§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 27 April 2003,Official Report, column 332W, on bylaws, if he will make a statement on the content of applications received by the Department of Environment from Ards borough council requesting permission to invoke new bylaws in the past 10 years; when they were received by the Department of Environment; what action has been taken towards granting permission on each separate application; how many of these applications are within the power of the Department to confirm; and when local government authorities are notified that an application has not been successful. [113458]
677W
§ Angela SmithIn total four applications are currently with the Department of Environment for confirmation of bylaws. Each application contains a large number of provisions, which fall within one of the eight model sets of Home Office bylaws. The main provisions proposed under each set of bylaws are as follows
1. Under "Pleasure Grounds, Public Walks and Open Spaces" bylaws for the regulation and management of playgrounds; the control of certain sports; the protection of flora and fauna; the erection and removal of structures and restrictions on vehicles.2. Under "Seashores, Esplanades and Promenades" bylaws for the control of public meetings; restrictions on the use of noisy instruments; the control of animals; restrictions on vehicles; entry to public conveniences and interference with life-saving equipment.3. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws for restrictions on noisy music and the use of noisy instruments; the control of reckless/wilful behaviour; the control of games near streets and nuisance from roller skating in public places.4. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws relating to the control of district council car parks.All four applications were received on 16 March 1994 and action has been taken on each of them. Each application has been the subject of extensive correspondence and discussion involving district councils and legal advisers for local and central Government. Each application does not adhere strictly to the relevant set of model bylaws and is currently at a different stage of consideration.
All four applications are within the power of the Department to confirm and in one case joint confirmation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is required. The Department of Environment has not notified any district council during the period that its application has not been successful.