§ 18. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if he will consider the desirability of advising the Admiralty authorities to considerably relax the existing stringent regulations governing the lighting of London's streets; and whether, in the interest of public safety, he will cause instructions to be issued to the proprietors and drivers of all mechanically-propelled vehicles whereby the speed at which such vehicles are driven through the streets at night may be materially reduced?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn this matter I act on the advice of the Admiralty authorities, and in their opinion the existing regulations could not safely be relaxed at present. A warning has already been issued by the Commissioner of Police as to the necessity of driving with the utmost care through the dimly lighted streets, and I hope that the drivers of all vehicles will show a proper public spirit in complying very strictly with this injunction.
§ Mr. BOWERMANCan the right hon. Gentleman say when that suggestion or instruction was issued?
§ Mr. McKENNAI could not give the date, but it was recently.
§ Mr. BOWERMANI take it that the Home Office is alive to the importance of the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. The Home Office is quite alive to it. I would remind my hon. Friend that in the recent figures which I gave it appeared that there had not been any increase of accidents in London owing to the restricted lighting.
§ Colonel YATEHas the speed limit in London been reduced at all?
§ Mr. McKENNANo. There has never been any speed limit in London streets except under the ordinary law.
§ Colonel YATEWould it not be a good occasion to fix a speed limit?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Commissioner of Police advises me that the enforcement of a speed limit in London is extremely difficult. His opinion is that it would be inadvisable to fix any speed limit other than that imposed by the ordinary law.