§ 13. Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the time schedule of those phases of the city of Belfast Ring Road programme which affect the constituency of South Belfast.
§ Mr. ConcannonNot at the present time. The transportation proposals for Belfast are being reviewed and the future of the ring road programme will depend on the outcome of this review.
§ Mr. BradfordDoes the Minister accept that the housing schemes on the Ravenhill Road, Woodstock Road and Beersbridge Road side of the city, which are long overdue, are delayed still further because of the uncertainty that surrounds the urban link road scheme? Does he accept that there is a scandalous situation of archaic inadequate housing in this area? Finally, will he commit himself to initiating immediately a housing project when the report of the review has been submitted to Belfast Council?
§ Mr. ConcannonI admit that redevelopment areas 22, 31 and 27 are long overdue for redevelopment. Many other housing proposals are also long overdue. The problem is an enormous one involving 30,000 houses and another 30,000 houses in need of repair and improvement in Belfast alone. That is why I announced my redevelopment programme yesterday. It is a sorry story when I have to announce the nationalisation of all these properties to give the people in the area any hope at all.