HC Deb 10 November 1999 vol 337 cc599-600W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what level of public liability insurance indemnifying his Department against claims in respect of injury was required in each successful application for arches over roadways made to the road service in Northern Ireland under Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993 between 1 and 15 June; [97759]

(2) how many applications were made to the road service in Northern Ireland under Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993 between 1 and 15 June for arches over roadways; how many such applications were (a) refused and (b) granted; and if he will list them; [97758]

(3) how many arches over roadways were erected between 1 and 15 June in respect of which no applications had been made to the road service in Northern Ireland under Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993; and what prosecutions have taken place for breach of Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993. [97760]

Mr. George Howarth

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. Colin James. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from G. P. Fraser to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 9 November 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked our Chief Executive to respond to your three recently tabled Parliamentary Questions about the erection of arches over roads. In the absence of our Chief Executive, I am replying. First, as regards your question about public liability insurance, the Department of the Environment requires all successful applicants, who make requests to Roads Service to erect arches over roads under Article 73 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993, to have public liability insurance of £5M. This level of insurance is required regardless of when applications are made. Secondly, as to the number of such applications made to Roads Service between 1 and 15 June 1999, only one application was received. The application, which was for an arch at Main Street, Glenvay, was granted. Finally, Roads Service has no record of the number of arches that were erected over roads between 1 and 15 June 1999 for which no applications were made under Article 73 of the 1993 Order. No prosecutions have taken place for breaches of Article 73. I hope you find this information helpful.

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