§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give his best estimate of the cost of preparation of the Belfast urban area plan including the involvement of staff, consultants, reports, publications and so on; and what additional expenditure he envisages in the process up to the public inquiry.
§ Mr. NeedhamMuch of the work on the plan was carried out by officials of the Department of the Environment (NI) over a period of three years, and it is not possible to cost this input without disproportionate effort. Work by consultants up to the commencement of the public inquiry is estimated to cost a total £1.9 million of which £1.2 million relates to transportation. Other costs, including grants to community technical aid, amount to £200,000.