Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Friday, 5 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 February 2010. It was answered by Lord Khan of Tooting (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps have been taken since 4 February 2009 to ensure that local authorities have adequate supplies of road salt.

Answer: Winter service, including provisioning adequate salt stocks, is a matter for each individual local highway authority. Salt is available on open markets from a range of sources.Valuable reviews were conducted last year by the Transport Select Committee ““(The Effects of Adverse Weather Conditions on Transport, HC328), the Local Government Association (Weathering the Storm), the UK Roads Liaison Group ““(Lessons from the Severe Weather February 2009)”” and the Greater London Authority ““(Slipping Up?)””. I explained to the House on 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 122WS the action the Government have taken to implement the recommendations in the UK Roads Liaison Group's report.The salt cell, which has been established to advise salt suppliers which areas of the nation's road network have the greatest need for salt, has operated from 5 February 2009 to 12 March 2009, and from 6 January 2010 to the present.

Secondary information