HC Deb 28 July 1971 vol 822 cc561-2
22. Mr. Benyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy concerning the lighting of trunk roads and motorways which pass through rural areas.

Mr. Peter Walker

Present policy is to light only those lengths which present special problems for drivers at night.

Mr. Benyon

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but does he accept that there have been strong rumours that, given the money, his Department would like to light every mile of motorway, and would not this be extremely detrimental in areas of high landscape value?

Mr. Walker

Like most strong rumours, this one is entirely ill-founded.

Mr. Jopling

Does my right hon. Friend remember that last November he gave me figures of the enormous initial and maintenance cost of lighting a rural stretch of the Al north of Doncaster? Does he realise that this is an extravagance, and that he would be far better spending the money on central crash barriers to prevent loss of life?

Mr. Walker

The policy is to light only those areas where the figures show a high incidence of night accidents. I will take note of what my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Bradley

To help us to form a judgment on this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman give an estimate of the installation cost per mile and the maintenance charges per annum of this proposal?

Mr. Walker

I will drop a note to the hon. Gentleman giving him details.