§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will provide resources to local authorities to enable them to introduce new methods to coordinate work on public highways by public utilities;
(2) what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Horne committee report on the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950;
(3) if he will seek to give further powers to local authorities to control the quality of reinstatement of public highways by public utilities after they have dug them up.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Home committee's report was published in November last year and comments invited by the end of next month. Before decisions can be taken we will need to consider the report in the light of these comments, not all of which have yet been received. We must consider carefully the proposals made for strengthening control over the quality of reinstatements. We will also consider the resource implications for local authorities of introducing new methods to co-ordinate works on highways, but I cannot undertake that special aid will be provided for this purpose.