HC Deb 15 July 1970 vol 803 cc1500-2
1. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy concerning maximum speed limits on motorways.

4. Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on speed limits on motorways.

21. Mr. Ogden

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has regarding speed limits on motorways.

68. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for changing the speed limit on motorways.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. John Peyton)

I am considering this and intend to make a statement in due course.

Sir G. Nabarro

I wish, first, to express my pleasure at being the first from this side of the House to congratulate my right hon. Friend on this, the first occasion on which he is answering my Questions.

Has the Minister any evidence, in the period since the 70 m.p.h. limit was imposed on motorways, to show whether it is tending to increase or decrease the number of accidents on motorways and whether the speed limit is becoming increasingly or decreasingly observed by motorists?

Mr. Peyton

I thank my hon. Friend for his opening remarks and I look forward to answering many other Questions from him in due course.

Such evidence as I have leads me to believe that there is an increasing tendency, which I regret, to disregard the limit.

Mr. Sheldon

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his undue haste in rushing into print on this matter, particularly since more evidence is required? Would he agree that there is some feeling about his lack of objectivity regarding any changes in the speed limit, awaiting, as it must, the further investigation which only now he is beginning to understand is necessary?

Mr. Peyton

I have only said that I am quite willing to look at this matter. That I intend to do. I will do so with an open mind and without undue haste.

Mr. Ogden

I, too, offer my congratulations to the Minister. Perhaps he will forgive me for saying that I am as surprised to see him in his present office as he probably is to be in it.

The right hon. Gentleman is reported to have said that he will introduce a limited experiment in one area of motorway. Is this report correct, and as it was apparently based on part of the Green Paper, is it his intention to bring forward a White Paper on the larger and more important proposals?

Mr. Peyton

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for his congratulations. I hope that he will take it that my surprise is an indication of my modesty.

So far I have merely said that I am prepared to look at the possibility of a limited experiment. I have not committed myself in any way. Indeed, it would have been wrong for me to have done so.

Mr. Mulley

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on having taken time to consider an important decision of this kind. I hope he will bear very much in mind the unfortunate trend of road accident figures, the latest of which were published yesterday. Will he take advice from the Road Research Laboratory and other bodies and make as much information as possible available to the House before reaching a decision?

Mr. Peyton

Yes, Sir. I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for his helpful suggestion. I value very much the advice of the Road Research Laboratory. I will see that this information is made available to as many hon. Members as are interested.