HC Deb 21 November 1979 vol 974 cc253-5W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much the sums which were to be made available to each council in Northern Ireland will be reduced in the present and the next financial year as a result of the cut-back in projected public expenditure.

Mr. Goodhart

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1979]: Councils have been advised by letter and at meetings of the Northern Ireland local government consultative committee of the Government's

Church of Ireland 154
Presbyterian 129
Methodist 36
Roman Catholic 326
Others 46
Total 691

This information is not held centrally and the only comparable figures readily available are those for the years 1978, 1977, 1975 and 1974:

figures compare with the last 10 years; (3) how many prison staff are employed in Her Majesty's prison, Magilligan, and how these figures compare with those since the prison was opened.

Mr. Alison

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 789]: The information requested on the staffing levels of the three prison establishments is as follows:

policy towards public expenditure and of the part they are expected to play in giving effect to that policy.

Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now list the public works which will be (a) cancelled and (b) delayed as a result of the cut-back in projected public expenditure over the present and next financial year.

Mr. Rossi

[pursuant to his reply 19 November 1979]: No public works projects have been cancelled as a result of the Government's public expenditure plans for 1979–80 but the following road schemes will be subject to an average delay in start of four months:

  • Outer East Ring Road—phase II, Belfast.
  • M2 Extension, Belfast.
  • Pond Park Road, Lisburn.
  • North Lisburn Feeder Road.
  • West Link, Ballyclare.
  • Strand Road—phase III, Londonderry.
  • Tinker Hill, Newry.
Capital expenditure programmes for 1980–81 have not yet been finalised. It is not anticipated that any major construction schemes will be cancelled, but a few may be deferred.