§ 38. Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to reduce the number of road casualties, in the light of the latest figures.
§ Mr. PeytonI am greatly concerned about the recent increases in casualties. I hope that the doubling of expenditure on road safety publicity will achieve results.
§ Mr. DormandThe latest figures issued, those for April, show a 6 per cent. increase over April, 1971, and the trend is always upwards. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the 570 people killed on the roads in April represent the equivalent of five times the recent tragic Trident accident, and that this happens every month? Will he rid himself of his horrifying complacency in this serious situation?
§ Mr. PeytonI should not begin to quarrel with anything the hon. Gentleman said until his last sentence, which, if I may say so, did a lot to spoil the effect of the rest. No one with my responsibilities is in any way, or would ever be, complacent about the brutal toll of road accidents, and I very much regret that the hon. Gentleman saw fit to introduce the note he did.