Oral Answers to Questions

Holly Mumby-Croft Excerpts

Thursday 17th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of roads.

[Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of roads.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Rachel Maclean)]

The Government have undertaken the biggest ever pothole-filling programme, with £500 million funding each year between 2021 and 2024-25 specifically to tackle potholes on our roads. Further funding for local road maintenance will be agreed as part of the spending review.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Maclean]

Absolutely. The Government are keenly aware that local authorities require certainty in funding to plan their highways asset management programme effectively. Any decision on multi-year funding settlements will be decided as part of the ongoing spending review.

[Holly Mumby-Croft]

The A15, leading to the A46, is a major strategic corridor for north Lincolnshire. Improved north-south connectivity via the A15 plays a vital function as a strategic economic corridor and is critical for facilitating the movement of goods in connection with heavy engineering and the food sector. It also provides an important economic role, linking the midlands and the south to the Humber ports, the refineries and one of the largest enterprise zones in the country on the south Humber bank. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is vital that such routes are improved as part of the levelling up process?

[Rachel Maclean]

Absolutely. My hon. Friend is completely right that improving our road network is an essential part of our levelling-up network. That is why the Prime Minister has brought forward £100 million of funding for 29 shovel-ready projects. She will be pleased to know that £4.5 million of funding was awarded to North Lincolnshire unitary authority for such work on the A15.