Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the April 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections in relation to the capping of inspection charges for defective reinstatements at two cycles.

In April 2023, the Department for Transport introduced a performance-based inspections regime to improve the quality of reinstatements following street works. Under this system, utility companies with higher defect or failure rates are subject to increased inspection frequencies, while those with strong compliance records are inspected less frequently. This approach ensures that inspection resources are targeted where they are most needed and creates a financial incentive for companies to meet statutory standards, as they are required to cover the cost of inspections.

The regime is underpinned by the updated Code of Practice for Inspections and supported by data from the Street Manager platform, which enables authorities to monitor performance and adjust inspection rates quarterly based on inspection outcomes.

Given that the regime has only been in place for a short period, we believe it is appropriate to evaluate its effectiveness in delivering better quality reinstatements before considering further changes. While the existing two-cycle inspection cap was previously agreed with stakeholders as a balanced approach, we recognise that operational challenges may have evolved. We will undertake a formal review of the regime’s impact working closely with local authorities, utility companies, and the Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) to ensure that reinstatements meet the required standards and that poor quality work is addressed swiftly and fairly.