I am just coming to the point; thank you, Mr. Marshall. Does the hon. Member for Newbury agree that even if the money cannot be found immediately, certainty about when resurfacing will take place is important, because it provides relief to those suffering from that distress?

I am just coming to the point; thank you, Mr. Marshall. Does the hon. Member for Newbury agree that even if the money cannot be found immediately, certainty about when resurfacing will take place is important, because it provides relief to those suffering from that distress?

That is precisely what I hope to achieve by this debate. I entirely agree with the hon. Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) on that point. Many of the surfaces of the M4, both in the hon. Gentleman’s area and mine, have not been resurfaced since they were first laid...

That is precisely what I hope to achieve by this debate. I entirely agree with the hon. Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) on that point. Many of the surfaces of the M4, both in the hon. Gentleman’s area and mine, have not been resurfaced since they were first laid...

I am sure that that contribution is welcome, and that it will be appreciated by the Highways Agency. It is not often that colleagues in the agency are picked out in such a way and I thank my hon. Friend for doing so. I hope that that will be a...

I am sure that that contribution is welcome, and that it will be appreciated by the Highways Agency. It is not often that colleagues in the agency are picked out in such a way and I thank my hon. Friend for doing so. I hope that that will be a...

It would be a shame if the debate were to conclude without my paying tribute to the work of the Highways Agency. Throughout my hon. Friend’s speech she has made continual reference to the way in which the Highways Agency has engaged with the process. In my experience in my...

It would be a shame if the debate were to conclude without my paying tribute to the work of the Highways Agency. Throughout my hon. Friend’s speech she has made continual reference to the way in which the Highways Agency has engaged with the process. In my experience in my...

On the figure of 60 per cent. over 10 years, 6 per cent. of roads throughout the country will be resurfaced anyway, because of deteriorating road surfaces. If one multiplies that by 10, one gets 60 per cent., so is that a new announcement or just the status quo being...

On the figure of 60 per cent. over 10 years, 6 per cent. of roads throughout the country will be resurfaced anyway, because of deteriorating road surfaces. If one multiplies that by 10, one gets 60 per cent., so is that a new announcement or just the status quo being...

The announcement also recognised value for money and the return that we can obtain. In response to the hon. Gentleman, I shall come on to that feature, because it has not yet entered the debate. My hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon made a point about concrete roads such...

The announcement also recognised value for money and the return that we can obtain. In response to the hon. Gentleman, I shall come on to that feature, because it has not yet entered the debate. My hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon made a point about concrete roads such...

Thank you, Mr. Marshall, but I have already made my points in the rather lengthy intervention that you so generously allowed.

Thank you, Mr. Marshall, but I have already made my points in the rather lengthy intervention that you so generously allowed.

First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) on securing the debate, so that we can consider the subject of motorway noise, which is important not only to his constituents and those of my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), but many others across the...

First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) on securing the debate, so that we can consider the subject of motorway noise, which is important not only to his constituents and those of my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), but many others across the...

Of course I understand the caveats that the Minister has to give on these matters, but will she give a commitment that if the road surface deteriorates to the point where it needs replacing, an improved quiet road surface will be applied?

Of course I understand the caveats that the Minister has to give on these matters, but will she give a commitment that if the road surface deteriorates to the point where it needs replacing, an improved quiet road surface will be applied?

I can gladly give the hon. Gentleman the commitment that the deterioration of the road surface of the M4, as with any other, will be treated in the correct way. Of course, our ambition is to reduce motorway noise but I cannot predict—I know that the hon. Gentleman is not...

I can gladly give the hon. Gentleman the commitment that the deterioration of the road surface of the M4, as with any other, will be treated in the correct way. Of course, our ambition is to reduce motorway noise but I cannot predict—I know that the hon. Gentleman is not...

I accept my hon. Friend’s point about value for money, and I am sure that the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) also realises the need for taxpayers to get effective value for money. However, what is almost as important to people as immediate relief is the certainty that there...

I accept my hon. Friend’s point about value for money, and I am sure that the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) also realises the need for taxpayers to get effective value for money. However, what is almost as important to people as immediate relief is the certainty that there...

That is a fair question. I understand the point about certainty, but I am not able to provide my hon. Friend with a direct answer. I shall gladly raise those concerns with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, as he will be considering that area. I hope that the...

That is a fair question. I understand the point about certainty, but I am not able to provide my hon. Friend with a direct answer. I shall gladly raise those concerns with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, as he will be considering that area. I hope that the...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) on securing this debate. Every Member of this House knows just how important the issue of motorway noise is to our constituents; it causes them great distress. In passing, I must say how grateful many of my constituents are to the...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) on securing this debate. Every Member of this House knows just how important the issue of motorway noise is to our constituents; it causes them great distress. In passing, I must say how grateful many of my constituents are to the...

It is a pleasure to be under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr. Marshall. I start by declaring an interest: in the right climatic conditions, the motorway can be heard from my home. I secured the debate to draw attention to the increasingly desperate pleas of communities in my constituency that...

It is a pleasure to be under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr. Marshall. I start by declaring an interest: in the right climatic conditions, the motorway can be heard from my home. I secured the debate to draw attention to the increasingly desperate pleas of communities in my constituency that...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on motorway noise

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on motorway noise

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are test facilities in the UK large enough to fire test a new form of stress laminated timber (SLT).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are test facilities in the UK large enough to fire test a new form of stress laminated timber (SLT).

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether there are sites within the UK which are large enough to test how various building materials react when subject to (a) explosion and (b) full scale fire tests.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether there are sites within the UK which are large enough to test how various building materials react when subject to (a) explosion and (b) full scale fire tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether there has been a change in the incidence of accidents involving pedestrians on crossings where shellgrip is no longer used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether there has been a change in the incidence of accidents involving pedestrians on crossings where shellgrip is no longer used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether stone mastic asphalt surfaces have the same skid co-efficient as hot rolled asphalt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether stone mastic asphalt surfaces have the same skid co-efficient as hot rolled asphalt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has tested chemical washing on new thin surface material road surfaces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has tested chemical washing on new thin surface material road surfaces.