§ 44. Mr. Pageasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many public Ministerial inquiries concerning speed-limit derestriction of a road were held in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953; and in how many of these cases in each of these years a speed limit was imposed or confirmed following upon such an inquiry.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. PageMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he would extend this system of public inquiry to the London traffic area so that the public might make representations to the London Traffic Advisory Committee on derestriction of the speed limit?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI would point out to my hon. Friend what I am sure he knows, that there is a great danger in extending this restriction so far that 2233 ordinary, reasonable people think it unreasonable. Already 36 per cent, of our unclassified, 17 per cent, of our classified, and over 17 per cent, of our trunk roads are so restricted, and there is a limit beyond which prudence should not go.
§ Following is the information:
| Year | Number of inquiries | Number of lengths of road | Number of lengths on which it was decided to retain the speed limit |
| 1949 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 1950 | 7 | 7 | — |
| 1951 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1952 | 4 | 4 | — |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 | 1 |