Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to require a single mandatory standard and enforcement regime to apply equally to highway authorities, their contractors, and statutory undertakers for all road and street works on the UK road network, including workmanship, reinstatement quality, inspections, and penalties.

A strong framework already applies to utilities, contractors and highway authorities, including national reinstatement standards, permit schemes, and performance‑based inspections introduced in 2023, which ensure poor performers face more frequent inspections and associated charges. Recent regulations, in force from January 2026, further strengthen enforcement by increasing penalties for overruns and improving compliance. We will continue to keep the regime under review.