§ 55. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about speed limits on roads.
§ 71. Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a statement concerning the present system of temporary speed limits.
§ Dr. GilbertThe 60 mph and 50 mph—Temporary Speed Limit—Order 1975, extending the present limits until 30th November 1976, came into force on 1st December.
§ 65. Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will clarify the speed limit regulations, in order to avoid the present confusion for motorists, by bringing up to date the Higway Code, the speed limit road signs and the definition of a dual carriageway.
§ Dr. GilbertI intend to bring the references to speed limits up to date in the next version of the Highway Code, which will require the approval of Parliament. I know of no case where the introduction of the 60 or 50 miles per hour speed limits, now extended by the 60 miles per hour and 50 miles per hour (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1975, has made a road sign incorrect; nor am I aware of any practical difficulty about the definition of a dual carriageway.
§ 66. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, and if so to what extent, the proximity of primary schools and the dangers arising from crossing by young pupils, are taken into account in the 623W formula governing the imposition of speed restrictions on trunk roads; and whether he will consider giving greater effect to this consideration.
§ Dr. GilbertFull account is taken of the development along a road when its speed limit is determined; but, if limits are set to meet conditions which only apply for short periods of the day, they are apt to be disregarded. In such circumstances there are other measures which are likely to be more effective.