Roads Schemes

Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on changes in policy in relation to the funding of major road schemes in Northern Ireland since 1 May.[15676]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from V. Crawford to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 17 November 1997:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about changes in policy in relation to the funding of major road schemes since I May. In Mr McCoubrey's absence I am replying.

Funding allocated to road maintenance in each Division of Road Service has, for the period in question been as follows:

Road maintenance
Expenditure in £000's
Financial Year	Ballymena	Belfast	Coleraine	Craigavon	Downpatrick	Omagh
1987–88	6,195	9,217	5,404	7,813	9,166	8,605
1988–89	6,275	9,583	6,261	8,477	9,298	9,541
1989–90	7,272	11,044	7,019	9,015	10,438	10,739
1990–91	7,792	11,142	7,734	10,259	10,903	12,101
1991–92	7,350	11,195	7,727	9,842	10,465	11,398
1992–93	7,815	10,993	8,065	10,162	10,345	12,513
1993–94	7,134	10,762	7,699	9,893	10,202	12,640
1994–95	7,903	12,619	8,495	11,236	11,540	14,484
1995–96	10,524	15,255	10,998	13,990	13,356	19,472
1996–97	10,957	14,796	10,792	14,667	12,368	19,335
All figures relate to maintenance of roads. Operation and maintenance costs of street lighting and car parks not included.
Figures from 1995–96 are inclusive of supervisory and other indirect administrative costs not previously apportioned on a Divisional basis.

Funding allocated to major road (i.e. Works costing over £200,000) in each Division of Roads Service, for the Period in question, has been as follows:

Major road works
Expenditure in £000s
Financial year	HQ¹	Ballymena	Belfast	Coleraine	Craigavon	Downpatrick	Omagh
1987–88	690	1,071	3,169	1,821	1,784	890	793
1988–89	1,755	3,063	1,999	986	1,844	1,827	694
1989–90	100	1,895	6,510	1,298	1,233	2,217	3,144
1990–91	35	1,518	4,991	1,091	1,313	2,782	3,379
1991–92	—	2,308	8,430	1,813	2,807	2,982	1,600

There have been no changes to the policy of funding major roads schemes in Northern Ireland since 1 May 1997. With the level of funding available for major road works being severely restricted, the policy remains that the only schemes being promoted are those which are being carried out under the Private Finance Initiative.

You will be aware that the Government is carrying out a fundamental review of transport policy and intends to issue a White Paper on an Integrated Transport Policy next year. This will be complemented by a policy statement on transport in Northern Ireland. The Government is also undertaking a Comprehensive Spending Review also to be completed next year. Both reviews have the potential to change the policy of funding major roads schemes.

I hope you find this information helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what has been the funding allocation to the maintenance programme in each roads division in each year from 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1997; [15668](2) what has been the funding allocation to major and minor roads schemes in each roads division in each year from 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1997.[15669]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its Chief Executive Mr. W. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from V. Crawford to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 17 November 1997:

The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Questions about the funding allocation to the major road works, minor road works and road maintenance programmes in each Roads Division in each of the last 10 years from 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1997. In Mr. McCoubrey's absence I am replying.

The information is set out in the attached tables. I hope you find this information helpful.

Major road works
Expenditure in £000s
Financial year	HQ¹	Ballymena	Belfast	Coleraine	Craigavon	Downpatrick	Omagh
1992–93	—	706	7,759	1,634	377	1,744	1,646
1993–94	—	1,846	12,679	1,586	1,368	888	300
1994–95	—	1,526	11,231	1,291	4,571	521	814
1995–96²	—	605	7,421	748	7,385	880	2,724
1996–97	126	2,631	7,455	288	2,628	1,744	1,882
₁ Relates to schemes handled centrally.
₂ Figures from 1995–96 are inclusive of supervisory and other indirect administrative costs not previously apportioned on a Divisional basis.

Funding allocated to minor road works(ie works costing less than £200,000) in each Division of Roads Service has, for the period in question, been as follows:

Minor Road Works
Expenditure in £000s
Financial year	Ballymena	Belfast	Coleraine	Craigavon	Downpatrick	Omagh
1987–88	1,341	1,480	1,271	1,174	1,401	1,382
1988–89	1,078	1,399	1,147	1,057	1,307	1,306
1989–90	1,372	1,656	1,450	1,422	1,338	1,555
1990–91	1,441	1,878	1,449	1,791	1,552	1,653
1991–92	1,292	1,510	1,285	1,430	1,282	1,284
1992–93	1,273	2,022	1,629	1,636	1,630	1,638
1993–94	2,272	2,568	2,612	2,629	2,398	2,471
1994–95	2,383	2,821	2,477	2,686	2,315	2,448
1995–96¹	2,765	2,737	2,708	2,795	2,919	3,301
1996–97	2,248	2,716	2,245	3,275	2,274	2,346
₁ Figures from 1995–96 are inclusive of supervisory and other indirect administrative costs not previously apportioned on a Divisional basis.

Volume 301: debated on Wednesday 19 November 1997