Question
I thank the Secretary of State for her answer; I am glad to hear that she has discussions with the relevant Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Local businesses on the A25 Castleward Road in Strangford have seen their trade reduced by some 90%, and I believe there is a sensible solution: to work at night. I have suggested that to the Department back home as a way of alleviating the impact on local businesses. Will the Minister ensure that those discussions take place? At a time when businesses are struggling to meet their basic staffing and operating costs, it is essential to protect our traders.
Answer
I completely understand why the hon. Gentleman raises these matters. Whether it is people travelling on the roads or businesses that are impacted by roadworks, the impacts are felt across the entirety of the UK. We have discussed these matters through the UK Roads Leadership Group, and I can tell him that a code of practice was recently published. It provides guidance for authorities on how to better co-ordinate roadworks with neighbouring authorities and utilities—by considering overnight works, for example—to minimise disruption.
Verdict: AMBER (35/100)
The question asked whether the department will discuss night works on the A25 Castleward Road with the Northern Ireland Executive. The reply points to existing UK-wide engagement through the UK Roads Leadership Group and a new code of practice that mentions overnight works. It does not commit to any discussion with the Northern Ireland Executive about this specific road, so the answer is only partly addressed and mostly hedged. The person who asked would likely need to follow up for a clear yes or no on that engagement.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister ensure that discussions take place with the Northern Ireland Executive on carrying out works at night on the A25 Castleward Road, Strangford, to reduce the impact on local businesses? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply says discussions happen through the UK Roads Leadership Group and cites a new code of practice that mentions overnight works, which is a concrete mechanism. However, it never commits to discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about night works on the A25 Castleward Road, and it does not say whether such discussions will happen. The answer stays at the level of general UK-wide engagement, so it only partly answers the commitment the item asks for. |