§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimates he has made of the number of persons(a) killed and (b) injured as a result of icy conditions on roads in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years, and the current year to the latest available date; and how many such deaths and injuries occurred on (i) gritted and (ii) non-gritted roads. [11909]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. William Ross, dated 23 January 1997:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question about deaths and injuries as a result of icy conditions on roads in Northern Ireland.The information is not available in the precise format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.777WHowever, the most recent records available indicate that, in the period 1 January 1993–31 December 1995, there were a total of 20,092 injury accidents in which 444 people were killed and 34,475 injured. Ice, snow or frost was a factor in 490 of the total injury accidents which resulted in 8 deaths and 880 injuries. Of these accidents 148 were on roads which were not on the gritting schedule.I hope you find this information helpful.