Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 July 2002. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 July 2002 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 15th July, Official Report, column 668W, on road and bridge maintenance, if he will place copies of the assessment made by his Department on the condition of roads and bridges as set out by the local transport plans and annual progress reports submitted by the highways authorities last year in the Library; and what assessment he has made of the annual progress reports, submitted by the highways authorities last year, as to the progress made in road and bridge maintenance. (Holding answer 19 July 2002).

Answer: Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 668W, on road and bridge maintenance, if he will place copies of the assessment made by his Department on the condition of roads and bridges as set out by the local transport plans and annual progress reports submitted by the highways authorities last year in the Library; and what assessment he has made of the annual progress reports, submitted by the highways authorities last year, as to the progress made in road and bridge maintenance. [71376] Mr. Jamieson: [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The individual assessments of the highway maintenance elements of the Local Transport Plans and Annual Progress Reports were rough working documents. For this reason I have not placed them in the Library. Feedback on the assessments is provided to authorities in their decision letters. The Annual Progress Reports (APRs) for 2001 showed that most authorities had made progress towards halting the deterioration in the condition of principal roads by 2004, and were tackling the strengthening and structural maintenance work outstanding on bridges. This is of course as a result of the increased investment in roads.

Secondary information