That concludes listed questions, and it’s now time for Topical Questions.

This is a 15 minute section when MLAs can ask ministers about anything that falls under their remit.

George Robinson of the DUP starts by asking the minister how many allocations have been made in relation to the localised restrictions support scheme.

Conor Murphy responds by saying there are two schemes, and that he can only outline the one which is being run by his department.

He says “we want to see it gather pace as quickly as it can” adding that upwards of £20m has been paid out to date.

Image source, NI Assembly

SDLP MLA Sinéad Bradley asks about the £95m high-street voucher scheme which the minister announced yesterday.

She wants to know what measures the minister has undertaken to ensure that money will in fact go to the high-street.

“I do encourage and I expect all executive ministers to encourage people to shop locally” especially during the festive period, says the minister.

Sinn Féin’s Karen Mullan asks how many businesses in Londonderry applied for the specific support grant that was made available.

The minister says that over 70% of businesses have received the support which they applied for.

Paul Givan of the DUP says it will “come as a shock to the public, that around half of all applications that are eligible are still waiting to get a payment from this department, that you minister are responsible, from LPS (Land and Property Services)”.

“The schemes have not only changed in terms of their scope, they have changed in terms of the level of payment,” responds the minister, adding that he wants to “see them done quicker”.

Image source, NI Assembly

Alan Chambers of the UUP asks whether the minister "will consider the reform of public procurement policy to allow local and individual public sector teams to choose the best options for them, when it comes to cost-effectiveness and suitability".

He says a school in his constituency "had to wait weeks for a simple window repair to be carried out" because they had to go through the central provider for schools in NI.

Mr Chambers said it could have been done the next day for 75% of the cost through a local contractor and this seems to be a common problem.

The minister says "there is a level where there can be a degree of discretion" but there has to be accountability and the work has to be done to an acceptable standard.

William Humphrey of the DUP observes that as a school governor he has had to face similar problems.

Stewart Dickson of Alliance asks the minister “what actions he is taking to ensure that £500m of centrally-held funding, and any further Barnett Consequentials, are spent effectively in this financial year”.

Conor Murphy responds that the executive agreed to allocate £338.1m of the £500m that was held centrally.

Image source, NI Assembly

SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole asks if the minister will update the assembly after tomorrow’s expected “spending review” in relation to unallocated Barnett Consequentials.

The minister says it’s hoped that review will be delivered tomorrow.

“There have been a series of budget discussions with other executive ministers,” he adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

The UUP's Steve Aiken asks "in light of RHI disciplinary proceedings, whether any processes have been put in place to prevent those disciplined from being given official or semi-official roles during retirement".

The minister says RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) disciplinary proceedings are ongoing "and I await their determinations".

Dr Aiken rephrases his question.

He wants to know if the minister will make legislative changes to ensure that civil servants who have been subject to disciplinary processes but have subsequently retired and therefore been "exempted" from sanction be prevented from "being reemployed as consultants, on boards, or in any other official capacity".

Mr Murphy says that "in general terms he does make a point which I think is worth looking at" and that it could be addressed as part of the review of the civil service.

Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd asks his party colleague “how procurement policy will reflect the importance of security of supply, given the learning from the Covid-19 pandemic”.

“Security of supply is fundamental in all public sector contracts,” responds Conor Murphy.

The minister says it’s essential that supply chains are monitored during the pandemic, and going forward towards the end of the EU transition period.

Image source, NI Assembly

TUV MLA Jim Allister asks the minister about “the recent exposed scandal of the obscene amounts of money paid to middlemen in the obtaining of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)”.

He asks the minister if he can confirm that NI’s procurement of PPE was “free” of that spend.

The minister says this was done within the department.

Image source, NI Assembly

Question two now, and Alliance MLA John Blair asks what assessment the Finance Department "has made of the potential merits of compensating small businesses that have maintained the salaries of employees even though they were ineligible for support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme".

Mr Murphy says he has raised this repeatedly with the Treasury.

"This sort of wage support can only be put in place by Treasury," he adds.

