Question
The Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 allows the Northern Ireland Executive to bring in a lane rental scheme to charge contractors a daily rate for disruptive roadworks, but they have chosen not to take this position. Will the Secretary of State extol the virtues of the lane rental scheme to the Northern Ireland Executive? While she is at it, will she take the final steps to give the lane rental powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 to the Mayor of London, to cut traffic in Ealing Southall too?
Answer
I will do my best to address both elements of my hon. Friend’s question. From my experience as the Deputy Mayor of London, I know the difference that lane rental schemes can make to manage the most disruptive impacts. I will certainly pursue discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about lane rental, because I know it could make a real difference in that part of the UK as well.
Verdict: AMBER (52/100)
The minister gave a clear, committed answer on the first part of the question: they will pursue discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about lane rental. On the second part, about whether the final steps to give the Mayor of London lane rental powers will be taken, the reply only expressed general support and said the minister would 'do my best'. It did not say whether those steps will happen, so the asker would likely need to follow up on that point.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Secretary of State promote the lane rental scheme to the Northern Ireland Executive, given that the Executive has chosen not to bring it in under the Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007? | Addressed | Direct | The minister commits to 'certainly pursue discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about lane rental', which is a concrete action answering whether the Secretary of State will promote the scheme to the Executive, and the reason given (it could make a real difference there) supports it. |
| Will the Government take the final steps needed to give lane rental powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 to the Mayor of London? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply never states whether the final steps to confer lane rental powers on the Mayor of London will be taken; it offers only a general endorsement of lane rental from the minister's Deputy Mayor experience and a non-committal pledge to 'do my best' to address the question. |