§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether steps can be taken in the near future to broaden the basis of membership of the Committee on Road Safety, in order to make it more representative of bodies and persons with practical knowledge and experience of road construction and the operation of vehicles thereon.]
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, the membership of the Committee on Road Safety consists of representatives of the Government Departments concerned, the Police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. It is the view of His Majesty's Government that it is well constituted for the task which it has been asked to do and which it will bring to completion in a few months' time by the presentation of a final report. In these circumstances, apart from any other considerations, delays would arise if the membership of the present Committee were extended, but His Majesty's Government have, however, accepted a recommendation of the Committee that a Road Safety Committee should be retained as a permanent feature of the organization of the Ministry of Transport, and will, at the appropriate time, consider broadening the present Committee's basis of membership.