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Sam Gardiner MLA, the Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Upper Bann, has revealed that the Southern Education and Library Board has lost Library Books worth more than £120,000 in the last three years.

David McClarty MLA, Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson for Employment and Learning has welcomed the news that Sir Reg Empey has launched the independent review of variable fees and student finance. He has also defended the Minister for Employment and Learning for his proposals to increase tuition fees next year in line with inflation. Speaking in response to protests recently by students against the plan Mr. McClarty pointed out that not to implement the increase would damage our universities' ability to deliver on their current plans and compete in a very aggressive higher education market.

Ulster Unionist MLA for South Down, John McCallister, has questioned the DUP after William Irwin MLA, released a statement claiming that it was in the driving seat and solely responsible for just about every good thing coming out of Stormont.

A second Constituency Advice Centre has been opened in Tandragee by Ulster Unionist Assembly member Danny Kennedy MLA. The property at 80 Market Street Tandragee opened for business on Monday 1st December.

Ulster Unionist MLA Leslie Cree has condemned dissident Republicanism for the harmful affect their actions are having on the police provision in NI. He made is comments after the Chief Constable revealed that the PSNI are now taking longer to reply to emergency calls due to the increased threat to their officers.

John McCallister MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for Health Social Services and Public Safety, has challenged the DUP to start making more constructive contributions to health service debates. The DUP tabled a motion today which called on the Health Minister to urgently review the recruitment process in the Health Service. However, Mr. McCallister contended that the DUP did not come up with any suggestions for an important issue that the Minister for Health is fully aware of and continually addressing.

Following the Education Minister's failure to present any details on a way forward over post-primary transfer, UUP Education Spokesperson Basil McCrea has called for her to either reinstate the 11+ for a 3 year period or resign.

The Executive Committee of the Ulster Unionist Party has overwhelmingly endorsed the creation of a Conservative and Ulster Unionist Joint Committee to oversee and facilitate cooperation between both parties

Commenting after a radio interview involving Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP MLA Alan McFarland (a member of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee) has criticised the DUP and questioned exactly what deal the DUP has struck.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has supported a UUP Motion on extending the life of the 11+ by 3 years. The Party's Education Spokesperson, Basil McCrea, has now called on the Minister to implement the Motion, as she is required to do by the Ministerial Code.

Ulster Unionist Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has responded to calls for a new regional hospital for women and children in Belfast. Reaffirming his commitment to the project, the Minister pledged he would continue to fight for the funding that is required for the new hospital.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has said the pro-Union community needs to mobilize its voters now in preparation for next June's crucial European Parliamentary elections.

Ulster Unionist Party Chief Whip, Fred Cobain MLA, has responded following Environment Minister Sammy Wilson's recent attempt to talk about unionist co-operation.

David McClarty, Ulster Unionist MLA for East Londonderry has thanked the Minister for Employment and Learning for opening a Job Fair in Limavady today and helping the people of the North West. The Job Fair, organised by the Department for Employment and Learning in conjunction with Limavady Borough Council, was setup to help those people who have lost their jobs due the closure of Seagate Technology in the Town. The event attracted 31 of Northern Ireland's biggest employers who currently have vacancies and local jobseekers were able to view and apply for what was on offer.

Ulster Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey MLA has welcomed the news that the Bank of England has cut interest rates by one and a half percentage points. Interest rates now sit at three percent the lowest since 1955.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has secured an assurance from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment that the current global economic downturn will not affect plans to new business start-ups to export outside the United Kingdom .

Following Peter Robinson's speech to the DUP's annual conference, Sir Reg Empey has accused the DUP Leader of living in the Twilight Zone:

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and Stormont Commissioner, has urged the community to "throw their full weight" behind this year's Anti-Bullying Week.

Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy MLA and Trevor Wilson, Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party Councillor Association, have paid tribute to Samuel Semple a former Mayor of Lisburn and a senior figure in both Local Government and the Ulster Unionist Party, who died this morning, 31st October 2008.

Ulster Unionist deputy Leader Danny Kennedy MLA, has outlined his disappointment and regret that Major Brown the General Officer Commanding for Northern Ireland has felt the need to cancel an RAF flypast to commemorate the safe return of service personnel for Sunday's Homecoming Parade.

The Ulster Unionist Party is to table a motion for debate in the Assembly: "That this Assembly requires the Executive Committee to meet, in accordance with the Pledge of Office and the Ministerial Code."

Ulster Unionist deputy Leader Danny Kennedy, MLA, has appealed for calm in light of the mounting concern surrounding the Homecoming Parade scheduled for Sunday:

Sam Gardiner MLA, the Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Upper Bann, has asked Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster what impact the global economic downturn has had on exports from Northern Ireland to the UK.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey has strongly criticised Sinn Fein for undermining community relations ahead of next week's homecoming parade for the Royal Irish.

Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly Member and Member of the Assembly's Agriculture Committee, George Savage MLA today spoke after receiving an answer to an Assembly Question from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development which outlines the current cost estimate of the damaged caused by the flash flooding on 16th August 2008 is £670,000. Below is a breakdown of that figure:

John McCallister Ulster Unionist MLA and Party Spokesperson for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has welcomed the recent announcement made by Michael McGimpsey that over the next three years the Fire and Rescue Service will receive £26million of capital investment.

Commenting on Sinn Fein's decision to seek permission for a counter demonstration to the homecoming parades Sir Reg Empey said:

Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry brought forward his Private Members Bill regarding School Estates to the Assembly today which proposes that local communities can use school facilities outside of the school day.

Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Sir Reg Empey addressed guests at an East Londonderry Association meeting last night where local businesses had been asked to come along to look at and discuss the impact of the current economic crisis in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the decision by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to cut Interest rates from 5% to 4.5%, stating that it will bring a very welcome boost to members of the agricultural community across the United Kingdom.

Mid-Ulster Assemblyman Billy Armstrong has supported calls in the Assembly for extra provision and support for young people leaving special-needs schools at 16 and over 19 years of age so that they can further their education and seek meaningful employment.

THE Ulster Unionist Party has raised concerns over an autism centre which has been planned for Middletown in Armagh.

Ken Robinson has welcomed the pro-active approach taken by the Health Minister on the issue of the dangers of alcohol:

Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Sir Reg Empey has praised the Comber Greenway saying that it serves to 'enrich the local quality of life.'

Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey has condemned the news that a 'viable device' has been found in South Belfast.

As police found a viable device in Fermanagh this morning, Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has condemned the attack stating that republican activity will not be tolerated in the area.

Speaking after a meeting of the UUP's Assembly Group, Sir Reg Empey said:

Speaking after a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Councillors' Association in Antrim Civic Centre on Saturday Morning, Cllr Trevor Wilson (Chairman) commented:

"It seems extraordinary that 18 months after Peter Robinson assured us that the DUP had 'put manners on republicans' and prevented 'Sinn Fein from holding unionists to ransom,' that Sinn Fein is today holding Peter Robinson to ransom. He has been co-equal First Minister for 121 days and hasn't been able to convene an Executive Committee for 110 of those days!

"Meanwhile, the Executive Committee's in-tray is swamped with papers and policies requiring decisions allowing them to be implemented. The reality is that the DUP spectacularly failed to improve the Belfast Agreement and Sinn Fein is ruthlessly and cynically exploiting their failure.

"Mr Robinson cannot even collapse the Executive because he signed up to arrangements which allowed it to continue if a party withdrew. He talks of legal action against Sinn Fein, yet the need to threaten it is the most damning evidence that there is no control or accountability at the core of the process.

"Northern Ireland needs government. It needs decisions. The Executive Committee and the Assembly need to prove that devolution is capable of making a real and positive difference in these extraordinarily difficult times. Mr. Robinson promised the unionist electorate that he had a better and fairer deal. He promised that the DUP was 'getting it right.' How about some evidence, Mr. Robinso

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has welcomed the news that the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment has written to the Chief Executive of HBOS Plc to outline the importance of HBOS's investment to the Northern Ireland Economy. He has also welcomed the fact that the First and deputy First Minister have written to the Group Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB. Concerns have been raised about the security of jobs in the Halifax, Bank of Scotland and HBOS's call centre, which employs 1,000 people in the gas works in Belfast. HBOS was recently taken over by its rivals Lloyds TSB in a £12billion deal - a result of the recent banking crisis. It is feared that the number of redundancies across the UK will be in the thousands. Mr. Beggs who received the information in an answer to a written question to the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment has welcomed the action but believes it in no way goes far enough to reassure people that their jobs are secure. Mr. Beggs also outlined his belief that the impasse in the Executive is doing nothing for confidence in the banking and businesses sector in Northern Ireland.

Speaking after the failure of the Executive Committee to meet, Tom Elliott commeneted

Speaking from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Sir Reg Empey welcomed David Cameron's comments on the Union:

As the Ulster Unionist Party today brought forward a Private Members Motion looking at the latest increase in energy prices here, UUP MLA, David McNarry has called on the Executive to address the current crisis and initiate a wide ranging inquiry into energy prices in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has stated that if the rural champion concept is to work, then the rural proofing part of the scheme must have teeth and be enforceable on all government departments in Northern Ireland, otherwise it will fail.

Politics is easy during the good times. It is easy to stand in front of cameras, laughing and smiling - just like the Chuckle Brothers, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness. It is easy to make far-reaching promises to voters during an election campaign - just like Sinn Fein's promise of no water charges and the DUP's boast that it would gain a £1million economic package.

The primary intention of the original Belfast Agreement negotiations and the later ones at St Andrews was to secure a form of government which would be of benefit to everyone in Northern Ireland.

Roy Beggs MLA for East Antrim and the UUP Environment spokesman has given a cautious welcome to the revelation that Scottish Power are considering installing underwater tidal powered, energy farms off the coast of Co Antrim, in the Pentland Firth, and in the sound of Islay.

Assembly Group welcomes Health Minister's announcement on prescriptions

Speaking after yet another meeting of the Executive Committee had to be postponed, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said:

Following Gordon Brown's announcement earlier this week that the Westminster Government would legislate in England and Wales for free prescriptions for people with cancer, Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson John McCallister MLA has urged Health Minister McGimpsey to continue with progress towards free prescriptions for everyone in Northern Ireland.

AS Seagate in Limavady closed its doors today for the last time, leaving 1,000 of its employees out of work, Ulster Unionist MLA for the area David McClarty has described the considerable impact it will have on the local community.

Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong has called on Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to take steps to de-list the remaining buildings at the Maze Prison site so that they can be flattened, and thereby remove any chance of the creation of a shrine to terror as part of the so-called "Centre for Conflict Transformation."

Unionist Party MLA, Tom Elliott, has described his "delight" following the news that the village of Lisbellaw has been granted a licence for a pharmacy.