To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Highways England responsible for the removal of litter from (a) the A34 in Oxfordshire and (b) all trunk roads.

Picking up litter on the A34 is the responsibility of local government. In order to introduce a transfer of responsibility for the removal of litter on trunk roads such as the A34 from Local Authorities to Highways England the necessary additional funds would have to be made available to the Department and Highways England. I have asked Departmental officials to work with Highways England to assess the costs involved. In the meantime, Highways England are working closely with Local Authorities to improve collaborative working on cleaning up the road network, giving Local Authorities access when Highways England are performing maintenance on roads.