Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 February 2010. It was answered by Lord Khan of Tooting (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 February 2010 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has had discussions with the Local Government Association on the state of repair of local authority roads following the recent severe weather conditions; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that local authorities carry out their duties in respect of road maintenance.

Answer: I attended the Local Government Association's Regeneration and Transport Board on 21 January, where the repair of roads following the severe weather was raised. The Local Government Association has subsequently written to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, picking up on some of the points made in discussion.Local highway authorities have a duty, under s41 of the Highways Act 1980, to maintain the roads in their charge. As with authorities' other duties, there is a range of democratic and legal scrutinies to expose the extent to which they are discharging that remit.

Secondary information