§ 9. Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums he intends to spend on new roads in Northern Ireland in each of the next five years.
§ Mr. MossSubject to the overall public expenditure situation the Department currently plans to spend about £12 million on major road schemes in each of the next five years.
§ Mr. RossWill the hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that none of that money will be frittered away 1327 on the restoration of cross-border roads, which would quite possibly be nugatory expense? Will he remember the absolute necessity of massive upgrading on the road between Belfast and Larne?
§ Mr. MossI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing my attention to the importance of the road from Belfast to Larne, but expenditure on roads, including bridges and street lighting, should remain in excess of £150 million per annum during the next three financial years, and the current top expenditure priorities are maintenance, bridge strengthening and traffic control in urban areas. They do not include the border crossing areas.
§ Mr. Tim SmithMay I welcome my hon. Friend to the Dispatch Box and wish him every success with his new responsibilities? When will the Belfast cross-harbour bridge open, and will it not be a welcome addition to Northern Ireland's road network?
§ Mr. MossI thank my hon. Friend for his kind words. We hope to open the cross-harbour bridge to traffic in January 1995. It was built at a cost of £60 million—which was in addition to the normal expenditure on roads in the Province.