HC Deb 27 February 2001 vol 363 c627W
Mr. Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money was allocated to local authorities for road maintenance in each of the past five years in(a) North Somerset and (b) England. [150069]

Mr. Hill

The table shows capital allocation figures for highway maintenance, and figures for Highway Maintenance Standard Spending Assessment, for North Somerset and England, for the years in question.

Highway maintenance allocation for North Somerset and England
£ million
Highway maintenance (capital allocation) Highway maintenance SSA
North Somerset England (total) North Somerset England (total)
1996–97 0.591 186 6.416 1,759
1997–98 0.668 200 6.316 1,759
1998–99 0.594 180 6.281 1,767
1999–2000 0.686 240 6.295 1,813
2000–01 0.895 301 6.576 1,858

Mr. Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what monitoring his Department carries out of local authorities in their provision of best value regarding road maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [150028]

Mr. Hill

We introduced a number of Best Value Indicators in 2000–01 which measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the highway maintenance function, including the condition of principal and non-principal roads, efficiency of street lighting, cost of highway maintenance, duration of temporary traffic controls caused by local authority road works on traffic sensitive roads, and time taken to respond to dangerous defects, in each highway authority.

Local authorities are required to publish details of their performance against these indicators it their annual Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP). They are also required to set realistic targets for all their services. These plans and targets are subject to scrutiny by the District Auditor.

The Government have set specific targets in the 10-Year Plan for Transport for halting the decline in road condition, and have made provision for this in the Local Transport Plan settlement. Best Value Indicators are one method by which the performance of highway authorities will be monitored.