HC Deb 28 October 1908 vol 195 cc278-9
MR. MARKHAM

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has communicated with the London County Council, or any other authorities, advising them to make application to him for powers to reduce the speed of motor cars in populous towns to a speed not exceeding ten miles per hour; and, if not, whether he will forthwith do so, in view of the large number of accidents caused to persons by excessive speed.

MR. JOHN BURNS

The Board have not communicated with local authorities in the precise sense suggested, but in the Circular which I recently issued on the subject of the Motor Car Act, I dealt at some length with the question of low speed limits and intimated my willingness to consider applications for the imposition of such limits in places where they may properly be imposed.

MR. MARKHAM

Will the right horn Gentleman state whether, in respect of the motor omnibuses and motor cabs under his control, the speed limit will be reduced to ten miles per hour?

MR. JOHN BURNS

I cannot say that.

MR. MARKHAM

Then is the speed of twenty miles per hour to be recognised in the streets of London?

*MR. JOHN BURNS

That depends on the Regulations of the Local Government Board and their enforcement by the police.