HC Deb 27 June 1935 vol 303 cc1250-1
59. Sir W. BRASS

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any statement to make as to the progress being made with the local authorities in connection with his requests to de-restrict from the speed limit roads in so called built-up areas which are not in the true sense of the word built-up at all; and whether any local inquiries are being held under the Act of 1934 in connection with this matter?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Captain Austin Hudson)

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to furnish this information in the very near future. As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, I am dealing personally with this matter, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, and am having disputed roads dealt with as expeditiously as possible. In many cases inquiries are necessary. In the meantime, I am most anxious to avoid taking my officers off this necessary work in order to collect statistics and it is for this reason only that I ask for some further delay.

Sir W. BRASS

Can my hon. and gallant Friend give the House any indication of the percentage of roads which have, in fact, been de-restricted?

Captain HUDSON

I do not think I could give that information. The difficulty is that it would require such a tremendous amount of measuring to give the actual figure in miles; but I hope in a week or two to be able to give the fullest information which my hon. and gallant Friend requires.

Mr. PALING

Can the hon. and gallant Member say what is the procedure to be adopted to get a restricted road de-restricted? Has a complaint to come from some motorists' organisation or some other body, or can it come from an individual motorist? What is the position in the converse case where a road has been de-restricted and there is a desire to have it restricted again?

Captain HUDSON

Except in the Metropolitan Area it rests with the local authorities and representations can be made to them by bodies or individuals. In cases where they are made in this House to myself or my right hon. Friend, they are sent to the local authority for their comments. That is the procedure. It is primarily the local authorities who have to deal with these matters, except in the case of London, which is dealt with direct by the Minister.

Mr. PALING

If an individual motorist had a complaint about a road, he himself could approach the local authority and ask for it to be de-restricted?

Captain HUDSON

That is so.

Sir W. BRASS

Is it a fact that the Minister himself can, under the Act, make representations to the local authority to get certain roads de-restricted?

Captain HUDSON

Yes, certainly, and that has been done in many cases as my hon. and gallant Friend knows.