HC Deb 17 April 1972 vol 835 cc4-5
2. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to make it an offence for a car to be advertised as capable of reaching speeds in excess of the statutory speed limit.

The Minister for Industrial Development (Mr. Christopher Chataway)

No, Sir.

Mr. Tuck

Is the right hon. Gentleman unaware that this kind of advertisement is a direct invitation to break the law because people will try out their cars to see whether they will do the speeds of up to 120 m.p.h. which are claimed? What view would he take if I advertised in the newspapers a new type of blowlamp guaranteed to cut through any safe? That would be exactly the same thing.

Mr. Chataway

With respect, that is not a very exact parallel. The purchaser of a motor car may want to know how close he is to the maximum speed of the car he is driving. There is also the question of exports in that many countries do not apply our speed limits.

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