§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Minister of Transport (1) for how long a section of the M4 motorway was left without signals or emergency telephones following the power failure commencing on Sunday 11 November;
(2) what arrangements for alternative power supplies are available to ensure the continued functioning of motorway signals and emergency telephones when the primary power source fails.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe telephones were out of order, not because of a power failure, for a period of about 58 hours which included Sunday 11 November. Arrangements do exist for an emergency power supply but it will not necessarily operate all signals. I shall write to my hon. Friend with further information dealing with this failure and the emergency procedures available.