Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

20 mph Speed Limits

Thursday 24 November 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • James Duddridge asked about the implications of a study on 20 mph speed limits for road traffic incidents.
  • The Minister responded that local authorities are best placed to decide where 20 mph limits will be most effective.
  • James inquired if the Government would consider suspending funding for unwanted and expensive 20 mph projects deemed ineffective.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Duddridge Con
Transport
Context

A study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health published in November 2022 assessed the impact of 20 mph speed limits on road traffic incidents.

Question

What assessment has been made of the implications for his policies of a study published in November 2022 by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, which examined the impact of 20 mph speed limits on road traffic incidents?

Answer from Richard Holden

We are reading the report with interest and looking into the details as we speak. Local authorities are best placed to decide where 20 mph limits will be most effective on their local roads.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment requested by the study was not provided.

How: Looking Into The Details As We Speak

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Q2 James Duddridge Con
Transport Local Government
Context

A local community campaigner named Nadia Fabri has organised opposition to an expensive 20 mph limit in Thorpe Bay, Southend. This raises concerns about the effectiveness and desirability of such projects.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer, but local community campaigner Nadia Fabri has organised opposition to an expensive 20 mph limit in Thorpe Bay in Southend. Will the Government consider suspending funding to projects that are not wanted, expensive and now proven to be ineffective?

Answer from Richard Holden

Decisions on setting local speed limits on roads are a matter for local authorities and they are democratically accountable for them. They also have the power to decide and implement traffic-calming measures if they are more appropriate. Most central Government funding for local government is not ringfenced, so local authorities can make the best decisions relating to local priorities. My Department is providing £170 million this financial year to local highways authorities in England outside London and city region areas through the integrated transport block for small-scale transport schemes, but we will continue to look at all evidence provided to the Department on all sorts of road safety and transport schemes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific suspension of funding was not addressed.

How: Decisions Are For Local Authorities, Funding Is Not Ringfenced

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