Mr Blair asks for an update on the number of applications and the number of payments made under the localised restrictions support scheme.

Mr Murphy he says he believes the number of applications is in the region of 12,000 and the number of payments is over 5,000, while "in the region of 2,000 have been rejected".

"We're heading towards £20m in terms of payout," he adds.

It’s now time for more questions - this time for the Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

First up is SDLP MLA Colin McGrath. He wants to know “what progress has been made on civil service reform, as set out in New Decade, New Approach”.

Conor Murphy says there has been “good progress” adding that “a revised civil service codes of ethics has been devised” and will be finalised in the near future.

Image source, NI Assembly

When will there be a head of the civil service appointed, asks Mr McGrath.

“The world doesn’t come to an end without somebody in the head of the civil service post,” responds the minister adding that he would like to see someone appointed to the post.

William Humphrey of the DUP asks the minister about recent Audit Office reports of employment in the civil service and asks when he’ll take forward those recommendations.

“We’re putting together a group,” responds Mr Murphy, adding that this will look at reform within the civil service.

There's no more time for the listed questions so members move on to topical questions.

These allow MLAs to raise matters at short notice.

Jim Allister has the first question. He wants an assurance that the minister will not close schools a week early for the Christmas break "as some have suggested".

The minister says there have been rumours floating around but "there is no substance to those rumours".

Image source, NI Assembly

A number of questioners on the list are missing so it's on to Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd who asks about pupils who are "bubbling" in their classes "but then get on to buses and there's multiple schools on those buses".

He asks if a "scoping exercise" has been carried out to find out where it is happening and to prevent it.

Mr Weir says there is a requirement for post-primary pupils to wear masks on school transport and public transport.

He has asked officials to work with the EA, Department of Infrastructure and Translink to try to ensure that "we use that transport as wisely as possible".

Paul Frew asks the minister, who is a DUP party colleague, “in the absence of face-to-face contact due to Covid-19 restrictions” can he “outline how educational psychologists provide assessments at all stages of the code of practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs”.

Peter Weir says when face-to-face assessments were suspended, a number which had “previously been consulted on and agreed with schools” were progressed.

Image source, NI Assembly

What impact will the backlog have in relation to school placements, asks Mr Frew.

Work is ongoing to reduce backlog cases, says the minister, adding that the focus is on children who have been waiting for the longest.

“There are new processes in place which will help reduce that further," he adds.

Philip McGuigan (below) of Sinn Féin asks "when the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) will be in a position to provide detailed contingency arrangements for public examinations in 2021".

The minister says it's his priority that the exams should go ahead as planned and he has already announced a number of "adaptations" to CCEA qualifications.

He says his officials and CCEA have been working on mitigations "to respond to the fluid public health situation".

Mr McGuigan says there is "no level-playing field" adding that he believes the CCEA proposals do not go far enough.

Image source, NI Assembly

Alan Chambers asks the minister if he can "commit to not changing his position" so that parents and students can have clarity on what is expected of them.

"It is entirely my position to ensure that exams take place," says the minister.

Alliance’s Stewart Dickson is up next and asks the minister “when decisions will be made on outstanding development proposals for schools in East Antrim moving to controlled integrated status”.

Peter Weir responds that the progression of “DPs” (development proposals) has been delayed due to a reshuffle of staff to respond to Covid-19.

The minister says work on assessment of proposals has recommenced, adding that decisions will be made as soon as possible.

Image source, NI Assembly

TUV MLA Jim Allister asks about the “impact” such proposals can have on other schools.

The minister says this is something that is considered by the department.

“There is a grid of nearby schools that is highlighted,” he explains and says “it is broken down by sectors and the number of children that are there”.

Time for questions to the Education Minister, Peter Weir.

Andrew Muir of Alliance is first up and he asks "for an update on a new build for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School".

Mr Weir business outlines the project and says the department is making a "hugely significant investment of almost £10m" in the new school.

It will move to a site 1.7 miles from the present school.

Mr Muir wants assurance that children living in central Bangor "will be catered for in this move to the new site".

