§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days MV Portaferry and MV Strangford vessels operated from Strangford to Portaferry and from Portaferry to Strangford in each of the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Strangford lough ferry service was run using either the MV Strangford Ferry or the MV Portaferry for all or part of the daily scheduled period of service on 363 days in 1984–85, 339 days in 1985–86, 349 days in 1986–87 and 365 days in 1987–88.
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§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days the MV Portaferry and MV Strangford vessels were scheduled to operate from Strangford to Portaferry and from Portaferry to Strangford in each of the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Strangford lough ferry service, operated by the MV Strangford Ferry as the main vessel and by the MV Portaferry as a standby-vessel, was, and is, scheduled to run every day of the year apart from Christmas day.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of the Environment will replace the MV Portaferry vessel on the Strangford-Portaferry route; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Department of the Environment has no present plans to replace the MV Portaferry. The Department's aim is to ensure that the MV Portaferry is maintained as is required to enable the vessel to act as a safe and effective standby for the main Strangford lough ferry service vessel, the MV Strangford Ferry.