Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have observed a reduction in death and injury caused by road traffic accidents in areas, such as central London, which have introduced a 20 miles per hour speed limit.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph limits, which are 20mph schemes relying only on signage, on 22 November 2018.

The evaluation looked at twelve case studies including two in city centres (Brighton and Winchester). No case studies were in London.

It found insufficient evidence to conclude that that there had been a significant change in collisions and casualties following the introduction of 20mph limits in residential areas.

The only case study area showing a significant change in collisions and casualties, relative to its 30mph comparator area, was Brighton City Centre. This scheme covered both major and minor roads, with a 19% reduction in overall casualties, a 29% reduction in pedestrian casualties and a 51% reduction in casualties aged 75 or over. No significant change in casualties of cyclists or under 16s was found.

The evaluation stated that the changes appeared to be a reflection of the city characteristics, and the blanket implementation of 20mph limits across all roads within the scheme area, including higher flow A and B roads which were typically excluded from the residential case study schemes. There was a significant reduction in collisions across all road types, but the change was most pronounced on major strategic roads. The evaluation stressed that this represented just one case study, and the extent to which the findings were transferable to other locations was unclear.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the reported recent visit of the Chief of Defence Staff to China, whether they will place minutes of meetings held with his Chinese counterparts in the Library of the House; and what assessment they have made of the impact of prospective Sino-British military cooperation on cross-Taiwan Strait stability.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish readouts after individual bilateral meetings. The Chief of the Defence Staff met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and they discussed a range of security issues reflecting the importance of military-to-military communications.

We have a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issues one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.