Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Road Condition

Thursday 16 December 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government investing over 5 billion in highways maintenance to improve England's roads
  • Potholes and deteriorating road surfaces in High Wycombe pose danger to motorcyclists and other road users
  • Minister assures coastal communities like Clacton of Government commitment to levelling up initiatives

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Giles Watling Con
Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about the condition of roads across England and seeks information on steps being taken to improve them.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of England's roads?

Answer from Robert Courts

As announced in October's spending review, during this Parliament the Government are investing over £5 billion in highways maintenance—enough to fill in millions of potholes a year, repair dozens of bridges, and resurface roads up and down the country.

Answered
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Q2 Steven Baker Con
Transport
Context

The MP reports numerous potholes and deteriorating road surfaces in High Wycombe, posing dangers to motorcyclists. He seeks assurances on proper funding for councils.

Question

I am grateful for that reassuring answer, but I am sorry to report that in High Wycombe there are all too many jarring potholes, and a number of our surfaces on important junctions are now breaking down to the point that they are dangerous to motorcycles. Is it not absolutely vital that councils are properly funded and equipped to keep our roads safe?

Answer from Robert Courts

My hon. Friend is quite right. Potholes are a menace to all road users, particularly motorcyclists. That is why the Government are working tirelessly to remove them from our roads. The Government's decision to provide local highway authorities with a three-year highway maintenance funding settlement will enable them, in line with good asset management planning, to proactively plan their maintenance and pothole repair programme more effectively.

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Q3 Giles Watling Con
Transport
Context

The MP from Clacton feels the area is overlooked and requests the Minister to visit and assess road needs. He questions if transport should be prioritised for levelling up.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer. It takes an hour and a half by train to do the under 70 miles to Clacton, and we rely on our roads to prosper. We in Clacton often feel overlooked. I would like the Minister to come down to our sunshine coast, where he will see that we need better roads. Does he believe that transport links, particularly in coastal communities, should be the focus when it comes to levelling up?

Answer from Robert Courts

Coastal communities such as Clacton are part of this nation's soul, and this Government are committed to such coastal communities and to levelling up across our Union. I can assure my hon. Friend that this Department works closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure that coastal communities recover from covid-19 and to help them to level up. Of course, that includes transport links.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether transport should be a focus for levelling up initiatives in Clacton.

How: Working Closely, Commitment

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Q4 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Transport
Context

The road across Hammersmith bridge has been closed since April, causing congestion and pollution in Putney. The MP requests confirmation on funding for its repair.

Question

The road across Hammersmith bridge has been completely closed since April, causing congestion, chaos, pollution and danger across Putney. Can the Minister confirm whether there will be funding in the Transport for London settlement for the repair and renewal of Hammersmith bridge, whether there will be funding for Hammersmith and Fulham Council and whether the Government will provide the additional funding to reopen Hammersmith bridge?

Answer from Robert Courts

That bridge is of course owned by the local Labour authority. The Transport Department has been stepping in to help, but I would urge the hon. Member to continue engage with her local authority to ensure that the repairs take place.

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide funding details for repairing Hammersmith Bridge and instead directed the MP to talk to her local authority.

How: Local Labour Authority, Stepping In

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