§ 12. Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action was taken to prevent the display of election posters on road traffic signs in Northern Ireland during the recent Convention elections.
§ Mr. OrmeInterference with a traffic sign is an offence under Section III of the Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1970. No specific evidence is available as to who was individually responsible for putting election posters on road traffic signs, but in the interests of road safety such posters were removed wherever possible.
§ Mr. StallardI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware, however, if we may for a moment leave the security and other problems of Northern Ireland on one side, that Northern Ireland has the worst road accident record in Western Europe? Does he agree, therefore, that the plastering of election placards over every road sign which I saw in the North Antrim constituency during the recent Convention election is 642 not only inconvenient to travellers—and at some stages it is a gross inconvenience—but introduces yet another road hazard which the Province could well do without? What can be done about this apart from the typical Civil Service reply we have just heard?
§ Mr. OrmeI thank my hon. Friend for his helpful question. Flyposting in Northern Ireland takes place on a scale which is deplorable. I would ask that my hon. Friend's remarks be directed at all the political parties in Northern Ireland. For those who want normal British standards in Northern Ireland, this is one area in which they might try to achieve it.