Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the effectiveness of current litter performance indicators pertaining to value for money and customer satisfaction with highway maintenance; and, if they do not have one, whether they will make one.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the second Road Investment Strategy (2020-25) National Highways were allocated £6.5bn for the operation and maintenance of the Strategic Road Network (SRN). A proportion of this funding will be allocated within National Highways to carry out its litter clearance duties. For 2021/22 National Highways reported that 60.8% of its network was predominately free of litter, refuse or detritus apart from some small items, in line with the Code of practice on litter and refuse published by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This was an improvement from 49.2% reported for 2020/21. The performance for 2022/23 will be published later this summer.
Customer satisfaction of the SRN is provided through the Strategic Road User Survey (SRUS) which is undertaken by Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users. For period April 22 to March 23, 73% of those surveyed were either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the overall safety, condition and management of the road network.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enforce legislation pertaining to littering on slip roads off roads managed by National Highways.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The responsibility for clearing highway litter and sweeping carriageways is governed by the Environmental Protection Act (1990); Section 89(1) places a duty on National Highways to ensure that the motorways and some trunk roads, so far as is practicable, is kept clear of litter and refuse. The relevant district or Local Authority manages litter collection on the rest of the roads in England.
The Department and the Highways Monitor challenge National Highways on litter performance. National Highways is committed to reporting annually on the percentage of the Strategic Road Network which is predominately free of litter, refuse or detritus apart from some small items, in line with the Code of practice on litter and refuse published by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
National Highways does not have litter enforcement powers on the strategic road network, Local Authorities do have the powers to take forward civil and criminal prosecutions if they have sufficient evidence to do so.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage cyclists who cycle at night to (a) use bicycle lights and (b) wear high-visibility clothing.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of vulnerable road users is a priority for the Government, and the Department is determined to make the roads safer for everyone. Rule 60 of The Highway Code states that cycles must be fitted with a rear reflector and must have front and rear lights lit at night. Cycling without proper lights is an offence and enforcement is a matter for the police.
Rule 59 recommends that cyclists should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing to help other road users to see them in daylight and poor light, with reflective clothing and/or accessories in the dark. This advice was made clearer in the updated version of The Highway Code that was published in January 2022, and the Department ran a communication campaign in 2022 to highlight some of the key changes.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what public information campaigns his Department undertakes to promote adherence to the highway code.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The department promotes adherence to The Highway Code via:
The Highway Code is published by the DVSA, which promotes adherence with the code via direct communications to learner drivers and via accredited driving instructors.
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the prevalence of lorry drivers live streaming while operating their vehicles; and if he will take steps to prevent drivers from using platforms such as Tiktok whilst on the roads.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We keep offences and penalties under review.
If a driver is using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, this is an offence which attracts a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200. If the case goes to the magistrates court, the maximum fine for lorry drivers is £2,500.
The Highway Code reminds drivers of their obligation to concentrate and avoid distractions and drivers can incur enforcement action for engaging in irresponsible activities whilst driving. For example, wider road traffic law governs what drivers can view on a screen; and it obliges drivers to be in proper control of the vehicle and to drive with due care and attention. The police are responsible for enforcement.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
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.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of trespassing laws on protection of the countryside.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Home Office is responsible for such laws. Under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the police have powers to direct trespassers who are residing on land to leave. Failure to comply with the direction is a criminal offence. Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, the Government strengthened these powers of direction to:
o broaden the types of harm that are covered by the police power to direct trespassers away, to include damage, disruption and distress;
o increase the period in which trespassers directed away from the land must not return from three months to 12 months; and
o enable police to direct people away from land that forms part of a highway.
No recent assessment has been undertaken by Defra on the adequacy of these laws with respect to trespassing on private land for the purposes of recreation.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides access across large parts of the English countryside and a right to roam across open access land, giving the public a right of access to most areas of mountain, moor, heath, down, registered common land and coastal margin. This is subject to certain restrictions and behaviours set out in the Act including those considered to be a criminal offence.
Public Spaces Protection Orders and the use of byelaws can also be used to address local issues to protect the countryside where it is reasonable and proportionate to do so.
The refreshed Countryside Code sets out the rules that we all must follow to enjoy visits to the countryside safely and responsibly.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of legally requiring cars that have broken down on motorways to display a hazard sign.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Rules relating to road users displaying hazard signs (e.g. warning triangles) in the event of a breakdown are set out in Rule 276 of The Highway Code. Rule 76 advises motorists not to place a warning sign on the carriage if they breakdown on a motorway. This is because priority is for the safety of the vehicle occupants, and, as a matter of urgency, they should move to a safe place away from fast moving traffic.
In line with The Highway Code, National Highways provides guidance to drivers on what to do in the event that their vehicle breaks down on any kind of high-speed road. This was the subject of a major campaign and there is further breakdown advice on their website.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of public understanding and knowledge of the changes introduced to the Highway Code at the beginning of 2023.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The recent changes to The Highway Code (implemented from 2022) were accompanied by a public awareness campaign, using a range of channels, including radio and social media.
The percentage of road users reporting to know either a little or a lot about the Highway Code changes increased from 36% in January 2022 to 58% in August 2022, with 83% of road users having heard of the changes by August.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on radio adverts in each of the the last five years broken down by radio station.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Department for Transport radio media spend for the last four years is £1,257,362. Equivalent radio media spend data for 2018/19 is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.
FY | Client Cost |
2019/20 | £ 89,020.00 |
2020/21 | £ 383,164.00 |
2021/22 | £ 495,495.00 |
2022/23 | £ 289,683.00 |
| £ 1,257,362.00 |
Most of the above spend has been on the THINK! road safety campaigns, covering for example mobile phones, speed and the Highway Code in recent years.