§ 42. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the great increase in the use of red-light advertisements since the report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs, and the neglect of highway authorities to exercise their powers under section 48 (4) of the Act of 1930, he will exercise his own powers under Sub-section (5) to procure the removal of such signs or their raising to such a level of height as would prevent their being mistaken for danger or warning signals
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe provisions to which my, hon. and gallant Friend refers enable highway authorities and myself to remove only such signs as are unauthorised traffic signs, or which so closely resemble traffic signs that they might reasonably be taken to be such signs. I repeat the assurance which I recently gave my hon. and gallant Friend, that if he knows of any cases where any advertising signs might reasonably be taken to be traffic signs within the meaning of the section, I will immediately take the matter up.
§ Captain STRICKLANDDoes not the Minister think that it would be of great advantage if all red signs were removed from the roads except such as indicate danger or obstruction to traffic?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIt is not a question of what I think; it is a question of the law, and I will exercise my power to the full.
§ Captain STRICKLANDIs my hon. Friend aware that many highway authorities may regard with indifference the question of the question of the removal of such signs while others may remove them, and that the principle is one of national traffic and not of merely parochial traffic going through a particular area?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIf my hon. and gallant Friend has any reason to doubt whether a particular local authority is taking proper action, I shall be most willing to investigate the case.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI cannot do so in regard to such lights on every road in the country