asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the current Police Service of Northern Ireland advice is that the security barriers at Lower Chichester Street in Belfast continue to be required; and whether they are required by the Northern Ireland Office as a permanent installation to provide a secure area around the courts complex.[HL6551]

Police have met representatives of the Northern Ireland Court Service, Northern Ireland Office and Department for Regional Development on a number of occasions throughout 2005-06 to discuss proposals to reopen Lower Chichester Street on a restricted basis to designated traffic. During those discussions, a number of options surrounding security and traffic restriction measures were tabled. A decision in relation to which measures will be accepted is likely to be taken later this year.