Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Methodology used to calculate ratings for local road maintenance, published on 11 January 2025, whether special advisers played a role in the drafting of the statistical methodology.

The methodology underpinning the ratings was developed by departmental officials, including analytical professionals. As is routine for significant policy projects and announcements, special advisers were consulted as part of the policy development and ministerial clearance process.