Mr. A. Cecil Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the present snow clearance and road gritting policy in north Belfast to avoid danger and inconvenience caused to motorists and pedestrians; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI am satisfied with the policy referred to and have no plans to review it at present. In the northern part of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland roads service's Belfast division, during January, some 15,000 miles of salt spreading was carried out by 13 gritters using 5,700 tonnes of salt; a further 1,300 tonnes of salt was spread manually on difficult sites and delivered to bins sited at strategic locations. Snow clearance was carried out by seven snow ploughs mounted on gritters and lorries, one snow blower and three mechanical shovels served by 16 lorries. The operation was performed by 70 men.