§ 20. Mr. Sumbergasked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the guidelines which govern his Department's policy on motorway signing.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe guidelines are based on a number of publications the most important of which is the final report of the advisory committee on traffic signs for motorways chaired by Sir Colin Anderson and published in 1962.
§ 21. Mr. Robert B. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage greater involvement of private sector contractors in winter maintenance of trunk and local authority roads.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department is considering experiments for the contracting-out of the maintenance of suitable lengths of motorway. Winter maintenance may be included. We shall review the scope for further private sector involvement in winter maintenance on both trunk and local roads in the light of these experiments. The summer servicing of the winter maintenance vehicles provided by the Department for use on motorways will in future be carried out by the private sector, as will the servicing of much of the Department's salt handling equipment. Local authorities direct labour organisations usually carry out urgent winter maintenance work on local roads; though in some areas this is supplemented by assistance drawn from private contractors.