HC Deb 14 November 2001 vol 374 cc734-5W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a mandatory requirement for highway authorities to publish a winter plan listing the roads it intends to keep clear of ice and snow. [13992]

Mr. Spellar

The Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July already strongly recommends that highway authorities should publish a winter service operational plan after consultation with users and key stakeholders.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether highway authorities in England and Wales will continue to hold responsibility for keeping roads safe in winter through pre-salting and snow clearance. [13995]

Mr. Spellar

The House of Lords judgment last year in the case of Goods v. East Sussex was that there was no duty on local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980 to prevent ice from forming on highways. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend highway authorities in England to implement winter service provisions on their roads in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will issue guidance to highway authorities in England and Wales on the importance of pre-salting roads in winter. [13991]

Mr. Spellar

Guidance on pre-salting roads in winter is contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with highway authorities to take reasonable steps to pre-salt roads in winter and clear snow. [13993]

Mr. Spellar

Highway authorities throughout the United Kingdom participated in producing the guidance on winter service contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

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