§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they will have a special inquiry made and a report presented to Parliament on the present road vehicle speed-limit legislation with special reference to its effect upon the national economy and the safety of road users.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, so far as concerns the speed limits for motor vehicles laid down in the First Schedule to the Road Traffic Act, 1934, there is room for argument that the limits at present in force for certain classes of vehicles should be revised, but my right honourable friend does not feel that a convincing case has been made out for a general inquiry into vehicle speed limits. Should he come to the conclusion that any particular vehicle speed limit should be revised he has power to do so by Affirmative Resolution procedure, as has been done from time to time in the past. The noble Lord may also have in mind speed limits which apply to roads. As my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport announced in another place on November 17, he has asked the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee to review the incidence of the 30 miles per hour speed limit in the London Traffic Area with a view to eliminating inconsistencies, and also to examine the principles which should be applied in future: for instance, 268 whether on some routes a higher speed limit is justified.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply, but he has somewhat misconstrued the purport of my Question. It was to inform the public of the rather chaotic and archaic position of speed limit legislation, most of which dates back twenty-five years to the steam traction engine era. If then at any time the Minister desires to amend it in the light of modern requirements, which I agree he has power to do, he will have an informed public opinion behind him, instead of the colossal ignorance which is prevalent throughout the country at the present time and which makes the Minister's task the harder to perform.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I will certainly convey to my right honourable friend the point made by the noble Lord, that should he wish to reinforce himself with public opinion it might be advisable to refer this question to some committee.