§ The Marquess of Ailesburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Citizen's Charter will prevent the digging up of roads except on the basis of reasonably long working hours; and what hours are currently being worked in Pimlico Road.
The Earl of CaithnessUnder the Citizen's Charter we are committed to minimising delays to traffic from maintenance work on trunk roads and motorways, and from utility works on all roads.
For maintenance on trunk roads and motorways, all suitable work will in future be subject to the "lane rental" form of contract which was pioneered by this Government and which produces some of the fastest contract times in the world—typically 30 per cent. less than conventional contracts. Working hours on site are a matter for the contractor, but are normally not less than 16 hours a day.
Maintenance works on publicly-maintained roads other than trunk roads and motorways are the responsibility of the local highway authority.
Utility works are the subject of provisions in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, on which we shall be making regulations later this year to come into force on 1 January 1993. From that date, highway authorities will have new powers to co-ordinate utility street works. In cases where these works are likely to cause serious disruption to traffic, the highway authorities will also have power to give directions as to the times when they may or may not be carried out. In addition there is a reserve power for the Government to introduce a system of charging utilities for the occupation of the highway where works are unreasonably prolonged. We shall not hesitate to use this power if necessary.
The works currently being undertaken in the Pimlico Road are the responsibility of British Gas, but I understand that the working hours are normally 8am to 5pm.