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Written question asked by Emily Thornberry (Labour) on Monday, 18 October 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 October 2021 (named day). It was answered by Trudy Harrison (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 October 2021 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Local Government: Snow and Ice

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the stockpiles of rock salt held by local authorities in England; and how those figures compare to the stockpiles held by the authorities in each of the previous six winters from 2015 to 2020.

Answer

National Highways holds a strategic reserve of salt on behalf of the Department under the provisions of the National Salt Reserve Protocol. This reserve is intended for use by English local highway authorities in the event of a national shortage of salt. In addition, National Highways holds a further reserve of salt for its own use.

As at 1 October 2021, the total amount of salt held in strategic stockpiles was 351,575 tonnes, comprising 259,021 tonnes in the reserve held by National Highways on behalf of the Department, and 92,554 tonnes held by National Highways in its own reserves. The totals for previous years, 2015-2020, are included in the table below.

Year

Strategic Reserve held by National Highways for the Department (tonnes)

National Highways Strategic Reserve (tonnes)

Total strategic reserves held in England (tonnes)

2021

259,021

92,554

351,575

2020

264,591

92,554

357,145

2019

265,786

92,554

358,340

2018

266,149

92,554

358,703

2017

280,577

100,025

380,602

2016

282,235

100,864

383,099

2015

286,642

102,392

389,034

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
58331
Session
2021-22
Related items
National Highways: Snow and Ice
Monday, 18 December 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
National Highways: Snow and Ice
Monday, 18 December 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Local government Salt Snow and ice
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk