HC Deb 16 June 1971 vol 819 cc422-3
7. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the death of a woman engaged in an all-night charity walk from Croydon to Brighton at Redhill on 23rd May, 1971, which took place notwithstanding the advice of the police, and on the two other similar fatalities.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) on 9th June, 1971.—[Vol. 818, c. 1033–4.]

Mr. Davis

Would it not be helpful if a conference could be convened, under the auspicies of the Department, to cover charity organisations which have embarked on fund raising of this character to acquaint them with the dangers and to discuss perhaps other more fruitful methods of raising money which would bring those who are desirous of participating in these philanthropic activities into more direct contact with human problems—for example, work involved with Task Force, and so on?

Mr. Griffiths

My Department already makes fully known its advice on the matter, as do the police. Tragic as the matter is, I think that to persist in holding a charity walk on dangerous roads late at night in defiance of the advice of my Department and of the police is literally asking for trouble.

Mr. Harper

Would not the proper answer be for the Department to seek to introduce legislation to ban these walks unless they take place in country areas? The sponsors of the walks should, in their opinion, be sponsoring something positive, not negative.

Mr. Griffiths

I am surprised to hear the hon. Gentleman demand that the Government should take powers to ban pedestrians from the highway. Pedestrians have some responsibility to concern themselves with their own safety.

Sir R. Cary

May I ask whether these charity walks have raised a considerable amount of money?

Mr. Griffiths

I am afraid that I cannot answer that question without notice.