§ 6. Sir David KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the speed with which motorway repairs are undertaken. [17997]
§ Mr. WattsMy right hon. Friend receives representations from a range of individuals and organisations about the speed with which motorway repairs are undertaken.
§ Sir David KnoxIs my hon. Friend satisfied that motorway repairs are undertaken in the minimum possible time? Does he agree that hold-ups caused by motorway repairs are very costly to industry? Has he any proposals to speed things up?
§ Mr. WattsMy hon. Friend is right in that we can never be satisfied with the performance. The lane rental system has been introduced for virtually all major maintenance contracts and lane rental contracts are completed on average 30 per cent. faster than conventional contracts. As for the cost of delays, the use of lane rental has so far saved more than 5,000 days of disruption at an estimated saving of £120 million in road user costs since it was introduced in 1984.