Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Sewards Excerpts

Thursday 21st November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Matt Rodda (Reading Central) (Lab)]

8. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition of local roads.

[Mr Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

9. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition of local roads.

--- Later in debate ---

[Louise Haigh]

I believe the hon. Gentleman met the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood), last week on exactly that issue. She will follow up on it, as will National Highways.

[Mr Sewards]

I associate myself with the comments about Lord Prescott. I am grateful for the Secretary of State’s answers on local roads. The roads in Leeds South West and Morley are in a dire state. Asquith Avenue has been compared to the surface of the moon. Commuters in Farnley, Wortley, Morley and Tingley have to dodge potholes every day, and even the more rural areas of my constituency, such as Ardsley and Robin Hood, are suffering the same fate. What reassurances can the Secretary of State give my constituents that those roads will be improved, and when can they expect those improvements?

[Louise Haigh]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Potholes and poor road conditions are a menace that make our roads less safe and have saddled drivers with costly repairs. The £500 million uplift will be available in ’25-26, and we will announce the allocations shortly, including those for West Yorkshire.