Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the repairs to the parapet rails along the midland link motorways viaducts to begin.
Mr. RidleyWe intend to go ahead with one or two small trial repairs to establish methods of working. The examination of the extent to which water-borne de-icing salts have penetrated the concrete on the viaducts, which was mentioned in press notice WM 256/83(M), has been extended to include the concrete elements of the parapets. I do not propose to start major parapet rail repairs until the results of this work are available.