To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road works on the strategic road network took place in (a) the last 10 years and (b) 2007; under what mechanism and how frequently road markings are reviewed; how many road markings were (i) made and (ii) altered after accidents occurred in the vicinity in the last 12 months; and what the average length of time taken to remark a road after an initial decision to do so had been made was in the last 12 months. (191787)

The following table shows the number of road works on the strategic road network undertaken and recorded in the years for which data are available. The increase year-by-year is not an indication of an increased number of road works but reflects improved record keeping.

Road markings are reviewed as part of an inspection programme carried out in line with TD 26/04 Inspection and Maintenance of Road Markings and Road Studs on Motorways and All purpose Trunk Roads. Inspections take place either every 7 or 28 days, depending on the inspection category of the route. The number of road markings renewed following accidents is not immediately available and the time taken between identifying a need to renew road markings and carrying out the work will depend on the category of the defect.