HC Deb 26 January 1984 vol 52 cc1042-3
6. Mr. Clifford Forsythe

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial provision was made for roads in Newtownabbey borough for the current financial year.

The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Chris Patten)

The provision, exclusive of street lighting and car parking, is £1.6 million.

Mr. Forsythe

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that sufficient funds are being made available for this area, bearing in mind that as recently as November 140 street lights were not working, that some of them had been off for as long as two years and that in the recent bad weather very little road gritting and clearing was done in the Carnmoney, Glengormley and Collinbridge areas? Indeed, one gentleman was unable to go to hospital because the ambulance could not get to his home, as road gritting had not been carried out.

Mr. Patten

I know how much interest the hon. Gentleman has taken in this subject, since he was a distinguished mayor of the district council. I am sure that he will be pleased to know that, within an overall smaller roads budget for next year, we shall be spending more on minor works and maintenance, and I am sure that some of that will be spent in his constituency. I shall look as a matter of some urgency into the problem of street lighting.

Mr. Peter Robinson

Does the right hon. Gentleman have any change in mind for the name of the council of Newtownabbey other than that mentioned on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That supplementary is very wide of the main question.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Would it not be to the advantage of Northern Ireland and of the hon. Gentleman in his office if in Northern Ireland there were local councillors of local authorities who were responsible for the administration of street lighting and roads, as in the rest of the kingdom?

Mr. Patten

There are, as the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, some proposals — for example, on handing over responsibility in an agency capacity for car parking—at present being considered by the association of local authorities of Northern Ireland. We have not yet received a response to those proposals, but I am sure that in due course a response will come, and then we shall be able to give the matter our normal constructive consideration.

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