Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on instructing external legal firms to defend claims relating to vehicle damage caused by potholes; and whether she plans to review the (a) cost-effectiveness of such arrangements and (b) impact on claimants seeking compensation for road maintenance issues.

The Department does not provide guidance to local authorities on this matter.

Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 places a statutory duty on highway authorities to maintain public highways. Dealing with compensation claims due to defects such as potholes on the highway network is entirely the responsibility of the relevant highway authority.