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Written Question
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the rate of road repairs.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The government is providing £6.5bn during the second road investment strategy (2020-2025) to National Highways for the operation and maintenance of the Strategic Road Network (SRN). National Highways are required to report against a Key Performance Indicator which measures the overall road surface condition of the SRN, through its monitoring of this performance indicator National Highways can focus its efforts on areas most in need and priority repairs.

To undertake road repairs National Highways have to part or fully close the road. National Highways have to weigh up the impact of closing the road on users against the benefit of carrying out the repairs as quickly as possible. Safety of the workforce and road users and the needs of neighbouring communities are some of the key factors considered when determining traffic management measures.

For local roads, between 2020/21 – 2024/25 the Government is providing over £5.5 billion to eligible local highways authorities in England, outside of London and the Mayoral Combined Authorities to help carry out maintenance of the highway. This funding is not ringfenced, enabling local authorities to spend flexibly according to local needs and priorities. Maintenance of the local highway network is the responsibility of the local authority.

Highway authorities are also able to introduce and operate lane rental schemes. As part of these, utility companies may need to pay charges of up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times, unless they move the works to less busy roads or carry them out at less busy times.


Written Question
Tolls: Roads
Friday 27th May 2022

Asked by: John Nicolson (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fines were issued on toll roads that (a) operate toll plazas and (b) require the driver to pay (i) in advance and (ii) after travelling in 2021-22.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

All current tolled roads, bridges and tunnels in England are locally or privately operated, and the Department does not hold data on fines issued by those undertakings. The only road operated by National Highways where a road user charge is applied is the A282 Dartford Crossing; drivers must pay this charge beforehand or by midnight the day after crossing. In 2021-22, 2,154,092 penalty charge notices were issued for non-payment of the Dart Charge.


Written Question
Railways: Bridges
Monday 22nd November 2021

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 1 November (HL3360), which Historic Railways Estate structures have had infilling and demolition contracts issued since the programme was paused in the summer; what was the value of each of those contracts; whether the review of future maintenance proposals will also take account of the ecological sensitivity and environmental impact; and whether the core membership of the Stakeholder Advisory Forum includes ecological and environmental expertise.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

There is only one Historical Railways Estate structure, Barcombe Bridge, where the contract/price acceptance was undertaken since the infilling and demolition programme was paused on 23 July 2021. The procurement process for minor works to this structure commenced on 5 May. Although a price of £175,838.79 was accepted on 12 August the acceptance letter clearly states that all infill activity has been paused and no works should commence until National Highways have been given confirmation to do so.

The acceptance letter also makes clear that works should not commence until the site has been checked by the ecologist and that National Highways will not pay for any works unless it has been specifically authorised in writing.

Ecological impacts and environmental considerations are taken into account as part of the planning process and National Highways continue to conduct their own ecological assessments and also ensure Natural England (and devolved partners) are involved as necessary. As a matter of course, for all major works proposals National Highways already conduct the following:

  • A desktop review of the area (looking for SACs, SSSIs, conservation areas and published sightings of protected species).
  • Site visit by an ecologist, including a Preliminary Ecological Assessment, where they review the structure and surrounding area to identify possible mammals, reptiles & amphibians as well as protected plant species, birds nesting & invasive species. If anything is discovered additional surveys are undertaken, and, if necessary, applications for the relevant licences are submitted.

The Stakeholder Advisory Forum includes a range of stakeholders with an interest in the Historical Railways Estate with membership kept under review as stated in its Terms of Reference.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Repairs and Maintenance
Monday 13th September 2021

Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the average amount that local authorities pay out for vehicle repairs from pothole damage each year.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

Local highway authorities, including Herefordshire County Council, have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area. Local highways teams, including private contractors, are accountable to the local authority they are working for.

Whilst the Government does not intervene in highway maintenance decisions, to support local highway maintenance, the Department paid £1.346 billion in 2018/19, £926 million in 2019/20, and £1.526 billion in 2020/21 through formula allocated funding, including the Pothole Fund. This funding was provided to all eligible local highway authorities in England, outside London. The Department has not been approached by any authority with regards to DfT assuming responsibility over parts of their respective local road networks.

The Department endorses 'Well-managed highway infrastructure: A Code of Practice’ by the UK Roads Liaison Group. This guidance takes an integrated, risk-based approach to managing highway infrastructure. The Department also worked with the Association of Directors, for Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport to publish ‘Potholes: a repair guide’ which offers practical advice to highway authorities.

Well-planned maintenance to prevent potholes and other defects forming on the roads is vital; Councils that do this effectively get better value for every pound spent. The Department has no current plans to reward the local authority that repairs the most potholes as this could discourage a more effective preventative approach, linked to highway asset management best practice.

Highway maintenance activities cover a wide range of granular works, and there is no specific requirement for Councils such as Herefordshire to demonstrate how they spend their share of funding, including the Pothole Action Fund. The Department also has made no estimate of the amount Herefordshire Council paid out for claims for potholes in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The matter of insurance and dealing with any compensation claims due to possible defects, including potholes, on the highway network is entirely a matter for Herefordshire Council as the relevant highway authority, who have delegated statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining their roads as set out in the Highways Act 1980 (as amended).

