Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is ensuring that the (a) Strategic Road Network and (b) local road network in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) Staffordshire is (A) free of potholes and (B) safe for road users.

The Government’s recently published third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) invests £27 billion in the management and improvement of England’s Strategic Road Network to make journeys safer, smoother and more reliable for the people and businesses that depend on these roads, including road users in Staffordshire. Continuing to improve road safety is a priority and RIS3 sets National Highways a challenging road safety target. National Highways aims to repair the most serious potholes and other defects within 24 hours, and RIS3 sets National Highways a target to ensure that over 95% of the road surfaces it is responsible for remain in good condition.

This Government is committed to tackling the poor state of our local roads. That is why we have confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance for the next four years. Newcastle-Under-Lyme sits within Staffordshire, which is eligible to receive £201.9 million of this funding.

In addition, in January 2026, the Department released a new rating system for local highway authorities. Under this system, all local highway authorities in England received a red, amber or green rating based on the condition of their roads, how much they spend to maintain their roads, and whether they do so using best practice. These ratings are designed to promote good asset management and encourage a preventative approach to highways maintenance so that potholes do not form in the first place. Staffordshire was rated amber under this new system, with individual scorecards showing amber for road condition, green for spend, and amber for the adoption of best practice.