HL Deb 18 April 2000 vol 612 cc86-7WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the debate on Northern Ireland on 22 March (H.L. Deb., col. 357), why less public funding is spent on the railway system in the Province per head of the population than any other part of the United Kingdom; and what steps are being taken to redress the imbalance. [HL1981]

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

The railway system in Northern Ireland is smaller per head of population than that in Great Britain. Public expenditure priorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have also been different, with spending on transport being afforded a lower relative priority in Northern Ireland. The future level of funding for the railway system in Northern Ireland will be considered as part of the 2000 Spending Review.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the debate on Northern Ireland on 22 March (H.L. Deb., col. 357) on what date the commencement of the relaying of the railway line between Belfast and Bangor will commence and whether European Union funding is available for the project. [HL1982]

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

European grant aid of £7.169 million is available for this project. However, when European grant aid was sought, the estimated cost of the project was £9.5 million. The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company now estimate the cost to be £14.7 million so it has a shortfall in funding and this is delaying commencement of the project.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the debate on Northern Ireland on 22 March (H.L. Deb., col. 357), whether Northern Ireland Railway (NIR) will be allowed to lease rolling stock in the same way as other railway companies in the United Kingdom. [HL1983]

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

The issue will be affected by decisions reached following the outcome of the work of the Task Force that is examining options for the future of railways in Northern Ireland. In principle, Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) would be permitted to lease trains if that is shown to be the most cost-effective option for replacing its rolling stock. However, unlike the other railway companies in the United Kingdom, NIR is publicly owned and consequently would normally have lower borrowing costs. This means that leasing is less likely to be cost effective for NIR than for other railway companies in the United Kingdom.