§ 18. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the village of South Mimms, in Hertfordshire, where the average of deaths from road accidents is one a week; and if he will exercise his powers under Section 29 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act to impose a speed limit for the village?
§ Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEMay I draw the Minister's attention to the regrettable fact that the village of South Mimms is in Middlesex and not in Hertfordshire?
§ The Minister of TRANSPORT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)My hon. Friend appears to be misinformed when he states that the deaths from road accidents in this locality average one a week. The information in my possession is to the effect that during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1934, there was one person killed in a road accident in the village of 357 South Mimms, and two persons were killed outside the village at the junction of the Barnet By-Pass and St. Albans Road. I deplore these accidents but in any case Section 29 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, would not enable me to impose a speed limit in the village. If, however, the local authority takes action under Section 46 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, as amended by Section 29 of the Act of 1933, for the imposition of a speed limit, the matter shall have my immediate consideration. I may add that light signals are about to be provided at the junction to which I have referred.
§ Mr. LOVAT-FRASERMay I ask where the hon. Gentleman got his information as to the number of deaths?
§ Mr. STANLEYThrough official sources.
§ Mr. LOVAT-FRASERMay I ask—and I hope the House will not regard my question in a facetious spirit—if the hon. Gentleman is aware that an inn in the centre of the village has recently been closed for want of custom and that the premises have been opened by a funeral undertaker?