§ Mr. ChannonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade under what conditions he has granted a licence to United Artists Communications to install a cable communication network in Essex and north Kent; if those conditions require the company to make good the pavements which they have disrupted; and if he will make a statement. [35792]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorUnited Artists Communications has been granted powers under section 10 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 to install cable systems in the maintainable highway, and with appropriate consent, on private land. The Telecommunications Act licences it holds for its franchises in Essex and north Kent include conditions designed to ensure the company operates in a responsible manner and adheres to all relevant street works legislation. The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and its associated regulations, set the standard of street works. The Act places a duty on the undertaker to carry out the reinstatement of the road surface to standards prescribed in regulation and set out in a code of practice. Local highways authorities are responsible for 1555W enforcement of the code. Both interim and permanent reinstatements must conform with the statutory national specification and all cases of defective reinstatement which are identified by the local highway authority must be rectified at the undertaker's expense.