§ 18. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether an order has been issued prohibiting the driving of mechanically propelled vehicles under the Walpole Road, Deptford, railway arch; and whether, in any legislation that may be introduced amending the Roads Act, 1920, the Department will seek power to make an order, after holding a public inquiry, prohibiting or restricting the driving of all classes of vehicles on any specified highway in any case in which it appears to be proved that a vehicle of any class cannot be used on the highway without endangering the safety of the vehicle or the persons therein or of other traffic using the highway, or that the highway is unsuitable for use by any vehicle?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The powers conferred upon the Minister 235 of Transport under Section 7 (4) of the Roads Act, 1920, and referred to in the second part of the question, are restricted in their application to mechanically propelled vehicles. The desirability of extending these powers, so as to make them apply to all classes of road vehicles, will be considered when a suitable opportunity for legislation presents itself.