§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on research into quieter road surfaces in each of the last 10 years. [170166]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Highways Agency has undertaken research into various aspects of quieter surfaces in the past 10 years, including the measurement of noise characteristics and durability of proprietary surfacing materials within their overall programme of research into improved road construction techniques. Annual expenditure on the development of quieter road surfaces is not available because most of the projects last for more than one year. However, total expenditure on research projects related to road surface noise characteristics completed since 1993 is around £3 million.