§ 28. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport how many resolutions and suggestions have been received by him from the Bristol Road Safety Committee on matters connected with road safety; and what action has been taken to put them into effect.
§ Mr. MarplesThe only ones I can trace are those adopted by the Bristol Watch Committee and sent to me on 16th February, 1961. The Committee requested me to introduce maximum speed limits and all possible practical control over pedestrians. These matters were already being studied in my Ministry; more investigations and experiments are necessary before final decisions can be taken.
§ Mr. AwberyHow many resolutions or suggestions have been received from Bristol Watch Committee and the Road Safety Committee which have been implemented by the Department or even looked at?
§ Mr. MarplesIf the hon. Member wants to know precisely how many have been implemented—
§ Mr. AwberyYes I do.
§ Mr. Marples—perhaps he will put a Question on the Paper.
§ Mr. AwberyThat is part of my Question today.
§ 29. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Accident Prevention Committees spend much time in the study of road problems; and if he will give an assurance that their recommendations which are sent to him will be given close attention, with a view to the introduction of early legislation where appropriate.
§ Mr. MarplesI can assure the hon. Member that any recommendations sent to me by Accident Prevention Committees receive close attention and consideration, and I am glad to acknowledge the valuable work which these Committee do in the field of road safety.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a general feeling among members of those committees, who spend a large amount of their time considering road problems, that the resolutions and recommendations sent to his Department are pigeonholed? The fact that he says that any recommendation will have consideration now is proof that they are pigeonholed and do not go to him.
§ Mr. MarplesIn which case I will arrange for a deputation from the committee the hon. Member has referred to in his Question to meet myself or the Parliamentary Secretary and the Director-General, Brigadier Stoney, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and then they will be certain that what the hon. Member implies in his supplementary question is not true.