The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Gregory Campbell, dated 28 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding how many traffic control attendants are currently employed by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service in Northern Ireland. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
You will be aware that the responsibility for enforcing parking regulations was recently transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development. I should explain that National Car Parks Ltd. (NCP) was awarded the contract for the Operation of Parking and Enforcement Services on 18 August 2006, and their contract commenced on 30 October 2006. NCP are now responsible for employing Traffic Attendants to carry out the enforcement of parking regulations on behalf of Roads Service. These Traffic Attendants do not have any responsibility for directing traffic.
There are currently 129 Traffic Attendants employed by NCP to provide enforcement of parking regulations and this number will subsequently rise to approximately 178 to meet the deployment requirements stated in the Contract.