§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects local authorities to have established a computerised street works register. [9333]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department of Transport is arranging for the provision of a computerised street works register for England and Wales. The contactor expects it to be fully operational by 1 March 1997.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers local authororities have to set timetables for street repairs by utilities in order to minimise traffic disruption; what plans he has to increase these powers. [9341]
§ Mr. WattsLocal highway authorities, in their capacity as street authorities, have a power under section 56 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to give directions to undertakers of proposed street works, in certain specified circumstances, as to the times when the works may or may not be carried out. The power does not apply to emergency works or to certain other urgent works for which no advance notice is required. There are no plans to increase it.
615W
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the co-ordination of road repairs(a) between local authorities and (b) between local authorities and the Highways Agency. [9332]
§ Mr. WattsUnder the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, highway authorities have a duty to co-ordinate the execution of works of all kinds in the streets for which they are responsible. That duty extends to co-ordination with other highway authorities where necessary.
Arrangements for implementing this requirement between local highway authorities are a matter for the authorities concerned. For trunk road and motorway work which affects local roads, co-ordination meetings between the Highways Agency and local highway authorities are held on a regular basis to agree future programmes of major road repairs. Improvements, through the greater use of information technology, are being developed.