HC Deb 26 October 1995 vol 264 cc754-5W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints he has received in the last 12 months from (i) members of the public, (ii) local authorities and (iii) hon. Members about cable companies failing to reinstate properly the pavement or highway after cabling work is completed. [38850]

Mr. Ian Taylor

One complaint was received between 21 October 1994 and 20 October 1995 stating that a cable company had not met its statutory requirements with regards to reinstatement. However, the number of complaints received during this period expressing displeasure over reinstatements by cable operators are as follows:

  • Members of the public: 41
  • Local authorities: 2
  • Hon. Members: 21

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 sets the standard of works for cable operators and the utilities, and provides that both interim and permanent reinstatements must conform with the statutory national specification. All cases of defective reinstatement which are identified by the local highway authority must be rectified at the undertaker's expenses; additionally, the undertaker must for each proved defect bear the cost of the initial investigation and three further follow-up inspections.

The number of complaints per kilometre trenched has fallen.