§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security implications of removing the border checkpoint on the road outside Newry; what were the costs of its removal; and what estimate he has made of the cost of re-erecting it. [21438]
§ Dr. ReidThere are no security implications associated with the removal of the vehicle checkpoint from the road outside Newry which has not been in use since November 1994. There are currently no plans to close the adjacent patrol base.
423WThe removal costs are estimated to be around £20,000, not including the costs of reinstating the road, which will fall to the Northern Ireland Office.
My Department has made no estimate of the cost of re-erecting the vehicle checkpoint.