HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 c376W
Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure that the reduction in planned expenditure on roads will not have an adverse effect on(a) routine maintenance of motorways and trunk roads, (b) road marking and traffic sign replacement, (c) grass cutting, litter collection and scavenging and (d) road safety measures; and if he will make a statement. [39266]

Mr. Watts

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Simon Coombs, dated 24 July 1996: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking how he proposes to ensure that the reduction in planned expenditure on roads will not have an adverse effect on (a) routine maintenance of motorways and trunk roads, (b) road marking and traffic sign replacement, (c) grass cutting, litter collection and scavenging, and (d) road safety measures. The Highways Agency has reacted professionally and methodically to the reductions in funds available for trunk roads in the financial year 1996/97. As regards routine maintenance, we have identified and discussed with our Maintenance Agents areas of work where a temporary reduction in, or cessation of, activity would have least effect on safety and serviceability. For example, grass cutting will only be carried out where necessary to maintain safety and litter collecting and scavenging only as necessary for safety or to meet the requirements of environmental legislation. Programmes of capital maintenance works have been thoroughly examined, using value management and value engineering techniques, to ensure that the Agency's prime objectives of safety and serviceability are achieved as economically as possible. Some schemes, providing good value for money, have had to be postponed until next year. We have made a small contingency provision to ensure that all urgent safety problems will be investigated and work essential to maintaining safety will be carried out.

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