Railway Task Force/Westlink

Oral Answers to Questions — Regional Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 18 December 2000.

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Photo of David Ford David Ford Alliance 3:00, 18 December 2000

5. asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the cost to his Department of (a) the railway task force and (b) the assessment of proposals to widen the Westlink.

(AQO 505/00)

Photo of Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell DUP

The cost of the secretariat for the railways task force was £88,657; a further £115,391 was incurred in consultants’ fees to facilitate the consultation exercise. In assessing proposals for the M1 Westlink scheme, the Roads Service incurred consultants’ costs of £294,000 for preparing environmental statements and preliminary design, et cetera, and consultants’ costs of £344,000 for preparing for and holding public inquiries.

Photo of David Ford David Ford Alliance

I am sure that if the Minister consults his notes he will not mind being reminded of the efforts made when the northern rail corridor group met the former Minister for Regional Development. The group was ably represented by, among others, a Derry city councillor called Gregory Campbell. Why therefore has his Department spent so much money on a rail report that has examined in detail proposals for closure or massive cutbacks but which has failed to look in any detail at options for enhancement? These include increased freight use and retaining the Antrim to Lisburn line with its service to the international airport; they are particularly important given that at least one rail line is threatened with closure. Will he tell us what he can do to ensure that we build on that report and do not waste the money?

Photo of Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell DUP 3:15, 18 December 2000

I thank the Member for his comments about previous representations. I have noted them. The railways task force was established under direct rule by Adam Ingram. The task force report presented me with several options. There has been a generally supportive response to building on the consolidation option described in the report. I hope and expect that we build on that option in future.

We shall not stop at merely retaining existing railway lines in Northern Ireland. It is worth repeating that six months ago we were facing the potential closure of Northern Ireland Railways; now we are contemplating consolidation and enhancement. That is a vast improvement.

Photo of Patricia Lewsley Patricia Lewsley Social Democratic and Labour Party

The Minister said that he has spent £344,000 on a public inquiry into the widening of the Westlink and the slip roads at Blacks Road. I ask the Minister to assure us that his decision will not be cost-driven now that the public inquiry has been completed. I ask him to consider the damage to the health of young children at St Anne’s Primary School if option one on the slip roads to Blacks Road is implemented.

Photo of Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell DUP

I do not want to make any detailed comment until I receive the inspector’s report from the public inquiry. I am committed to having a modern, sustainable and safe transport system that benefits society, the economy and the environment and that actively contributes to social inclusion and to the quality of life of everyone in Northern Ireland.

Photo of Ken Robinson Ken Robinson UUP

Will the Minister assure the House that when he is assessing the cost of the railways task force and the proposal to widen the Westlink, he will seek to avoid a fiasco like that surrounding the attempt to open Mossley West station, which involves his Department, the roads and planning services and Northern Ireland Railways?

Photo of Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell DUP

Although I was happy to answer the original question I should point out that a comparison between the cost of the railways task force and the assessment of proposals to widen the Westlink ought not to be made. They cannot be compared, as one can see from the costings. Nonetheless, the issue raised by Mr Ken Robinson is important and must be accepted. We are examining it and we hope to reach a speedy conclusion so that more people can use that commuter line.