Speed Limits (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 3 February 2022.

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Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party

3. To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of failure to comply with the 20mph speed limit in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale have been recorded since its introduction, including how many fines were subsequently issued as part of the enforcement of 20mph speed limits. (S6O-00718)

Photo of Keith Brown Keith Brown Scottish National Party

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Police Scotland is responsible for the enforcement of speed limits.

Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party

My next port of call is obviously Police Scotland.

Stow, a village in the Borders through which the A7 passes, has long-standing issues with speeding by cars and commercial vehicles. Anxiety is increased because the pavements are narrow and cannot be widened. Residents in the local community council thought that the 20mph speed limit would have a major impact on speeding, but I am told that breaches are frequent. What can the community do beyond contacting Police Scotland?

Photo of Keith Brown Keith Brown Scottish National Party

The Scottish Government “Good Practice Guide on 20 mph Speed Restrictions” suggests that

“Any changes should be monitored, and where compliance levels are not at an acceptable level, consideration should be given to the addition of traffic calming measures or”,

in some cases,

“reverting to a 30 mph limit, if necessary.”

Such measures are the result of a dialogue between a number of partners, primarily the council—in the case that Christine Grahame mentions, councils—involved and Police Scotland.

The 20mph roads in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale are a mix of local roads, which are under the responsibility of councils, and trunk roads. I know that that is a concern of Christine Grahame’s. Scottish Borders Council has undertaken some speed surveys, including on the trunk roads that are of concern to Ms Grahame. If she wants to have further discussion with the local authorities and the police, I will be happy to pass that message on and add my support to the further dialogue that she seeks.

Photo of Craig Hoy Craig Hoy Conservative

Is the cabinet secretary aware that new data reveals that there are 59 fewer local police officers in Lothian and the Borders than there were in the period before the creation of Police Scotland? Does he share my concern that those savage

Scottish National Party cuts to front-line policing are undermining efforts to issue fines and combat speeding and that they could be putting lives at risk in Stow, across the Borders and across the wider South Scotland region?

The Presiding Officer:

I am not wholly convinced that that referred to the substantive question, but you can answer briefly if you would like to, cabinet secretary.

Photo of Keith Brown Keith Brown Scottish National Party

Craig Hoy neglects to mention that we have around 50 per cent more police officers per capita in Scotland than there are in England and Wales. His Government cut the funding for the police and cut 20,000 police officers in England and Wales, so we will take no lessons from the Tories on proper police funding.