§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what instructions he has issued about the nature and duration of lane closures on motorways when repairs are being undertaken; and whether Staffordshire County Council have complied with these instructions in respect of repairs to the M6;
(2) what instructions he has given about the length of motorway which 425W should be closed when resurfacing or repairs are undertaken.
§ Mr. SpeedIt is not normally appropriate to give specific instructions. Local conditions, which may vary greatly, would reduce the value of general and arbitrary rules. Guidance is contained in the Traffic Safety Code for Roadworks and in recently issued pamphlets based on chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual which will be published shortly. Additionally, interim advice based on new departmental work will be available within the next few weeks. I am writing to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why two lanes of the southbound carriageway of the M6 between junctions 15 and 14 were closed more than half a mile further north than repair work was being undertaken on 5th June, 1972;
(2) why traffic on the two-mile stretch north of the lane closures between junctions 15 and 14 of the southbound carriageway of the M6 was moving at a speed of less than 2½ miles an hour between 12 noon and 1 p.m. on 5th June;
(3) what steps are being taken to avoid traffic hold-ups on the M6 in Stafford shire, when repairs are being undertaken;
(4) when the work at present being undertaken on the southbound carriage way of the M6 between junctions 15 and 14 will be completed;
(5) why the only activity on the lanes of the M6 closed for repairs between junctions 15 and 14 around 1 p.m. on 5th June, 1972, was one man digging with a spade; and whether he is satisfied that this work is being undertaken with sufficient urgency;
(6) what further work will be undertaken on the M6 in Staffordshire, involving lane closures, in the next 12 months; and whether plans have been drawn up to avoid traffic hold-ups when this work is being undertaken;
(7) why the centre lane of the south-bound carriageway of the M6 was closed on 5th June, 1972, between junctions 15 and 14, when repair work was only being undertaken on the inside lane.
§ Mr. SpeedI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon.426W Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Cockeram) on Wednesday, 14th June.