§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport what qualifications for those employed by temporary signing contractors on Britain's motorways are necessary to meet the road safety requirements of his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyDetailed guidance on safety for both workmen and road users is contained in the various Departmental publications listed in trunk road management and maintenance notice 9/85, a copy of which is in the Library. Contractors are responsible for ensuring that the requirements are met and that their employees are trained accordingly.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies who tendered for temporary signing work on motorway contracts in Buckinghamshire during 1984, the level of each tender, and the price of the tender from the successful bidder.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department's agent, Buckinghamshire county council, did not invite separate tenders for temporary signing work on motorway contracts in 1984. Traffic management arrangements at major works were part of the responsibility of the main contractors.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the standard of the work carried out under the temporary signing contract on the Buckinghamshire section of the M1 during the 1984 major works.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe employer for these works was Buckinghamshire county council, the agent authority for this part of the M1. The temporary signing was sub-contracted by the main contractor. I understand that the county engineer was satisfied with the standard of work.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Association of County Councils concerning the regulations regarding the tendering by local authorities for signing work in respect of major works on motorways.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI am not aware of recent representations from the association on this matter.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authority repair and maintenance agencies are restricted from tendering for signing work for his Department during periods of major contracts on motorways.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAgent authorities' direct labour organisations may tender for work for the Department but have no powers to work as a sub-contractor to a private sector maintenance contractor.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues to agencies doing contract work on behalf of his Department in respect of temporary signing work on motorway maintenance.
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§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department issues detailed guidance in the form of standards, advice notes, manuals and site drawings. These publications are listed in the relevant trunk road management and maintenance notice (TRMM/9/85). A copy is in the Library.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the total cost of contraflow temporary signing on motorway contracts for the current year and the comparable figures for 1983, 1984 and 1985.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTemporary signing is often carried out as part of the main works contract. The cost is not recorded as a separate item.