§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list expenditure on each capital and revenue arterial land drainage and flood alleviation scheme in Northern Ireland for each year since 1975, indicating what proportion of the work was undertaken by outside contractors as opposed to the Department of Agriculture's direct labour organisation.
§ Mr. ViggersInformation is not available in the form requested and disproportionate costs would be incurred in compiling it. However, the proportion of expenditure on100W schemes undertaken by contractors as opposed to the Department of Agriculture's direct labour organisation over the period 1975–76 to 1985–86 is as follows:
Per cent. 1975–76 nil 1976–77 10 1977–78 8 1978–79 12 1979–80 17 1980–81 23 1981–82 28 1982–83 34 1983–84 39 1984–85 42 1985–86 49
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the current estimated total cost is of the Blackwater arterial drainage scheme; if he will list the sources from which the cost will be met; and if he will list for each of the phases of the Blackwater arterial drainage scheme the contract number, location, estimated cost and, where available, the final cost.
§ Mr. ViggersThe total estimated gross cost of the Blackwater scheme in Northern Ireland is £20.1 million, towards which contributions will be made from EC, Irish Republic and Northern Ireland funds. No final costs are available.
Northern Ireland works relate to the following contracts:
Contract and Contract works location Estimated cost (£ million) A Main Channel Benburb-Caledon 2.8 B Main and Minor Border Channels: Annaghroe Bridge-Derrymeen Bridge, Aughnacloy 3.0 E Minor channels and tributaries associated with Benburb-Caledon reach 0.4 El Minor Channels, Benburb-Caledon 0.25 H Caledon Bridge—replacement including services 1.25 J Cor Bridge replacement 0.25 Bl Caledon Estate 1— C River Cor 1— D Favour Royal—end Blackwater Extension Dl Derrymeen Bridge—Ballygowan Bridge, Clogher 1— F Ballygawley Water and Extension 1— Work carried out by Department of Agriculture Direct Labour Oona and Tynan catchments 2.5 1 Not given for commercial reasons.
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what submissions he made to the European Council in its review of directive 79/197 as required under article 5.2 of the directive; and what plans he has for future cross-border arterial drainage projects in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland now that directive 79/197 has expired.
§ Mr. ViggersA joint United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland submission was lodged with the European Commission in July 1986 requesting an extension of the directive 79/197 and an increase in aid available under it. I have no plans for further rural cross-border arterial drainage projects.
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§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the arterial land drainage schemes which were included in the joint programme submitted with the Republic of Ireland to the European Commission under Article 2.1 of directive 79/197 on a programme to promote drainage in catchment areas, including land on both sides of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; and if he will detail for each scheme the number of hectares of agricultural land whose drainage would be improved as a result of such schemes, and the estimated cost.
§ Mr. ViggersRivers Blackwater and Finn/Lacky catchments. Some 3,200 hectares of agricultural land in Northern Ireland will benefit from the Blackwater scheme and possibly 1,400 hectares from the Finn/Lacky scheme at a gross cost of £20.1million for the former. Until design work is completed it is not possible to give a firm estimate of the cost of the Finn/Lacky but a preliminary figure is £5.5 million.