Road Traffic Law Review (Hansard, 20 March 1989)

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the Government announced their proposals to reform road traffic law in the White Paper The Road User and the Law on 7th February. Legislation will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time can be found.

§ Lord Brougham and Vaux
My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend but I find it difficult to do so. Is he aware that RoSPA gave evidence, along with many other organisations, to Dr. North and 95 per cent. of its recommendations were accepted? Is he further aware that if this White Paper is not implemented in the next Session, road safety will be severely affected and that his right honourable friend's plans for a reduction in all accidents by one-third by the year 2000 will be extremely hard to accomplish?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I cannot go very much further in saying what legislation will or will not be announced in the normal way in the Queen's Speech for the next Session. However, I re-affirm that the Government are determined to improve road safety and that we are committed to cutting road casualties, especially those involving death or serious injury, by one-third by the year 2000.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, I appreciate that the Minister cannot determine what legislation may be brought forward in the next Session, but have we not heard before the phrase that legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows? We are still waiting—I believe the noble Lord sympathises with us on this — after three and a half years for the implementation of the Horne Report on street works. Does not the preface to The Road User and the Law say that, following legislation, it is proposed to issue a clear and simple guide to road law in association with the planned revision of theHighway Code? If that is to be done, surely the Government should be getting on with the job of preparing legislation now so that it can be introduced in the new Session.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am sorry to disappoint the noble Lord but I cannot go further than I have already. The Government's plans for legislation will be announced in the normal way in the Queen's Speech. I appreciate that the noble Lord would like us to get on and legislate on this matter, as he would on the Horne Report, as he has so often told me. I hope that that legislation will come forward speedily too, but there is competition for legislative space and we must wait to see what happens.

§ Lord Nugent of Guildford
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the North Report was particularly 460 penetrating in revealing the anomalies in some of the sentencing for road offences? Is he further aware that it is most desirable that sentencing should be in line with modern developments, with some sentences being more severe and some less? Therefore, in the interests of general confidence in the fairness of the courts when dealing with road offences, will he endeavour to obtain a better priority for this legislation than it now seems to be getting?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I can only draw my noble friend's remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we on this side of the House would warmly support any legislation which embodies the recommendations in this excellent report? We would do so with enthusiasm if the noble Lord's right honourable friends would be prepared to drop some of the irrelevant and unpopular legislation currently going through Parliament.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we on this side of the House probably take a different view as to what is unpopular and irrelevant, so I regret that I cannot give the undertaking that the noble Lord seeks.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, I support most of the recommendations in the North Report and join other noble Lords in the hope that we shall have early legislation, but is it not important that when legislation is enacted it is properly enforced? Is the noble Lord aware that much legislation, particularly relating to speed limits on heavy lorries and express coaches, is not properly enforced? Is there anything that the Government can do to ensure that speed limits, especially on heavy lorries and express coaches, are enforced?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, that is a slightly different question to whether or not we intend to introduce legislation. Enforcement is a matter for the police. Obviously we in the Department of Transport very much hope that the rules we make are enforced and obeyed. The noble Lord may not be aware that my noble friend Lord Brougham and Vaux has succeeded in the ballot for a debate on this subject to be held on Wednesday, 5th April. I am delighted about that and I am sure it will be an interesting debate.

§ Lord Brougham and Vaux
My Lords, I hope that my noble friend will take the strong feelings about this report in the House to his right honourable friend and also the fact of the wide support that it receives outside. Legislation to implement this report is very urgently needed. As regards the anxieties of the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, I would much rather see the North Report than the football Bill before your Lordships. Perhaps my noble friend will also have a word with the Leader of the House who is also a Member of the Cabinet, in order that he can press that we have this legislation in the next Session. It is vitally urgent. It will save a lot of hospital beds.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend the Leader of the House has noted my noble friend's views.