§ 10.57 p.m.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Captain Austin Hudson)I beg to move,
That the Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limit) Regulations, 1938, which were presented on the 8th November, 1938, be approved.I will explain this Order to the House in a few words. For some years past, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, on behalf of the Ministry of 2109 Transport, has been conducting experiments with certain vehicles with a view to the improvement of road surfaces and the prevention of skidding, and some of these vehicles are subject to the speed limit. For instance, some of these experiments are carried out by a vehicle and a trailer, and such a vehicle is subject to a speed of 20 miles per hour; and these limits in certain cases are so low as to prevent the satisfactory conducting of the test. This Order exempts such vehicles from the Schedule while they are being used for tests of this kind. All such tests are carried out under the supervision of technical officers of my Department, after consultation with the police. I assure the House that these Regulations do not grant exemption for vehicles from the speed limit in the 30 miles per hour built-up areas.
§ Question put, and agreed to.