HC Deb 17 October 2001 vol 372 c1228W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made of the experiment of allowing local authorities to charge utility companies a daily amount for digging up the road; and if he will make a statement. [7510]

Ms Keeble

On 14 August, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport launched a consultation on the details of two pilot schemes to be launched in the London borough of Camden and in Middlesbrough. As part of the pilots, the two councils will be able to levy a daily charge (or "lane rental" as it is often called) on utilities carrying out works on the highway. The pilots are expected to begin in January 2002, and we will be monitoring closely the effect they have on the disruption caused to road users by utilities' works in the two areas.