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

Roads: Snow and Ice

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, column 208W, on roads: snow and ice, how much salt was used on the strategic network in each of the last 12 years.

Answer: The Highways Agency is responsible for maintaining and operating the strategic trunk road and motorway network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. Actual delivery of the maintenance activities, including winter maintenance, is carried out by the agency's contracted service providers.As well as delivering precautionary salt treatments and snow ploughing during severe winter weather, the agency's service providers are required to maintain sufficient salt stocks to treat their part of the network. These activities are paid for within lump sum payments and as such, information on individual elements such as salt volume used is not routinely collected and is not therefore readily available.Following the end of the winter maintenance period, the Highways Agency will examine the levels of salt used during periods of adverse weather to determine best practice for future years.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 507 c159W; 320823
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Roads: Snow and Ice
Monday, 22 February 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Roads Snow and ice
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk