asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will bring forward proposals to give local authorities powers to control the digging- up of the public highway by public undertakings and to require them to ensure that the highway is left in good order afterwards.

Public undertakings have statutory powers to lay and maintain their plant in the public highway and the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950 provides a general code governing these activities. Public undertakings are required under the Act to reinstate road openings to the reasonable satisfaction of highway authorities and to allow them reasonable facilities for supervision of the work.