§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 609, if he will instruct the Highways Agency to publish figures relating to the regularity of litter collection on the M45. [19562]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 13 March 1997:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the regularity of litter collection on the M45.The funding available for motorway and trunk road routine maintenance this year has been extremely tight. In these circumstances we have taken the view that our prime concern must be to maintain the safety of the motorway and trunk road network. Consequently, those activities directly related to road safety have first call on our funds.This means that the normal programme of routine maintenance works carried out by our agent authorities, in accordance with our Code of Practice, has had to be curtailed. We have not been able to carry out activities beyond those necessary for achieving safety. Litter picking on the hard shoulder of the M45 is carried out every four weeks, and additionally if the need arises. Verge scavenging on the M45 has not been carried out since March 1996.