§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities as to(a) road surface condition and (b) standards of road repair; and how these are enforced.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyLocal highway authorities determine standards for their roads. Advice on standards for local roads is contained in the local authority associations' code of good practice for highway maintenance. We understand that a revised edition of that code will be published later this year. The standing committee on highway maintenance is planning to monitor the introduction of the code, and the application of certain key standards relating to road surface condition.
For trunk roads, where local highway authorities act as the Department's agents for maintenance, authorities receive instructions on the standards to be applied. The Department works closely with local highway authorities in developing these standards, many of which are helpful to local authorities in setting standards for their own roads.