HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 cc53-4W
Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 73 recommendations mentioned in the report of Professor M. R. Home on a review of the Public Utilities Streetworks Act 1950 have so far been implemented.

Mr. Atkins

Action has been put in hand or completed on all those recommendations in the Horne report which were accepted by the Government in their reponse published in July 1986. About two thirds of the report's recommendations require primary legislation and a consultation document was issued in May 1989 describing the proposed provisions to be included in a Bill which the Government intend to bring forward at a suitable opportunity.

Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to amend the Public Utility Streetworks Act 1950 to take account of the increased use of roads over the past five years and the traffic delays caused by excavations in road surfaces so as to accord with modern traffic flow requirements.

Mr. Atkins

Yes. Our proposals for legislation to reform the 1950 Act pay particular attention to the need to reduce the amount of traffic disruption caused by street works.

Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to increase the controls on contractors for failure to reinstate road surfaces under the Public Utilities Streetworks Act 1950.

Mr. Atkins

Our proposals for legislation to reform the 1950 Act include new requirements on undertakers of works to ensure that their reinstatements conform to prescribed standards for a fixed guarantee period.