HC Deb 11 July 1985 vol 82 cc1252-3
8. Mr. Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money has been invested in Newry in each of the last four years.

Dr. Boyson

Public expenditure within the Northern' Ireland block is not determined on a geographical basis, and it is not possible to identify separately all expenditure in Newry.

I will, with permission, Mr. Speaker, provide my hon. Friend with a tabular statement in the Official Report of certain expenditure over the last four years which has gone to Newry town and Newry and Mourne district.

Mr. Holt

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his answer, as far as it goes. However, on the evidence that I saw, there are many new buildings, including arts centres, theatres, sports stadiums and swimming pools, in Newry. Does he agree that towns of a similar size in the north-east of England, such as Guisborough in my constituency, could well do with some resources directed towards them and away from Northern Ireland?

Dr. Boyson

If my hon. Friend is concerned about expenditure in his area, he should take up the matter with the relevant Ministers. There is a separate Northern Ireland block and that is the basis on which decisions are made. Newry is an area of high unemployment. The last check revealed an unemployment rate of 31.5 per cent.—

Mr. Holt

That is not as high as in my constituency.

Dr. Boyson

There are many other difficulties in Newry and we have given priority to law and order in

£000
1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85
Selective Financial Assistance to Industry* 633 865 5,063 3,935
IDB Factory Building* 105 833 673 562
Newry Government Training Centre (New Works and capital equipment)* 55 129 21 79
Tourism* — — — 21
Roads† 2,752 3,187 4,531 5,282
Water & Sewerage‡ 2,724 2,932 3,316 3,614
Historic Monuments & Buildings† 24 29 24 72
Works Service* — 4 96 198
NI Housing Executive* 3,500 5,600 4,800 5,400
Grants to Housing Associations* — — — 297
NI Railways* — — — 223
Ulsterbus Limited* — — — 55
Education & Library Board Capital Expenditure† 327 870 678 367
Voluntary Schools† 724 1,088 1,466 1,829
Voluntary Youth Projects† — 54 239 15
Sport, Recreation & the Arts† 421 439 626 287
Health & Personal Social Services (Capital Expenditure)* 158 113 162 1,125
Newry & Mourne District Council Capital Expenditure (Gross)† 1,227 1,474 2,606,000 1,650
* Figures for town of Newry.
† Figures for Newry & Mourne District Council Area.
‡ Figures for Newry sub-division of Water Service includes Newry & Mourne and Banbridge DC areas.