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"The Way Forward"

Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress his Department has made in achieving its objectives set out in the document "The Way Forward". [7375]

Mr. Moss: Progress has been made in the key areas of management and co-ordination of public transport services and the introduction of further bus priority measures. Work is currently under way to bring forward changes in car parking policy; to extend provision of park and ride facilities; to improve cycling and pedestrian facilities; to reduce the mobility gap; and to develop a public travel awareness campaign.

Railways

Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to extend the railway system in Northern Ireland. [7382]

Mr. Moss: Responsibility for operational matters, such as the extension of the railway system in Northern Ireland, lie with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and its operating subsidiary Northern Ireland Railways. I understand from the chairman of the holding company that, while there are no current proposals to extend the existing railway system, plans are progressing for the reinstatement of the line from Antrim to Bleach Green for passenger traffic. This line has not been used for regular passenger services for a number of years.

Bus Priority Schemes

Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress his Department has made in respect of the programme of bus priority schemes; and when he expects them to be completed. [7378]

6 Dec 1996 : Column: 813

Mr. Moss: Bus lanes have been in operation on the Ormeau road and Nelson street, Belfast since 1992. Further bus lanes were opened on the Albert Bridge road and Queen's square in April 1996. It is hoped to begin implementation of a further three lengths of bus lane, on Great Victoria street, Lisburn road and Malone road, in mid-January 1997. Investigations are under way into schemes on a further eight lengths of street in Belfast city centre, which have been identified as having the potential to accommodate bus lanes.

A pilot study into the operational implications and potential benefits of introducing selective vehicle detection systems at signalised junctions has been under way on the Upper Newtownards road since spring 1993. Due to changing technology, this will of necessity be a protracted study. The intention is to assess the potential benefits of extending such a system to other routes in the city.

All these measures, together with others being investigated from earlier studies, feed into a rolling programme of bus priority development.

Retail Planning Policy

Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress his Department has made in reviewing retail planning policy; and if he will make a statement. [7376]

Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Jim Dowd, dated 5 December 1996:


Transport (Belfast)

Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the public transport study of Belfast city centre to be completed. [7380]

Mr. Moss: A study was undertaken in 1995 specifically to explore the introduction of further lengths of bus priority lane within Belfast city centre. Other aspects of public transport in the city centre remain to be studied, to provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the issues.

Accidents at Work

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 18 November, Official Report, column 388, what is the fatality rate per 100,000 employees/self-employed in Northern Ireland. [7281]

Mr. Ancram: The fatality rate in Northern Ireland for employees/self-employed, as a result of accidents at work, has been assessed at 3.96 per 100,000 for the calendar year 1995.

6 Dec 1996 : Column: 814

Beaches

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each year since 1991 those beaches which complied with the EU bathing water directive standard guide for (a) total and faecal coliforms, (b) faecal streptococci, and (c) coliforms and faecal streptococci combined. [7447]

Mr. Moss: Responsibility 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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 5 December 1996:


6 Dec 1996 : Column: 815

Health and Social Services (Needs Assessments)

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the information leaflets currently provided by health and social services trusts to individuals undergoing assessment of need for social services support. [7743]

Mr. Moss: Information relating to the range of leaflets currently provided by trusts to individuals undergoing assessment of need for social services support is not collected centrally.

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the secretary of state for Northern Ireland if he will list for each health and social services trust the current procedures to monitor unmet need as a result of assessment and the procedures adopted by the Department of Health and Social Services management executive to collect such information. [7747]

Mr. Moss: Health and social services boards and trusts, in their respective roles of commissioners and providers of community care services, have the responsibility for assessing the needs of their resident populations, and for meeting those needs within the context of available resources and local priorities. Trusts supply their respective boards with information on the level of services supplied to meet assessed need, but details of these procedures is not held centrally. The HSS executive liaises with boards to identify any areas of service provision which are under particular pressure for consideration within the annual public expenditure survey and allocation process.

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list by trust the number

6 Dec 1996 : Column: 816

of assessments of needs of carers taken under guidance equivalent to the Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995; [7748]

    (2) if he will list by health and social services trust the number of assessments provided for adult carers and carers who are deemed children under the guidance. [7749]

Mr. Moss: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms Mowlam) on 4 November 1996, Official Report, column 381.

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