HC Deb 09 December 1981 vol 14 c433W
Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to raise the 30 miles per hour speed limit to 40 miles per hour as an experiment in places where this step could, by permitting the installation of repeater signs, secure a greater awareness of the speed restriction on the part of motorists.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I see no case for such an experiment. The factors mainly relevant to settling local speed limits must remain the general character of a road, its accident record, traffic volumes, and existing vehicle speeds.