§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his criteria in determining whether to grant a request from a regional roads authority to change an existing speed limit; how many such requests he has received from Highland region over the past five years and of these(a) how many have been approved and (b) how many have been turned down; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe criteria for determining appropriate speed limits apply throughout Great Britain. They are set out in Scottish Development Department circular No. 18/80 and were issued after full consultation with various representative bodies, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland).
Thirty applications have been received from Highland regional council in the last five years. Nine applications have been approved, 18 have been turned down and three are currently under consideration. My right hon. and learned Friend refuses consent for a speed limit only if he is satisfied that the relevant criteria are not met.