§ 78. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of his agreement that the raising of the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles would increase the efficiency of road transport and reduce the costs thereof, he will now endeavour to accelerate the discussions and agreements making it 4W possible for him to introduce the necessary regulation for this purpose, in view of the desirability of mitigating as, far as possible the harmful effects of higher road and transport costs resulting from the increased taxation of petrol.
§ Mr. BarnesI am drawing the attention of the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Haulage Industry and of the British Transport Commission to the recent debate in the House.
§ Mr. McLeavyasked the Minister of Transport what was the nature of the representations made to him by the Association of Municipal Corporations and the Urban District Councils Association on raising the speed limit of heavy goods vehicles from 20 to 30 miles per hour.
§ Mr. BarnesIn 1948, the Association of Municipal Corporations repeated their previous intimation to me that they were not in favour of the proposal, and added that the reintroduction of the basic petrol ration made it most inopportune at that time. The Urban District Councils Association wrote that they disapproved of the proposal, fearing increased danger to life and limb and increased damage to highways resulting from increased speed.