Whilst the Department for Transport encourages local highway authorities to be innovative it is not for Government to intervene or endorse any specific commercial product as it is entirely their decision as to which products to use. In 2019 DfT provided £22.9 million for the ADEPT Live Labs programme, to help develop innovative approaches across communications, materials, energy solutions, and mobility on the local highway network.


Written Question
Arms Length Bodies
Thursday 17th December 2020

Asked by: Dehenna Davison (Conservative - Bishop Auckland)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on ensuring the effective control of levels of pay in arm's-length bodies connected to his Department.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Transport bodies deliver complex, nationally important, infrastructure that is critical to building back better – however exceptional pay demands exceptional performance and remuneration must be proportionate. We are firmly focused on addressing the issue of high pay within the transport sector. The overall senior pay bill to taxpayers has reduced this year by over £1 million, and we intend to continue this trend.

Each year, the Cabinet Office publishes transparency data on senior salaries at public sector bodies. Analysis of this data since 2015 for Network Rail, Highways England and HS2 Ltd shows that an overall downward trend in pay awards to these high earners has begun, both in numbers of staff involved and total spend.

The Secretary of State has taken a personal interest in this issue and is bearing down on senior pay at the Department of Transport’s Arms-Length Bodies. This includes agreeing with some CEOs and Chairs voluntary, temporary, pay cuts in the light of current economic circumstances.

Taxpayers must be confident that their money is being spent wisely, with due regard to real-world performance and conditions.


Written Question
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Thursday 17th September 2020

Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse in each year since charges replaced the original tolls at the Dartford crossing; and what estimate he has made of the time taken to pay for the costs of building the Elizabeth Bridge and funding its long-term maintenance.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The revenue accruing from the Dart Charge is published each year in the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing charging scheme accounts (in the table headed income) which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=%22dartford+thurrock%22+accounts&order=relevance.

Toll charges were levied until 2003 when the debts associated with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the tunnels had been fully discharged. A Road User Charge was introduced in 2003 to manage the high demand for use of the Crossing after a study reported that traffic levels would be 17% higher if payment was removed. The charges imposed and collected are used to fund transport improvements in accordance with the Transport Act 2000, though not exclusively Dartford-related.

The published accounts include figures on the maintenance and operation of the crossing in the expenditure table.

The maintenance cost for both the tunnels and Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, for the year ended 31 March 2019, amounted to £11.371 million. This figure included costs for:

Expenditure (2018-2019)

£000

Highways England Staff

3,530

Safety Scheme

4,833

EU Tunnel directive on safety

1,848

Technology projects safety

890

Network Resilience

136

Routine maintenance

494


Written Question
Highways England: Pay
Thursday 5th March 2020

Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of pay increases for each level of staff employed in Highways England in the last ten years.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

Highways England was established on 1 April 2015. The Department for Transport has not carried out an assessment of the adequacy of pay increases for each level of staff in Highways England over the period since its establishment.

Responsibility for setting pay levels within Highways England sits with the Company, overseen by its Remuneration Committee. Annual pay increases within Highways England are based on a number of factors, including affordability and guidance from the Department for Transport and the Cabinet Office.

I would like to assure you that the Secretary of State is placing significant focus on pay in the Department’s arm’s length bodies.


Written Question
Highways England: Pay
Tuesday 3rd March 2020

Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to ensure that pay rises are distributed equitably among all pay bands at Highways England.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

I would like to reassure you that the Secretary of State is placing significant focus on pay in the Department’s arm’s length bodies including Highways England (HE). Responsibility for setting pay levels within HE sits with the company, overseen by its Remuneration Committee. HE manages pay in accordance with public sector pay guidance from Cabinet Office, and a framework set by the Department for Transport, which places controls on the numbers and pay of the highest paid staff.

The 2019 pay awards for all HE employees, including those in the senior cadre, were based on 1%; however, following recently completed negotiations, an additional, backdated award is being made which will mean that employees below senior level will receive awards for 2019 based on a total of 2%. This will mean that using HE’s approach to pay review individuals will receive awards in the range 1.5% to 4% for 2019/20.

Performance Related Pay (PRP), in relation to 2018-19 performance for the grades below the senior group resulted in 4,106 staff receiving a payment, with an average value of £1,392.


Written Question
Highways England: Pay
Tuesday 3rd March 2020

Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle pay disparities between senior executives and staff at pay bands one to eight at Highways England.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

I would like to reassure you that the Secretary of State is placing significant focus on pay in the Department’s arm’s length bodies including Highways England. Responsibility for setting pay levels within Highways England sits with the company, overseen by its Remuneration Committee. HE manages pay in accordance with public sector pay guidance from Cabinet Office, and a framework set by the Department for Transport, which places controls on the numbers and pay of the highest paid staff.

The company’s approach to pay aims to strike the right balance between value for money and building and maintaining the organisational capability required to operate the strategic road network and deliver DfT’s investment programmes.

The 2019 pay awards for all HE employees, including those at the senior level, were based on 1%; however, following recently completed negotiations between the company and the Trade Unions, an additional, backdated award is being made which will mean that employees below senior level will receive awards for 2019 based on a total of 2%. This will mean that using HE’s approach to pay review individuals will receive awards in the range 1.5% to 4% for 2019/20.


Written Question
Highways England: Pay
Friday 14th February 2020

Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff at Highways England received a salary of more than £100,000 in the last financial year.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

Highways England employed 61 staff on a base salary of £100,000 or more in 2018-19 . I have committed in the House to addressing this issue.