§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's standards for maintenance with respect to grass cutting, sweeping, scavenging of laybys, windblown litter and the emptying of gullies on trunk roads maintained by county councils as agents of his Department; and if he will review those standards.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyStandards for litter clearance on the worst littered sections of motorways are being re-examined.
Standards for these and other routine maintenance activities are set out in the Department's code of practice for routine maintenance. A copy of the code is in the House Library. The code is kept under continual review in consultation with the Department's agents through the Standing Committee on Highway Maintenance. The application of the code is also reviewed at local level and individual standards are adjusted to meet particular circumstances.