§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Transport what economies his Department has sought to make in road lighting designs within the last three years.
§ Mr. HoramThis country pioneered the use of highly efficient low-pressure sodium discharge lamps for road lighting and continues to do so. A very large proportion of the lighting installed on trunk roads, which come within my responsibility, has been of this type. Nevertheless, the need for economies in road lighting is fully appreciated, and where changes to more efficient types of lighting are possible these are being encouraged. In particular a review of trunk road lighting was carried out recently with the aim of replacing any less efficient forms of "white" lighting with the sodium discharge type, where environmental and other considerations allow. Economies in other operational costs or schemes designs could prejudice road safety and so require very careful appraisal and consultation. British Standards Institution has at my Department's request agreed to consider these problems as a whole in reviewing current codes of practice.