§ 20. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the danger to road safety measures caused by excessive speeding of new cars on delivery from the factory; what reports he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)We have received no reports on this subject. If the hon. Lady can send me detailed information, I shall be willing to consider it.
§ Miss BurtonWhile thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, may I ask if his attention has been called to an article in the Oxford Mail on 13th January, where a car driver said that a speed of 50—and 60—miles an hour was normal with these new cars? If I Send him those details, will he look into the matter?
§ Mr. NugentNo, my attention has not been called to that article, but the speed of driving of these new cars is rather a matter for the manufacturers. Unless some speed limit had been disobeyed, it really is not a matter for me.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my hon. Friend aware that manufacturers have at present no evidence of the over-driving alleged by the hon. Lady opposite, and that although these cars are run on very 352 visible trade plates and members of the public can report the drivers for overdriving—and have done so in the past—there have been no reports recently of over-driving?
§ Miss BurtonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware, as I hope the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) will be aware, that the unions in Coventry have just concluded an agreement with the manufacturers to sweep away these disreputable practices?