The minister says that because the school is the only integrated school in Bangor it has a fairly wide catchment area.

Image source, NI Assembly

Rachel Woods of the Green Party asks what consultation was done with the parents, the school and board of governors regarding this move.

The minister says he is "always happy to meet with the member" and that he has met some of the interested parties.

He says the department's statutory duty is to integrated education and "not to a specific site or a specific location".

Image source, Tori Watson

We’re taking a short break for lunch.

When we return at 14:00 we’ll be bringing you live coverage of Question Time with the education and finance ministers.

Hopefully we’ll see you then.

The UUP's Steve Aiken, who chairs the Finance Committee, outlines its consideration of the Functioning of Government Bill.

He thanks Mr Allister for making amendments in response to comments brought by the committee members.

Mr Aiken says "it made it much easier" that Mr Allister was a member of the Finance Committee.

"The former head of the civil service informed the committee that he was expressing the executive's views that codes and guidance were sufficient to address the issues that give rise to the bill," the committee chair explains.

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The committee divided on every amendment to the bill due to "fundamental" disagreement over whether codes or legislation was "the most appropriate way forward".

Mr Aiken says the committee "supported the legislative route as an appropriate means of providing the openness, transparency and accountability that the public demands".

He outlines the committee's response to amendments.

Speaking as Ulster Unionist leader, Dr Aiken says the bill "is regrettable but a necessary measure to restore a degree of confidence in the Northern Ireland Executive".

Deputy Speaker Roy Beggs suspends the debate until after Question Time.

Image source, PA

Northern Ireland businesses have called for urgent financial aid after Stormont ministers agreed a multi-million pound support package to help people hit by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

From Friday non-essential shops and businesses will close for two weeks as part of tougher measures across NI.

The executive had pledged to provide additional financial support to businesses forced to close.

B&B owner, Scott Borthwick, said "there is a real sense of fear".

You can read more on this story here.

“It is no part of my ambition to beat the record of last Tuesday and to be here at 02:15 in the morning, but let's see how we go!” says Jim Allister in reference to last week's consideration of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill.

The TUV MLA starts the debate on the first group of proposed amendments to his private member’s bill.

He says “this is undoubtedly a difficult topic, arising as it does out of RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) and the all the misdemeanours that that revealed”.

Image source, NI Assembly

“This is not a green and orange issue,” says the MLA, adding “it’s not about whether you’re pro-Belfast Agreement or anti-Belfast Agreement”.

Turning to the issue of codes of conduct for special advisers, Mr Allister says “codes have indeed demonstrably failed” adding that they should be replaced in legislation.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

Image source, Pacemaker

Churches in NI are to be allowed to stay open for individual prayer during the two-week coronavirus lockdown, BBC NI understands.

Stormont ministers met on Tuesday morning and agreed the clarification to the regulations due to be implemented from Friday.

It followed calls by church leaders across NI , externalfor the change.

The executive had initially agreed that places of worship should close for all but weddings, civil partnerships and funerals until 11 December.

Read more on this story here.

The next item of business is the Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

It’s a piece of private member’s business which has been devised by TUV MLA Jim Allister.

Today the bill is reaching the consideration stage which is when MLAs debate and vote on proposed amendments to clauses within the legislation.

Image source, NI Assembly

The deputy speaker, Roy Beggs, makes MLAs aware that there are three groups of amendments to the bill.

These will be debated separately, but things will start with a discussion around group one which relates to “the appointment, conduct and management of special advisers”.

The second group of amendments, deal with “accountability to the assembly”, while the third group of amendments consider “administrative reform and governance”.

Image source, NI Assembly

Sinéad Bradley of the SDLP says she wants to declare an interest regarding the Neurology Inquiry as her husband is one of the patients who has been recalled.

She refers the minister to the part of his statement where he said "two out of 10 patients listed for surgery under the care of this consultant were not on the hospital’s Patient Administration System at that time".

She asks him to expand on this.

Mr Swann says this will "no doubt be a major part of that inquiry".