questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on instructing external legal firms to defend claims relating to vehicle damage caused by potholes; and whether she plans to review the (a) cost-effectiveness of such arrangements and (b) impact on claimants seeking compensation for road maintenance issues.
answerText: The Department does not provide guidance to local authorities on this matter. Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 places a statutory duty on highway authorities to maintain public highways. Dealing with compensation claims due to defects such as potholes ...
heading: Roads: Repairs and Maintenance