Statement: State of local councils’ salt supplies for road gritting
8 January 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Sadiq Khan, Minister of State at the Department for Transport, responded to an urgent question from Caroline Spelman MP about the country's salt reserves and possible implications for local authorities' ability to maintain the road network.
Urgent questions are asked at the end of Question Time. If something has happened - usually a matter of public importance - which a MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, he may apply to the Speaker to ask an urgent question. If the latter agrees that the matter is both urgent and important, the question will be asked at the end of regular Questions.