§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's cones inquiry line.
§ Mr. KeyAs the cones hotline is not an operational matter for the Highways Agency, the chief executive has written to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Brian Donohue dated 16 June 1994:
You asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he would make a statement on the Department's cones enquiry line. As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I am replying to your question.The cones hotline has been running for exactly two years. In that time it has dealt with 5,200 telephone calls of which just over 3,000 have been pursued as formal complaints or requests for information. It gives motorists direct access to the highway authority responsible for the motorway and trunk road network; and as such fits squarely with the wider Citizen's Charter initiative and the policy of improving driver information.The Cones Hotline is covered by the Highways Agency's 'Road User's Charter' which sets out standards of service for the 47W road network. In following this we undertake to deal with Hotline enquiries as efficiently as possible; and if it is established that there is no good reason for cones to be present, we undertake to get them removed.We have recently invited expressions of interest, through the EC Journal, from specialist companies who might be well placed to run the Cones Hotline on the Agency's behalf. This is part of a continuing review to ensure that the Hotline provides the most efficient and effective service.