§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the result of the examination by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment of the advantages and disadvantages of transferring traffic management to district councils.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Department of the Environment is the roads and planning authority for Northern Ireland. Traffic management cannot readily be separated from roads administration, road design and 549W maintenance, development control and the road safety function of the Department. It also involves close liaison with the traffic branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
There are, therefore, administrative and cost advantages in the roads authority being responsible for traffic management. These advantages were confirmed by the study carried out by the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) earlier this year.