§ 28. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Transport the cost per standard and per beacon in use at pedestrian crossings, and the cost per standard and per disc of the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit; and whether all these are of British production and manufacture?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe cost of standards for beacons and speed limit signs is about 17s. 6d. each. The cost of globes is approximately 5s. and the cost of the discs of the speed limit signs varies from about 5s. for a plain sign to 20s. for the best type of reflecting sign. These signs are purchased and erected by highway authorities and I make it a condition of grant towards their cost that they should be of British manufacture. I have, however, been compelled to make an exception with regard to reflecting lenses used on these signs, which are not at present satisfactorily made in this country. On being informed of this I immediately took the matter up with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, with a view to a satisfactory article being produced.
§ Mr. GROVESIs it not the fact that the reflectors used in this country are still of foreign manufacture; have the resources of British production been exhausted, and what reason exists for the non-use of British reflectors?
§ Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONECan the hon. Gentleman tell us approximately the cost price to the manufacturers concerned of the articles he has mentioned?
§ 39. Colonel GOODMANasked the Minister of Transport what number of beacons are being scrapped, what amount of expenditure has been incurred in the erection of these redundant indicators, upon whom the cost of their erection and dismantlement falls; and what steps he is taking to prevent for the future the erection of unnecessary beacons?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHANaturally, from time to time the position of pedestrian crossings is reviewed in the light of experience, and there is always opportunity for moving beacons, not necessary in one place, to another.