Cyclists: Road Traffic Laws

Debate between Lord Keen of Elie and Lord Scott of Foscote

Monday 18th April 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Scott of Foscote]

My Lords, I must declare an interest because I cycle regularly in London. The overriding obligation of cyclists in London is to try to ride their bicycle so as to keep it from contact with other vehicles and particularly from contact with pedestrians. If a cyclist does that, the proposition that he should be prosecuted for some breach of one of the many rules of the road seems to be a little overstretched. Still, if that overriding duty is observed, there should not be any problems with cyclists, and the need to prosecute them for minor infringements is clearly not present.

[Lord Keen of Elie]

With regard to the question that has just been posed to the House, I observe that prosecutions in respect of cycling offences are limited to about 1,000 a year at present.

Scotland Bill

Debate between Lord Keen of Elie and Lord Scott of Foscote

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I would respond to my noble friend by saying that anything is possible.

[Lord Scott of Foscote]

The debate at the moment seems to be concerned exclusively with primary legislation. Clause 2 is concerned with primary legislation made by Parliament, but the bulk of legislation these days is made by statutory instrument—made under powers that are granted by Parliament, of course, and many of these are existing powers—but I cannot see anything in the Bill that really grapples with the position of statutory legislation as opposed to primary. I wonder if that is an oversight or whether it is intended.

[Lord Keen of Elie]

If I may, I shall respond to the observations from the noble and learned Lord, Lord Scott, after the dinner break. I confess it is not immediately apparent to me what the thrust of his point was, and maybe I am missing it, but I shall give it some consideration.