§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Transport whether the gritting of the A1 in Northumberland on the night of 25–26 268W November was restricted as a result of the recommendations of his Department; at what time gritting took place; whether the road was blocked for any time; and how many reported accidents took place on those dates.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Department instructed Northumberland county council not to salt trunk roads in the county on 25 November following advice by the Meteorological Office that snow would be directly preceded by rain which would render any such salting completely ineffective. The council was, however, instructed to carry out salting early on 26 November to deal with the icy road conditions which were expected by it and this was done.
The Al in Northumberland was not blocked at any time during 25–26 November, although at 0400 hours on 26 November the police took action to stop articulated vehicles on the Al at Alnwick and warned their drivers that road conditions to the north of Alnwick were dangerous. Two accidents on the A1 in Northumberland were reported during this period.