Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the scope for the Highways Agency and local highways authorities to share departments, plant and staff and other resources used by their contractors; and what estimate he has made of the savings arising from such integration of resources.

Whilst no assessment or estimate of savings has been made in respect of the Highways Agency and local highway authorities integrating services, the Highways Agency takes advantage of opportunities to share resources with local authorities where it is able to do so and it is appropriate.