§ 40. Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to announce the composition of the independent committee which is to review traffic signs.
§ 41. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Transport what his plans are for a review of road traffic signs.
§ Mr. MarplesI am glad to say that Sir Walter Worboys has agreed to become chairman of this Committee which, as I announced on 2nd August, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are setting up to review traffic signs. I am making good progress in appointing the other members, and hope to announce their names within the next few weeks.
§ Mr. KitsonDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it would be a good thing if traffic signs were the same all over the country instead of varying from town to town and county to county?
§ Mr. MarplesI certainly do agree. The object of the Committee will be to get standard signs which are consistent and are the same all over the country, because a motorist on the North-East Coast should see the same signs when he goes to the South-West. The signs should also be legible. At present, too many of them, in my view, are not. I hope that we shall also see aesthetics taken into account in the designs.
§ Mr. H. HyndWill my right hon. Friend also consider standardisation with the Continent?
§ Mr. MarplesThat will be taken into account. The motorway signs are excellent and I hope that the same signs will be seen on all roads.
§ Mr. PeytonCan we have some really short-sighted people on the Committee, so that the signs will be easily read?
§ Mr. MarplesI will bear my hon. Friend's application in mind.
Mr. SlaterWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us what purpose he expects the Committee to serve? Why does not he call in his divisional road engineers? They could give him all the necessary information about road signs and he could make up his own mind instead of depending on a committee.
§ Mr. MarplesDivisional road engineers will be giving evidence to the Committee.