asked the Minister of Transport whether the Lancashire County Council have intimated their intention to apply the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit to all lighted roads in the county, including the new arterial East Lancashire Road; and whether, having regard to the order he has made exempting the new arterial roads in the London traffic area from the speed limit, he proposes to make an order directing that similar roads in Lancashire may be exempted?

The East Lancashire Road is not subject to the speed limit except for a stretch of three miles in the county borough of Liverpool. The other new arterial roads in Lancashire are likewise not subject to a speed limit.

Is it not a fact that my hon. Friend made no survey of these big arterial roads before he brought in the speed limit?

I think my answer indicates that we have done so. None of these roads is to be subject to the speed limit.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that owing to the introduction of the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit in built-up areas before local authorities were in a position to put up the regulation signs, paper signs, stuck to tin discs, have had to be used in many parts of the country to indicate the entry into a speed-limit area; and, as these paper signs do not comply with his provisional orders dated 4th January, 1935, which stipulate that restrictive signs have either to be fitted with reflectors or reflecting material or illuminated during specified hours of darkness, will he state on what grounds he authorised these temporary signs to be erected?

I would point out to my hon. and gallant Friend that in so far as the signs are illuminated by street lighting, they comply with the Regulations.

May I ask whether, according to the regulation that my hon. Friend made, these signs ought to have reflex reflectors on them?

No, Sir. They will be illuminated either externally from street lamps or internally.

Has my hon. Friend given consideration to those places that are not lit at all and where the motor headlights cannot catch the sign unless they are on full and not dimmed?

Yes, Sir.

Am I to understand that the de-restriction sign going into Brighton where there is no light at all is in order and that people who ignore it may be prosecuted?

No, it ought to be illuminated externally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on Monday, 18th March, many speed limit areas in the country, although marked with restriction signs of a temporary character, had no de-restriction signs up marking the end of the speed limit area, with the result that drivers were unaware whether they were in restricted areas or not; and whether he will give instructions to the traffic commissioners to have a survey made in order to see that the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, are being properly carried out?

These signs are entirely outside' the purview of the Traffic Commissioners, but my divisional road engineers are in constant touch with the local authorities with a view to seeing that any temporary deficiency is made good.

Is the Minister aware that even when these de-restriction signs are up they are so small and inconspicuous that the driver does not know when he is inside or outside the area?

Will my hon. Friend make a survey and find out whether these de-restriction signs are up. I have heard that no signs are up except in Rutland?

I do not think that my hon. Friend is correct, but I will survey the situation from time to time, and, if the slightest difficulty is placed in the way of motorists not knowing whether they are in or out of the areas, I will go to any practicable extent in order to deal with it.

Will my hon. Friend drive along these roads himself and experience the difficulties as would be done by the man who is actually driving?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any means of ascertaining whether the enforcement of the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit has slowed down the traffic?

Observation indicates that traffic generally is moving at a more uniform rate and that its average speed is little if any lower than before.

Is the hon. Member aware that already in Green Street, Upton Park, there is a great improvement?

May I ask if my hon. Friend is aware that many motorists since the speed limit came into force have not been going at 30 miles an hour, but at roughly 15 miles an hour, and will he, with his admirable ability at getting publicity, publish the fact that the speed limit is 30 miles and not 15 miles?

Thirty miles is the maximum and not the minimum.

Is it of no moment to hon. Members that more than 100 people are killed every week and that many thousands are injured every week by motor cars on our roads?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a number of local authorities, in considering the application of a 30-miles-per-hour speed limit authorised by Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, have decided hot to make orders under Sub-section (4), directing that the speed limit shall not apply to certain wide, new, or improved roads in their respective areas; and what steps he is taking to satisfy himself whether or not such a direction ought to have been given?

I have in several cases indicated to local authorities that Orders de-restricting certain roads appear to me to be desirable, and invited them to consider the matter without delay.

Has my hon. Friend yet considered de-restricting the Fairmile?

In view of the statement of the Minister about a survey, why is it necessary to do this work again?

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he is aware that the 30-miles-per-hour speed limit signs are in existence at Oxford beyond the limits provided for under the new arrangement; and whether in consequence the local authorities at Oxford will be requested to remove those signs from the roads not comprised within the built-up areas as defined by the Road Traffic Act of 1934;

(2) whether he is aware that the existing 30-miles-per-hour speed limit signs at Oxford do not conform to the standard type now laid down for the whole country; whether it is intended to order the substitution of these signs at Oxford; and, if so, whether the cost will be borne by the Ministry of Transport?

I am in communication with the Oxford City Council in this matter.