§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the measures his Department proposes to take in respect of the accumulation of litter during winter along the Sydenham bypass, Belfast. [12445]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 28 January 1997:
As Chief Executive of Environment and Heritage Service, I am responsible for all operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's environmental policies. I am therefore responding to the Parliamentary Question you put down in the House of Commons on 23 January 1997:
"To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the measures his Department proposes to take in respect of the accumulation of litter during winter along the Sydenham By-pass, Belfast".
With the exception of certain designated roads such as motorways, the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 places a duty on district councils to keep roads clear and free of litter. Belfast City Council is therefore responsible for dealing with litter on the Sydenham By-pass to your recent letter was forwarded to them for action. It was gratifying to note their rapid response to the request for a clean up.
I trust you find this reply helpful.