§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give consideration to formalising broadcast travel information to include a round-up of all major roadworks in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Tom KingProgramme schedules and content are solely the responsibility of the radio and television authorities. My Department is in regular contact with programme makers, supplying news of major repair schemes and regular progress reports on maintenance work on motorways and those trunk roads of which I am the highway authority. This material is used widely alongside the minute by minute reports issued by the police and the motoring organisations. There has been a steady growth in travel and motoring information on the BBC's national networks—serviced by the BBC motoring unit—and on independent and BBC local radio and television. I welcome any extension of the services that broadcasting authorities offer to road users.