§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to introduce a Bill to implement the proposals contained in the Home report; and if he will make it his policy to include a penalty clause to ensure that public utilities complete work to a set standard or otherwise meet the cost of remedial work.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt is proposed that utilities should be made entirely responsible for reinstating the highway following their excavation work. They would have to comply with new national specifications for reinstatement and meet objective standards of performance for the repaired road surface. Utilities would be required to make good, at their expense, any reinstatements which fall outside these standards during a warranty period.
Highway authorities would have certain powers in the event of default to ensure that defective reinstatements are corrected at the utilities' expense, and promptly where the defect is a hazard to road users.
Legislation will be introduced as soon as a suitable opportunity can be found.