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Wilson welcomes progress on improved heating systems for Housing Executive properties

Local MP Sammy Wilson has said that all Housing Executive properties in Larne and Carrickfergus, with the exception of those tenants who have refused, will have their heating systems upgraded to gas or oil central heating by the end of next year.

Commenting on the news, Sammy Wilson said:

“I am pleased that all Housing Executive properties in Larne and Carrickfergus will have their heating systems ungraded by 2014. The only homes that will not have their heating systems upgraded are those where the work has been refused by the tenants.

Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP): It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for South Dorset (Richard Drax). The Democratic Unionist party endorses his views on the amendment, which we support. We believe it is important that the people of the United Kingdom should have a say about their relationship with Europe. Some of those who oppose the commitment to a referendum claim that it will somehow leave us with four years of uncertainty and that that will damage investment in the UK, but the genie is out of the bottle as far as renegotiation and a referendum are concerned. Any investor knows what will happen at some stage in the future, so there should be no difficulty in giving the people of the United Kingdom a say on this very important issue. I will concentrate on other issues that relate to economic growth, but I accept that our relationship with Europe impacts on economic growth in this country.

Sammy Wilson today visited the construction site at Ravenhill Rugby Stadium to observe the progress on a project that will deliver three new stands, high performance training facilities, new turn styles and terraces, and increase capacity to over 18,000 spectators.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has welcomed the announcement that almost £50, 000 has been awarded to Carrickfergus Borough Council for a development grant to support the drawing up of more detailed proposals to secure the full award of £1.7million that has been earmarked for the town.

The local MP said:

“I am delighted that that the first steps have been taken that will enable us to secure this very substantial grant for Carrickfergus which will help to significantly improve the town by restoring historic properties which will hopefully lead to greater investment and more businesses, shoppers and tourists in the area.

Mr Wilson (The Minister of Finance and Personnel): I will seek to better the previous contributor’s speech, although I have to say that he and the Member for Newry and Armagh hit the nail on the head.  If this is about fuel crime, the way to deal with it is to ensure that you have the laws, resources and will to ensure that criminals who steal from all the people whom we seek to serve in this Assembly are put behind bars and have their activities stopped.  I will not really deal with the part of the motion that mentions fuel crime.  As the Members for South Antrim, Newry and Armagh and North Antrim have indicated, nothing in either the motion or the amendment really addresses the issue of crime.  Indeed, I suspect that there is a bit of embarrassment among both the SDLP and Sinn Féin on this issue, especially given their attitude to the National Crime Agency, which was set up to deal with it.

Diane Dodds MEP has committed to working alongside local Churches and Faith based organisations to help bring funding into the East Antrim area. Mrs. Dodds was speaking at two “Funding Workshop” events in Carrickfergus Town Hall and the DUP Office in Larne, as part of her series of funding seminars across Northern Ireland.

Following the meetings, Diane Dodds said:

“We had a very broad range of Church and Faith organisations present – churches, boys and girls brigades, youth organisations to name but a few – and what was clear was the determination of those present to see their local community improve.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has lent his support to a major new campaign that will introduce a voluntary licensing scheme for all electrical workers in Northern Ireland.

The Sparksafe campaign aims to promote the employment of qualified and licensed electricians and allow members of the public to be able to check the credentials of electricians before hiring them.

Sammy Wilson said:

Sammy Wilson: Although we have not heard many speeches by Government Members, I am a bit surprised by the attitude they have adopted to this proposal in view of one of the Government’s declared objectives in the Budget book. Under the heading, “Fairness”, it states:

“The Government’s economic and fiscal strategy is underpinned by its commitment to fairness”.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said the recent announcements regarding the closure of banks in East Antrim is of concern to many people across the constituency, especially older people.

Sammy Wilson said:

“No part of East Antrim has been spared in recent months from announcements of bank closures. In Newtownabbey, the Ulster Bank at Jordanstown is to be closed, in Carrickfergus the Bank of Ireland is moving out, in Larne there is the double blow of both First Trust and the Bank of Ireland leaving the town and in Cushendall the Danske Bank will be closing in June.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has expressed his concern about the cost of Access NI checks especially for those who are seeking employment.

Sammy Wilson said:
“A number of constituents have been in touch with me regarding the cost of Access NI checks. For some jobs these checks are compulsory but they come at a cost of £30. As a one off, this is a high enough fee for someone who is seeking employment and not in work. But because a check is only valid on the day on which it is issued, this creates a serious financial problem for those who are applying for a number of jobs which require a check. If someone needs 4, 5 or more checks done this becomes a very heavy financial burden.