HC Deb 27 January 1971 vol 810 cc538-40
22. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of concern in Chigwell Urban District and elsewhere at the decision of the police to withdraw road safety instructors, he will issue a circular to local authorities or others affected giving advice on how instruction can still be given.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

No, Sir. Existing circulars already give the necessary advice.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is my hon. Friend aware that the road safety teams were very highly regarded by our councillors and my constituents? Will the Government give every help if difficulties arise over implementing the new circulars and in bringing about the substitute arrangements?

Mr. Griffiths

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friends provide rather generous sums of money to local authorities, and I only wish that the local authorities would allot more of it to road safety purposes. The Department has invited local authorities in the Metropolitan Police area to nominate road safety officers for a course to be run by the Department next month.

Mr. Oram

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the high regard in which these services are held by the local authorities, including Newham, which is corresponding with him on these matters? How will he ensure that the alternative methods reach the same standards as the methods abandoned?

Mr. Griffiths

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the tribute he has paid to the police, who provided these services before. They have had to be redeployed to other forms of road safety work. I assure him that officials of my Department are perfectly capable and certainly very willing to provide all the help needed.

Mr. Bob Brown

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the Government's attitude towards police pay will not encourage voluntary assistance by police officers in this appeal? Does not he further agree that, although we all appreciate the work done by the police in this matter, the real answer is much more encouragement to local authorities to appoint full-time road safety officers?

Mr. Griffiths

I agree with the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. Police pay is no longer a matter for me.

Forward to