§ Mr. Norman HoggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on road bridge strengthening by his Department and local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 24 March 1993]: The current year is the fourth year of a bridge assessment and strengthening programme to upgrade by 1999 when the UK's derogation on the 40 tonne lorry ends. The assessment of 420 trunk road bridges in stage 1 is already complete and assessment of the final 38 is well under way. Of these trunk road bridges, some 50 have been identified as needing some remedial treatment. Of these 50, 10 have already been treated and all will be capable of handling the required loads by 1999. Similarly, the early objective of the local authority programmes is to assess and upgrade bridges on Scotland's other major arteries and other routes of local importance.