§ Mr. Hayesasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the 1984 national road maintenance condition survey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe report of the 1984 national road maintenance condition survey is published today. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
This report — which does not cover motorways — shows that while there has been some deterioration in recent years, the general condition of roads in England and Wales remains very similar to that when the survey began in 1977.
Nevertheless, the survey points to a deteriorating trend since 1980, both on trunk roads and on local authorities' roads. This reinforces the need for systematic identification of problem areas and careful planning of maintenance works. The deterioration in trunk road condition reflects the priority we have had to give in recent years to 553W maintenance of the motorway network which carries large volumes of heavy goods vehicles and is vital to the economy of the nation.
The standing committee on highway maintenance has established the NRMCS as an objective basis for discussion of road condition and maintenance expenditure. I commend the report of the 1984 survey to all who have an interest in roads.