Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letters of 17 May 2018 and 3 July 2018 from the hon. Member for Clacton regarding infrastructure improvements in Essex.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
I apologise for the delay in responding to your letters. I understand that my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State will be meeting with you shortly to discuss the specific issues you raised in your letters.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
What steps he is taking to improve the condition of local roads.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has committed investment of more than £6 billion to highways maintenance between 2015 and 2021. This funding includes an action fund to help combat potholes totalling £296 million between 2016 and 2021. The Department published its latest statistics on road conditions in England in January 2018, which showed that at that time local classified roads had been improving overall, with fewer local roads to be considered for maintenance. The Department recognises, however, that the severe frosts of 2018 are likely to have affected local road quality.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the local economy in Clacton of dualling the A120.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has contributed funding to Essex County Council’s work to assess the benefits and costs of options for dualling the A120 between Braintree and the A12. The findings from this work are due to be concluded later this year.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to assess the infrastructure needs of the UK general aviation sector.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is seeking to define a strategic network of General Aviation airfields. To achieve this the Government has appointed Byron Davies to be the General Aviation Champion.
Mr Davies has been tasked with advising on the development of the sector, and of the role it plays within the UK’s economy and society. At the end of 2018 he will deliver a report on the state and future potential of general aviation. He is being assisted by York Aviation, which the Department has commissioned to carry out research on airfields of strategic significance. However, the provision of infrastructure to general aviation airfields is a matter for private sector airfield owners and operators.