problem.

"I welcome acknowledgement from the Enterprise Minister that this should not be the case.

"There are very real, and very worrying, consequences to this. In an economically depressed climate an additional burden of this magnitude is totally unsustainable.

"I agree with the Minister that there must be a real and meaningful look at the reasons for electricity price hikes of this size, and also welcome the fact that the regulator has announced a review.

"With so much uncertainty in the business world a measure of stability and clarity is essential."

Ulster Unionist Party MLA for East Antrim, Roy Beggs Jnr has said that a proposed new addendum to the planning policy on building in existing residential areas is welcome, but long overdue. The addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS7) entitled, 'Safeguarding the Character of Established Residential Areas' was recently announced to the Assembly[1], and has been published for a four month consultation period. [2]

Mr Beggs said:

"This new policy which purports to deal with the issue of inappropriate developments in existing residential areas- the practice known as 'garden grabbing' is long, long overdue.

I raised this issued at Stormont over 2 years ago and received unanimous backing for my motion which called for a change in planning policy "to address the failure of strategic planning policy to protect the unique character of towns, villages and urban landscapes throughout Northern Ireland."[3]

In the intervening period, areas of distinctive residential character have continued to be subjected to what many people believe are wholly inappropriate and over developed blocks of apartments replacing single family dwellings. There have been numerous planning disputes in my constituency in hitherto settled communities from Whiteabbey, Jordanstown, Upper Road Greenisland, North Road Carrickfergus, and the harbour district in Larne to name but a few. It is a pity that Mr Poots predecessor as Environment Minister did not place the same level of priority on this issue, but nevertheless I welcome the publication of this new draft policy."

The Environment Minister said in the Assembly that " overdevelopment can lead to the erosion of an area's character, especially where the architecture, size and scale of the new development is not in keeping with that of the locality. New high-density housing can have a detrimental impact on the environment, on the amount of increased garden grabbing and the loss of green space….The addendum provides strong, clear policy, with no room for misinterpretation."

Roy Beggs MLA commented:

"I would encourage those who have an interest in this subject to read the new Addendum and send their comments into the Department. In reply to my question to him on his statement the Minister has confirmed that current planning applications in the system which have not yet been issued with an approval will be subject to the new policy, therefore this is a very significant development.[4] ENDS

[1] http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/091109.htm#4

[2] http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/news/news_policy/news_pps7_addendum2.htm

[3] http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2007/071001.htm#9

[4] Mr Beggs: The Minister rightly points out that overdevelopment can lead to the erosion of an area's character. That is evident in the North Road in Carrickfergus, where there has been a rash of apartment applications and approvals. Will the Minister advise the House of what assessment Planning Service has undertaken to establish the proportion of current approvals that will be affected by the new addendum? Will the draft addendum have an immediate effect, as the draft version of PPS 21 did? If not, how soon will it be completed? We do not want to suffer an avalanche of applications in many sensitive areas with developers trying to get approval before the regulations are changed?

The Minister of the Environment: No current approvals will be affected, because neither the Planning Service nor the Department has powers to take back approval once it is given. Current applications are already affected by how the documents that I mentioned in my statement are interpreted. The planning policy statement proposal will give greater weight to that. In the absence of the addendum being adopted, the Planning Service will accept the proposal as a material consideration when interpreting existing policies. Therefore, when consulting with planners, councillors and other public representatives will have the opportunity to make the case that this proposal has weight, as it does. It will not take full effect until the public consultation process is concluded and I present it before the House as a final document. Nonetheless, it should influence planners' decisions.