§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what decision the Minister of Transport has come to on Recommendation 165 of the Committee on the 30 m.p.h. speed limit in the London traffic area, which was that the Minister and the manufacturers of cars should consider whether some voluntary limit could not be agreed which would ensure that the speed potential of new models of private cars for the home market does not exceed what is reasonable in relation to the traffic conditions in this country.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, any such limit would probably hamper both technical development and the production of cars for the export market. It would not necessarily promote the interests of road safety. My right honourable friend does not, therefore, feel justified in pressing the matter on the motor industry.
§ LORD ELTONMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that, if the trend of producing ever higher-powered cars is to go on, there ought not to be some means, presumably through the issue of driving licences, to ensure that the use of these cars is restricted to persons qualified to drive them? At present, so far as one knows, there is nothing to prevent an 422 entirely inexperienced and irresponsible youth of 19, or, for that matter, an old gentleman of 80, from taking a racing model out on the highway.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, it may well be that there is something in what the noble Lord says. I can only say to him at the moment that that, among a great number of other matters, is receiving study at the present time.