§ 51. Mr. P. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he intends to impose a 40-miles-an-hour speed limit on the stretch of the Ashbourne Road, Derby, between Kings-way and the borough boundary.
§ Mr. NugentUnder the 1956 Road Traffic Act we cannot consider extending the 40 m.p.h. limit to roads outside London until we are able to report to Parliament the advice of the Committee on Road Safety on the London experiment. We hope to be able to do so later in the year.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is now eighteen months since the Minister himself proposed the 40 mile-an-hour limit? As this road is dangerous, and uses far too much energy of the police force in controlling its traffic, may we hope that the Minister will do something in this matter before he leaves office?
§ Mr. NugentThere will be plenty of time for that, but we must await this report.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIf the Minister cannot impose a 40 m.p.h. limit as he proposed, will he impose the 30 m.p.h. limit which the local authority, the chief constable and the road safety committee all unanimously demand?
§ Mr. NugentThe right hon. Gentleman knows that we have looked at this matter very carefully, but I am afraid that I cannot give him an answer in the affirmative.