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Traffic Congestion (South Belfast)

Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to tackle rush hour traffic congestion on the Saintfield and Ormeau roads leading to and from south Belfast. [54595]

Mr. Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service, Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
 
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Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 3 March 2006:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about whether his Department has any plans to tackle rush hour traffic congestion on the Saintfield and Ormeau roads leading to and from south Belfast.

I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.

You will be aware that the Department for Regional Development published the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) in November 2004, which outlines transport proposals for the Belfast Metropolitan Area up to 2015. The transport plan proposes a balanced approach across the range of transport modes, and provides for greater use of public transport and greater levels of walking and cycling, whilst also supporting an appropriate level of movement of cars and goods vehicles.

Within the plan period to 2015, it is not proposed to introduce any large scale road schemes on the Saintfield or Ormeau roads as the proposed public transport improvements along this route will help to reduce travel by private car. However, the plan proposes the implementation of a Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) on the Saintfield Road together with a park-and-ride site at Cairnshill for 750 spaces. Initially the Park and Ride site will be served by a dedicated bus service using the QBC bus priority infrastructure, but with the opportunity for linking it in the longer term with a potential rapid transit scheme, known as SuperRoute. The Department plans to submit a planning application for the Park and Ride site in Spring 2006.

The plan also proposes the implementation of a Route Management Strategy on the A24 from the Outer Ring Road (A55) to Ballynahinch that may contain a range of measures including:

safety schemes;

improved lighting;

junction modification;

signing and parking/stopping restrictions; and

better enforcement of clearways.

This route management strategy is currently ongoing to identify potential improvements.

I should also advise that outside the plan period to 2015, it is proposed that a new road link is constructed between the A24 at Cairnshill and the A55 at Newtownbreda to provide relief to the existing A24 Saintfield Road and the A24/A55 outer ring junction. This will closely follow part of the alignment of 'SuperRoute' and it is proposed that both will be protected from development through the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.

I hope this information is helpful.

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investment in transport infrastructure schemes to support economic regeneration is being considered in Northern Ireland; what the schemes are; what the amount of public investment is; and when he expects decisions to be made. [54947]

Mr. Woodward: Focused on giving priority to those investments that promote economic growth, the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, unveiled on 14 December 2005, identifies some £2.5 billion of investment in transport infrastructure schemes in the 10 years to 2015. This includes £1.4 billion for strategic road improvements and £309 million on public transport capital works projects over the 10-year period covered by the strategy.
 
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A revised Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan is currently being prepared that will identify the programme of schemes that can be undertaken with this enhanced funding.

Details of the major transportation infrastructure improvements already included in the roads programme have been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been housed in (a) Greater London, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon and (c) Ruislip-Northwood constituency in each of the last seven years. [39958]

Mr. McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers directly supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The most recent publication covering the fourth quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are supported in each local authority area. [44308]

Mr. McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers directly supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Local authority. The most recent publication covering the fourth quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Biometric Passports (Gravesham)

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he has made for people in Gravesham to register for biometric passports. [54926]

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service will begin issuing biometric passports, containing a microchip holding a copy of the facial image and personal details in the passport, in June this year. This will not change the way in which passport applications are made. People need only ensure that they follow the advice shown in
 
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the photograph guidance leaflet included in the passport application pack, before sending their applications in the normal way.

The separate requirement for adults applying for their first individual passport to attend an interview to confirm identity is to be introduced from the last quarter of 2006.

A network of locations for offices in which to carry out the interviews has been designed to provide the optimum balance between convenience and costs. The design took into account customer opinion surveys and consultations with county and regional authorities and was externally verified. It has resulted in a network of potential locations in which the average two way journey from home to interview office and back will be just under 25 miles and take just under 40 minutes. However, it is not yet possible to announce the potential locations because the procurement process for a premises contractor has not been finalised and the availability of premises has not been confirmed.

Attendance to record fingerprints for passports is not currently expected to be necessary until 2009.

Cannabis

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his comments in an interview with Channel 4 on 17 January, what evidence he has received that use of cannabis has resulted in deaths; and if he will make a statement. [46032]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I was referring on 19 January to representations I have received as a constituency MP from families who believe that cannabis has been linked to psychosis that has resulted in a member of their families death.

The Government have accepted the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) conclusion that cannabis can worsen mental health problems. The recent ACMD report on the links between cannabis and mental health said

"Cannabis is harmful and its consumption can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological hazards",

although the ACMD added

"cannabis makes . . . only a small contribution to an individual's risk for developing schizophrenia".

Several research studies (including Lincoln and McGorry, 1999) have shown that mental illness significantly increases the risk of suicide in the individual.

I made clear in my statement to Parliament that cannabis is harmful and illegal and therefore I set out a package of policies and activity to reinforce this message. I have asked ACPO to draw up new guidelines on cannabis so that they and others can continue to drive down supply and increase support to those who need it.

The key priorities of this campaign will be to deliver a large-scale education programme, strengthen services for misusers and crack down on cultivators and suppliers of cannabis.
 
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