To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Unadopted Roads
Monday 1st June 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the (a) average and (b) maximum time between a Section 38 agreement being signed and formal road adoption by highway authorities in each of the last five years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not hold centrally collected data on the average or maximum time between a Section 38 agreement being signed and formal road adoption by highway authorities.


Written Question
Unadopted Roads: Exmouth and Exeter East
Monday 1st June 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) maximum time is between a Section 38 agreement being signed and formal road adoption by Devon County Council in Exmouth and Exeter East constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not hold centrally collected data on the average or maximum time between a Section 38 agreement being signed and formal road adoption by highway authorities.


Written Question
Unadopted Roads: Snow and Ice
Monday 1st June 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what duty exists between developers and highway authorities to ensure roads on new residential developments that are subject to a Section 38 agreement are gritted and made safe during the winter weather before formal adoption takes place.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no statutory duty set out in the Highways Act 1980 that requires developers or highway authorities to carry out winter maintenance, such as gritting, on roads subject to a Section 38 agreement prior to formal adoption.


Written Question
Unadopted Roads
Monday 1st June 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times has a Section 38 highway bond proved insufficient to cover the costs of bringing an unadopted road up to an adoptable standard following the insolvency of the developer in each of the last five years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not hold centrally collected data on the number of occasions where a Section 38 highway bond has proved insufficient to cover the costs of bringing an unadopted road up to an adoptable standard following the insolvency of a developer.


Written Question
Unadopted Roads: Sewers
Monday 1st June 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of roads currently blocked from adoption under Section 38 solely because the underlying sewer or drainage infrastructure has not been adopted by a water company.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not hold centrally collected data on the number of roads awaiting adoption under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 due to the underlying sewer or drainage infrastructure not having been adopted by a water company.


Written Question
Shipping: Sanctions
Monday 27th April 2026

Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many sanctioned shadow fleet vessels have transited UK waters since 25 March 2026.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 20 April 2026, to Question 125435.