Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims have been made against local authorities for pothole damage; and what the cost to the public purse was of successful claims in each of the last three years.

The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of claims made against local authorities for pothole damages, or the cost of successful claims to the public purse. The matter of insurance and dealing with any compensation claims due to possible defects, including potholes, on the local highway network, is a matter for the relevant local highway authority. Local highway authorities have a delegated statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining their roads as set out in the Highways Act 1980 (as amended).