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GOVERNMENT ASKED TO KEEP GRIT IN THE UK AS CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE’S GRIT ORDER IS SLASHED “BRITISH GRIT FOR BRITISH ROADS” .
12 January 2010
South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous asked the Government not to export grit from the UK at times when there is not nearly enough available to grit UK roads, during a statement to the Commons on the recent severe weather.
Andrew Selous said, “If we had adequate supplies of grit for all the roads we need to grit, then it would be sensible for the UK to export grit, but it seems very odd to be exporting grit out of the UK when councils up and down the country are ordering grit and being told that they can only have a fraction of what they have ordered. Central Bedfordshire Council ordered another 3,000 tonnes of grit to be told by the Government run “Salt Cell” that they could only have 25 tonnes.
The exchange in Hansard was as follows:
Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) I pay tribute to all those who have made sterling efforts to try to keep my constituents moving, but what lessons have been learned about the export of British salt and grit at a time when many local authorities, including my own, have not had the orders that they had placed fulfilled? May I gently say to the Minister that perhaps a good watchword for the future would be this: British grit for British roads?
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr. Sadiq Khan): One's principles and values are challenged at difficult times. Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that we outlaw private companies from exporting to other parts of this planet for a profit? If so, I am happy to look into it- [Laughter.] However, I suggest that it is more sensible for local authorities to look at the market to see where salt is available and to learn from the experience of extreme bad weather. Some local authorities get salt from overseas, as does the Highways Agency itself.
