§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many miles of Northern Ireland motorways central safety barriers are(a) up to British and European standard and (b) sub-standard; and how soon the sub-standard barriers will be replaced.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 July 1990]: There are 11 miles of tensioned steel safety barriers which meet British standards on Northern Ireland's 69 miles of motorway. A contract for the provision of a further 3 miles is currently under way. The remaining 55 miles have a non-standard central earth mound barrier which is unique to Northern Ireland. A programme to replace the mound barrier with steel barriers will be completed over a number of years.