Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to improve the co-ordination of the work of telephone, electricity, gas and broadband companies on required road and pavement works in the same location.

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 already requires local authorities to co-ordinate all utility works on the highway and for utility companies to co-operate with that role. The Traffic Management Act 2004 allows authorities to introduce street works permit schemes which give them greater powers to proactively co-ordinate all works, including their own, to minimise disruption for road users. The Government supports the use of permit schemes, which currently operate or are being developed in over half of authorities, and would welcome their introduction across the remaining authorities.