§ 2.47 p.m.
§ Baroness Lane-FoxMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have taken to improve efficiency in road construction and repair.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, we have taken a wide range of measures to 89 provide better roads at lower costs including increased competition, improved designs and lane rental contracts.
§ Baroness Lane-FoxMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that since putting down this Question I have been helped by very impressive reconstruction of the road outside my home? Having studied that, I am prompted now to ask my noble friend what good achievements there have been as a result of lane rentals?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I am delighted that my noble friend has had a satisfactory repair done to the road outside her home. Lane rental has proved very successful, with contracts being completed on average 38 per cent. more quickly than normally expected. As a result, 500 days of delay were avoided in 1985–86, worth over £8 million to the nation.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, is the Minister aware that in contrast to his noble friend Lady Lane-Fox I travel each day through a rate-capped borough where the roads have very bad potholes and shocking surfaces due to the recent cold spell? Has he any indication that local authorities with these problems have the necessary finance to cope with them? Simply filling in a pothole is not good enough; the pothole will reappear within a few days.
Does the noble Lord recall that in July a Question was put down on the Horne Report on roads and utilities? The Government did not accept one of the recommendations. Has the advisory committee, which has no teeth, been set up, and, if so, what results have occurred?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, we have increased the public expenditure provision for local road maintenance by 13 per cent. for 1987–88, continuing a run of increases well above the rate of inflation. Decisions on spending priorities are of course a matter for local authorities. But we hope very much that they will respond by increasing the money devoted to road maintenance. As regards the Horne Report, I am afraid that I do not have the information with me and I shall have to write to the noble Lord.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, one of the best ways of achieving the improved efficiency to which the Question refers is to support the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. Without wishing to anticipate the report which is due from your Lordships' Select Committee tomorrow, have the Government any plans in the near future to restore the cuts that were made in the funding of the laboratory?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, that question is a little outside the one on the Order Paper. Also, as the noble Lord says, your Lordships' committee will be reporting shortly. I shall reserve my judgment until I see the report.
§ Baroness Lane-FoxMy Lords, is my noble friend the Minister able to say whether improved, modern techniques and efficiency have gone some way towards 90 ruling out the damage that was done by the 35 per cent. cuts made on major roadworks during the time of the last Labour Government?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, certainly since 1980 we have doubled the provision for repair—on motorways particularly—from 40 miles per year in 1979 to 80 miles per year now. So our record is, I think, pretty good.