§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8 March (WA 153–154), what is their explanation for the considerably lower level of expenditure in Northern Ireland on public transport per head of population; and what plans they have to bring spending up to the same level as the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL1485]
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonPublic expenditure priorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been different. Spending on transport has been afforded a lower relative priority in Northern Ireland. The future level of funding for public transport will be considered as part of the 2000 Spending Review.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8th March (WA 154), what form of rapid transport they considered from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast; whether it included the use of an Expressway; and if so, why the idea has been abandoned. [HL1486]
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonAs part of a study commissioned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company on transportation options on the Belfast to Newtownards Corridor, a full range of possible transport options was examined. Arising out of this study, the preferred technical option for a modern transit route to link Dundonald and Knock with the centre of Belfast is a new concept known as EWAY. The type of transit system proposed, described as a train on rubber wheels, claims to offer the best features of rail and bus by combining the freedom from congestion of rail with the more realistic cost and greater flexibility of the bus. At this point in time there are no plans to proceed with EWAY, given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland.