§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if trunk roads maintenance contractors have been found in breach of their obligations in respect of their duties in relation to the trunk road network in the last 12 months. [47939]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere have been no firms in significant default of obligations in the last 12 months. If small failings in terms of achieving specific levels of service or in defects in work occur the Highways Agency require firms to rectify them and demonstrate how they will be prevented from happening again. Provided firms respond appropriately to these failings then they would not be considered to be in overall breach of contract.
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what default notices have been issued to trunk roads maintenance contractors in the last 12 months. [47937]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo default notices have been issued in the last 12 months.
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the provision of his Department's contracts with trunk roads maintenance contractors concerning the company's failure to perform its obligations have been made public; and what the reasons are for his policy. [47942]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe provisions concerning the company's failure to perform its obligations, contained in the Conditions of Contract, have not been made public because no requests for such information have been received. Standard terms and conditions covering non-performance can be made available.
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what statutory powers he possesses under trunk roads maintenance contracts to issue directions, orders or instructions to the maintenance companies in respect of fulfilling obligations under the contract with particular reference to instructions to use more equipment and materials. [47936]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Highways Agency acting on behalf of the Secretary of State has contractual powers rather than statutory powers to instruct changes. These powers 107W are limited by the European directives aimed at ensuring fair competition, but the Highways Agency can instruct changes within the scope of the contract.
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the contracts with trunk roads maintenance contractors have been reviewed after they were awarded; and what penalties his Department may incur should it decide to cancel a contract on the grounds of non-performance. [47944]
§ Mr. JamiesonContracts have been reviewed since their award and will continue to be so on a regular basis. If a contractor failed to perform and was in significant breach of their obligations then the contract could be terminated without any compensation, although in most cases the Highways Agency would expect to work with the contractor to remedy any concerns before resorting to termination.
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–011 Fatal injuries Road repairs/surfacing/maintenance 3 2 2 2 5 Road verge maintenance — — — — 1 Major injuries Road repairs/surfacing/maintenance 14 10 12 14 10 Road verge maintenance 1 2 — 1 — Over three day injuries Road repairs/surfacing/maintenance 23 20 19 23 19 Road verge maintenance — 3 1 2 2 1Provisional Note:
The question seeks injuries to workers on roads and motorways. These statistics relate to workers which include employees and self-employed people.