§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the code of assessment for short span highway bridges.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe code was published today in the form of a departmental standard BD 21/84 and an advice note BA 16/84. Copies have been placed in the Library. The code is intended for use primarily with bridges built before uniform design criteria were introduced in 1922. The code brings the criteria for assessing existing bridges into line with those for designing new or replacement bridges.