Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase local authorities powers to prevent disruptive works by (a) utility companies and (b) Highways England.

Utility companies have a right to access the public road network to repair and maintain the services on which we all rely, as well as to meet the requirements of regulators, for example, to restore services to customers. Utility companies must send a permit to the relevant local highway authority within 2 hours of being on-site and the authority can assess and agree the necessary duration of the works with the company to ensure disruption to road users is minimised. National Highways operate their own arrangements for agreeing access for utility companies to the strategic road network.