Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are giving to local authorities to address accidents caused by pot holes.

In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland responsibility for maintaining the highway rests with the respective devolved administration.

In England, local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the public highway network in their area.

In addition to the capital highways maintenance funding provided by Government, the Department works with the highways sector to produce guidance and best practice and encourages good practice in local highways asset management. The Department endorses the UK Roads Leadership Group’s ‘Well Managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice’. This provides guidance for highway authorities to consider when managing and maintaining the highways infrastructure assets for which they are responsible.

In addition, the Government commissioned ‘Potholes: a repair guide’, published by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) in March 2019.

In the 2022 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor confirmed the three-year settlement announced at Spending Review 2021: approximately £915 million capital funding per year for local highways maintenance for local highway authorities across England outside of London and the mayoral combined authorities who are in receipt of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).

In addition, at Budget 2023 the Chancellor announced an extra £200 million for highways maintenance for the 2023/24 financial year.