Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's Smart Motorway Safety Evidence Stocktake and Action Plan, what progress his Department has made in investigating whether more can be done on to improve the M1 smart motorway between Junctions 30 to 35 (Sheffield).

We have committed £500 million to deliver smart motorway safety improvements across the strategic road network. The Secretary of State has asked Highways England for a one-year on report since the Safety Evidence Stocktake and Action Plan was published, setting out the progress in delivering the 18-point Action Plan and identifying actions that can be delivered early. He has asked for the report by 12 March 2021 so any accelerated works can rapidly be put in place.

For the M1 J32-35a, Highways England will commence the installation of SVD in February 2021 and it is expected to be operational in Summer 2021.

For the M1 J28-31, Highways England are expected to start the installation of SVD in August 2021 and it is expected to be operational by March 2022.

All emergency areas now have a new bright orange road surface and new, more frequent signs have been installed.