§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which Department receives the overstay charges from utility services for any work not completed within the agreed period under Section 74A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [49875]
§ Ms KeebleWhere a highway authority chooses to impose overstay charges on utility companies, under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, the authority can keep the moneys received to meet the cost of operating the charging scheme and can spend any surplus on developing policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic738W transport facilities and services to, from and within their area. The proceeds are not retained by central Government.
Section 74A of the 1991 Act covers a separate system, under which undertakers carrying out works have to pay a daily charge from the outset of works, or "lane rental". Pilots schemes testing these powers are currently under way in Middlesbrough and the London borough of Camden. Again, the highway authority is permitted to retain the proceeds of the charging scheme.