To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with regard to the recovery of costs from developers of off-site drainage work where building developments have taken place.

The Planning and Building Regulations (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990, which came into operation on 24 September 1990 contains, inter alia, provision for the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to enter into agreements with developers to recoup the cost of off-site infrastructure improvement works.The Department is currently considering with the Department of Agriculture how best to administer these agreements in relation to off-site drainage works.