Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his Department’s policy to include in contracts for motorway maintenance and upgrade work (a) penalty clauses for contractors failing to complete work within an agreed time frame and (b) set hours during which such work is to be carried out in order to (i) minimise disruption at peak times and (ii) ensure timely completion of that work.

Highways England’s contractual arrangements for contractors that maintain and repair the Strategic Road Network provides for both financial reward and penalty depending on performance against the agreed cost for work undertaken. There is also redress for poor quality including non-compliance with contract, standards, or statutory obligation, and for failure to deliver to agreed timetables; ranging from contractors having to bear the cost of correcting defective work through to contract termination.

Works are planned and scheduled so as to minimize disruption whilst not compromising value for money.