Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Innovate UK and (b) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on (i) supporting research, development and commercialisation of (A) advanced road surfacing materials and (B) graphene-enhanced and recycled products; and (ii) assessing the potential for British manufacturing and export growth arising from those low-carbon technologies.

Advanced road surfacing materials, including graphene-enhanced and recycled products have the potential to deliver significant benefits to the UK, through helping deliver cost effective and long-lasting road surfaces. They may also present an opportunity for British innovators and manufacturers.

While the Secretary of State for Transport has not had discussions with Innovate UK or the Secretary of State for Business and Trade about these matters, the Department is supporting innovation in relation to such products through its Transport Research and Innovation Grants, and as part of its £30 million Live Labs 2 programme.

Projects funded as part of Live Labs 2 include the trialling and demonstration of sustainable materials and processes and the creation of toolkits and databases so that all local highway authorities can access findings and lessons learned from the programme.