§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average waiting time between an appointment with a general practitioner and a hospital appointment and between a hospital appointment and surgery in Northern Ireland for hip replacements, heart surgery and general surgery; and how the waiting times compare with the average in the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL2776]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:Information on the average waiting time between an appointment with a
112WATranslink has also advised that extensive vegetation control works have been undertaken and that there is ongoing annual maintenance to permanent way, signalling and structures.
In relation to proposed work over the next two years, the Government's policy is to proceed with the implementation of the consolidation option in the Railways Task Force report as developed by the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002–12, the strategic direction and underlying principles of which were agreed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 3 July 2003. In accordance with this policy, the Department for Regional Development has offered Translink grant aid to undertake the following minor works on the line: remedial action on an embankment at Galdanagh; installation of strail crossings at four level crossings north of Ballymena; points and crossings at Coleraine; demolition of an accommodation overbridge at Coleraine.
Further projects may be approved within the next two years.