§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many samples of material have been taken from bearing surfaces and bearing plinths at Gravelly Hill on the Midland link motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are considering four samples of the original mortar mix along with the other reports on defects to decide on possible legal action to be taken to obtain compensation for the costs of repairs. We have also taken fourteen samples of the original grease used on the sliding surfaces of bearings for research purposes in relation to future design and specification. We are also regularly obtaining routine samples of the material being used in the current bearing plinth replacement contract to ensure compliance with the specification.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he remains satisfied with the West Midlands county council acting as his agent in respect of the Midland link motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have recently approached West Midlands county council and suggested that the highly specialised task of maintaining the structural part of the viaducts on the Midland links motorways should in future be excluded from our agency agreement with them.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest number of dropped steel beams which have been discovered on the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere have been no additions to the total of 57 stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 12 January 1981.
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§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if any contracts have yet been let for the repair of (a) dropped steel beams and (b) concrete pillars on the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAll the dropped beams received temporary repairs to make them safe immediately they were detected. Only one specific contract has been let for this type of repair—at Gravelly Hill, where the dropping of two beams led to the serious cracking of a slab. In all other cases permanent repairs to dropped beams have been or will be undertaken as part of the general maintenance programme. No contracts have been let for the repair of concrete pillars.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received the results from the analysis of mortar mix samples from the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. We are now considering them along with other reports on defects to decide whether to commence legal action to recover compensation for the cost of repairs.