HC Deb 18 March 1964 vol 691 cc1365-6
18. Mr. Steele

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which authorities employ road safety officers; and how many are employed full time on this work in his Department.

Mr. G. Campbell

Road safety officers, or accident prevention officers are employed by the County Councils of Aberdeen, Caithness, Dunbartonshire, Fife, Lanarkshire and West Lothian; by the Corporations of Edinburgh and Glasgow; and jointly by the Town Councils of Bearsden and Milngavie.

The number of staff employed full time on road traffic work in my right hon. Friend's Department is five. The work of all these officers includes road safety, but none can be described as being engaged on it full time.

Mr. Steele

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been an increase of only one road safety officer in the local authorities, and that is at West Lothian, since 1962? Will not the hon. Gentleman agree that his Department ought to have some officers employed full time on road safety work, in the same way is the Ministry of Transport has which would encourage the local authorities to do this as well? In view of the fact that road deaths went up by 45 last year and the number of injuries to children went up to 5,603, surely it is time that something more was done?

Mr. Campbell

I know that my right hon. Friend will take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said about accidents. I would point out that the main consideration is that road safety should be given proper attention. In many areas this is done efficiently by the police, although no road safety officer as such is appointed. The problems of road safety are closely allied to road traffic and traffic engineering generally and existing arrangements provide for the necessary measure of co-ordination.

Mr. Steele

I have had the same kind of answer for the last six or seven years, but surely when deaths continue to increase and accidents to children continue to increase we ought to have more full-time officers employed on this job.

Mr. Campbell

I cannot add to what I have just said. I certainly recognise the force of what the hon. Gentleman says in trying to reduce these road accidents. I am sure that my right hon. Friend would wish to study any methods which we can find to do that.