Cones Hotline (Hansard, 17 October 1994)

§ Mr. Norris

[holding answer 18 July 1994]: As these are now operating matters for the Highways Agency, the chief executive has written to the hon. Member.

Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr Paddy Tipping, dated 20 July 1994: You asked the Secretary of State for Transport for information on the Cones Hotline. As this is now an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I am replying to your questions. 1. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road signs advertising the Cons Hotline have been distributed (a) nationally and (b) in the East Midlands. Separately identifiable figures for the total number of road signs installed are not available. Signs are erected by contractors or their traffic management sub-contractors as part of the contract arrangement. Neither the Department nor the Agency are responsible for the day to day management of signs. 2. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the cost of producing and distributing the signs advertising the Cones Hotline number (a) nationally (b) in the East Midlands. Separately identifiable costs of signs are not available. Their provision is included in the overall contract costs. 3. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the total cost of he Cones Hotline since its inception (a) in the East Midlands and (b) nationally. Since the beginning of the current financial year the cost of the dedicated telephone line has been about £450 per month, including call charges. The Hotline previously operated on the Department's general switchboard. There have been no other separately identifiable costs, either in previous years or in the current year, because the Hotline has operated within running cost structures agreed before its inception. No staff are employed exclusively on Hotline activity and there are no budgets allocated specifically to the provision of the Hotline service. I hope this information is helpful.