Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's news story entitled New street works regime to clamp down on pothole pain, published on 31 March 2023, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the new street works regime.

New guidance and regulations introducing a performance-based inspections regime came into force on 1 April 2023. The new regime enables highway authorities to carry out more inspections of poorly performing utility companies.

It is too early to assess the effectiveness of the new regime, however my officials are using the Government’s digital service Street Manager to gather data.

The Department liaises with highway authorities and utility companies continuously to monitor and discuss ways to improve performance. Delivering on its plan for drivers, the Government has launched a street works consultation including a proposal to direct at least 50% of money from lane rental schemes to be used to improve roads and repair potholes. Lane rental schemes allow local highway authorities to charge organisations for the time that street and road works occupy the road. Lane rental schemes allow local highway authorities to charge organisations for the time that street and road works occupy the road.