§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report (i) the nature of the hazard necessitating the switching on of the advisory 50 miles per hour speed limit signals on the evening of 5 February between junctions 36 and 37 on the westbound carriageway of the M4 motorway, (ii) the time that the signals were activated, (iii) the time that the hazard was removed and (iv) the time that the signals were switched off.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsOperation of these signs is a matter for the appropriate police force, in this case the South Wales police. I am informed that an advisory 50 mph speed limit was displayed between junctions 36 and 37 of the M4 at 15.30 on 5 February because of restricted visibility due to poor weather conditions. An accident involving several vehicles occurred in the westbound carriageway at 17.48 and this was not cleared until 21.44. Weather conditions improved sufficiently by 22.39 to allow the advisory speed limit to be lifted.