The Government wants to deliver better journeys for drivers. Roadworks are essential, but that doesn\u2019t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. We are currently consulting on changes that will reduce the congestion caused by roadworks on local \u2018A\u2019 road from works left in place at the weekend but where no work is happening, and to remove temporary traffic lights as soon as the works are complete.<\/p>
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We have asked Highways England to look closely at reducing the length of roadworks on the Strategic Road Network. This is being reflected in the next phase of smart motorway schemes, where Highways England are reducing both the length (distance) and duration (time they are in place) of roadworks.<\/p>
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Highways England are also considering the use of higher speed limits through roadworks, where this can be done safely. Subject to safety assessments, Highway England will be starting a trial of higher speed limits on roadworks later this year.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-04-28T16:24:10.977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Roads: Repairs and Maintenance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that roadworks cause less disruption to motorists.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "904747"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/514439", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/514439/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Local authorities are responsible for planning and securing sufficient school places in their area, and supporting them to do so is one of this Government\u2019s top priorities. That is why we have committed to spending £7 billion on school places up to 2021, which along with our investment in the free schools programme we expect to deliver 600,000 new places.<\/p>
Basic need funding is allocated to local authorities to help them to create new school places. West Sussex received £113 million of basic need funding between 2011 and 2015, which helped to create almost 10,000 new places between 2010 and 2015. These new places include over 1,000 provided by the Gatwick School, an all-through free school in Crawley.<\/p>
West Sussex has also been allocated a further £85 million to create the places needed by 2019, including in Crawley.<\/p>