HL Deb 15 February 1967 vol 280 cc289-90

2.50 p.m.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My 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 progress has been made with the experiment of alternate off-set double white lines on lengths of three-lane roads, and whether a statement can be made.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the experiment with alternate off-set double white lines at selected sites on three-lane roads has been completed, and my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport expects to make an announcement very soon. There have been a number of somewhat premature reports in the Press recently, of which the noble Lord may be aware, but I would not wish to anticipate my right honourable friend's announcement except to say that the experiment has not been so successful as had been hoped.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that I recently became an accident statistic on one of these unmarked three lane roads, and that had the road been marked with offset white lines there is a 99 per cent. chance that I should not have become a casualty? Is the noble Lord further aware that I was picked up and taken to the Lister Hospital, Hitchin, and that the treatment I received from all concerned was beyond praise? Whatever may be said during the main debate to-day, I should like (quite wrongly, at this moment) just to say that.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, speaking as one who has read in the newspapers recently the criticism poured upon the National Health Service and the hospitals, I am sure the House will appreciate the tribute that the noble Viscount has paid to a particular hospital. With regard to whether the noble Viscount would or would not have become a casualty if white lines had been there is not for me to say because I do not know what the circumstances were. Without anticipating what my right honourable friend may say or decide, I think there is undoubted evidence to show that, because motorists have not complied with the rules and regulations governing this experiment, the danger of accidents arising has been increased.

Lord WAKEF1ELD of KENDAL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Statement to be made in another place will be repeated in this House?

Lord SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am not yet aware in what form the Statement will be made. If a Statement is made in another place, as is customary we should repeat it here; but it may well be made in another form.