HL Deb 26 February 1931 vol 80 cc139-40
LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

My Lords, I beg to move that the Regulations, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Tuesday last, be approved.

Moved, That the Regulations as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Tuesday last, be approved.—(Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede.)

VISCOUNT CECIL OF CHELWOOD

My Lords, I do not know whether I might ask my noble friend to tell us exactly what this Resolution means. I am afraid I have not been able quite to follow it. It is a Resolution which appears to alter the Schedule of the Act of last year. I do not know whether it would be in order, but perhaps I might ask my noble friend when the Highway Code is likely to be presented to your Lordships for approval, and whether, before it is presented, it will be possible for the Government to give some information as to how far the Road Traffic Act has been successful in diminishing the number of road accidents.

LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

My Lords, with regard to the second question which the noble Viscount put to me, the Highway Code has now been drawn up, and is in the printers' hands, and will be submitted to both Houses of Parliament quite shortly, with due notice. With regard to the possibility of the Ministry of Transport being able to give any list of accidents comparing the period since the Road Traffic Act has been in force with the previous period. I would not like to commit myself. After all, the period has been a comparatively short one for us really to draw any inferences. The noble Viscount asked for some explanation, as he very well might, of this Regulation, which is the first of its kind that has been submitted in this way. There is really no variation of speed in the strict sense of the word. It is a correction in the First Schedule of the Road Traffic Act under which at present the maximum speed limit of five miles an hour would be enforced on goods-carrying motor cycles. This was never intended, and therefore goods-carrying motor cycles are being put into the list of those vehicles which are allowed to travel at a maximum speed of thirty miles an hour. There is also a Regulation to authorise a fire engine or ambulance when being used for its proper purpose to exceed the speed limit.

On Question, Motion agreed to.