HC Deb 09 June 1969 vol 784 cc950-1
17. Mr. Gardner

asked the Minister of Transport what machinery exists for the co-ordination and planning of bridge building and repair work between British Railways, British Waterways, local authorities and his Department.

Mr. Carmichael

Under the special programme of bridge strengthening announced by my right hon. Friend's predecessor both boards are reconstructing or strengthening several hundreds of their bridges.

The Department assists by advising as to priorities and ways of minimising as far as practicable inconvenience to traffic. Liaison with local authorities regarding execution of the work is a matter for the boards.

Mr. Gardner

Is my hon. Friend aware that the failure to co-ordinate the work on Stanton Bridge in Derbyshire is causing considerable inconvenience to my constituency and the constituency of Derbyshire, South-East? I think he is aware that this bridge serves a major steel works. Cannot he get better co-ordination between the British Railways Board and local authorities?

Mr. Carmichael

I am aware of this problem. When two adjacent bridges are known to require reconstruction, such as these two bridges, the boards concerned are asked to liaise closely to ensure that they can prevent disruption to commercial and industrial establishments. The boards are doing this, but the problem before them is quite gigantic. British Railways has something like 13,000 substandard bridges and of the Waterways Board's 1,200 bridges about 500 are substandard. They have to spread the work of reconstruction and make the best job of it that they can.

Mr. George Jeger

Is not my hon. Friend aware that considerable delays and confusion are caused by questions of demarcation and by the buck being passed from one authority to another? Could he not streamline the co-ordination he has started on in order to make it more effective?

Mr. Carmichael

The job of the Ministry is basically to lay down the conditions and standards to which bridges must be kept, but I am sure the respective boards, having heard this Question, will take note and will co-operate together. If they have not been doing so already it would surprise me. I am sure they will do so in future.