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Roads: Roadside Facilities

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Tom Harris) has made the following Ministerial Statement. I have today launched a six-week public consultation on a proposed new policy for roadside facilities on England’s strategic road network. The draft policy has been prepared in light of responses to a previous 12-week call for evidence and is aimed at improving service to road users. Views are sought on the entirety of the policy which covers various issues, including: the location of motorway service areas (MSAs)—determining the need for such sites and the spacing interval between them; facilities at MSAs—the type of facilities, how they are signed and their standards; service areas on trunk roads; motorway rest areas; lorry parking; and the provision and use of lay-bys. Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House.