§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up a survey with local authorities to establish damage done to their roads and other environmental damage as a result of the increasing volume and weight of lorries; and if he will consider whether the worst affected authorities could be compensated for this either by his Department or a levy on industry.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeEvery local highway authority in England and Wales has, for the last five years, contributed to a comprehensive survey of surface condition on all classes of roads except motorways, for which separate arrangements are made. This national road maintenance condition survey shows no evidence of any general deterioration in condition. We shall continue to study the results of successive surveys with close attention.