§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to hold another press facility at the Midland link motorway viaducts similar to that held on 7 July 1980.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have no plans to do so. I published a full letter to the chairman of West Midlands County Council highways committee last week setting out the problems discovered so far. I have also arranged the issue of a weekly bulletin of programmed work.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if the inspections or tests on the bearings of the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways indicate lubrication requirements.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMessrs. Atkins and Partners have been commissioned to carry out an in-depth study of the bearings. Their interim report suggests that trials might be carried out lubricating the sliding surfaces of some bearings. Their full report has not yet been submitted and we shall decide whether to carry out such trials in the light of that report.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to approve contracts for repairs or replacement of the bearing plinths of the Midland link motorways in advance of receiving the report of the in-depth study of the bearings commissioned from Atkins and Partners by his Department.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTenders are being invited this week for the investigation and repair of a total of some 4,400 bearing plinths at Gravelly Hill, Thornbridge, Wigmore and A4123 viaducts. However, the recommendations from Atkins' final report will be considered before contracts are placed.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of his Department's recent statement that on sample inspection up to 90 per cent. of the nuts and bolts used to hold down the parapet of the elevated sections of the Midland link motorway are defective, he remains satisfied with the safety of the parapets.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr on 23 March, any circumstances have arisen which give cause for a change in the specification for the repair grout to be used on the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, on 2 March, whether he has received the analysis of mortar mix samples from the 70 tests on the Midland link motorways.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. The results of the analysis are still being examined.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the maintenance of the drainage systems of the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. There are problems which have yet to be investigated in detail before we can implement any improvements.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates since assuming office when (a) he and (b) the Under-Secretary have visited the elevated sections of the Midland Link motorways to see inspections and repair work.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI made visits specifically to inspect repair works on 23 October 1979 and 26 September 1980, and reported to my right hon. Friend.