§ 12. Mr. KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the speed with which motorway repairs are undertaken.
§ Mr. KnoxDoes my hon. Friend believe that the public are satisfied that motorway repairs are being undertaken in the shortest possible time? There has been some improvement in recent years, but are not further measures needed to speed up the process?
§ Mr. ChopeIt is because of the concern expressed by my hon. Friend and others that the Government are committed to a further increase in the use of the "lane rental" method of procurement of motorway repairs. I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that, in a recent study on maintenance techniques across the world, the World bank has confirmed that the United Kingdom carries out such work faster than any other country.
§ Mr. HaynesI shall wait to see what happens about the speed of motorway repairs. While the Secretary of State is looking at that, however, will he also take a look at the idiots who race through these roadworks? They have flipping telephones as well. It is time that the Secretary of State did something about that.
§ Mr. ChopeI am sure that the hon. Gentleman does not speed through road works, and I hope that he will set a good example, which others will follow.