Oral Answers to Questions

Gareth Johnson Excerpts

Thursday 17th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)]

12. What his plans are for the future funding of new fixed speed cameras; and if he will make a statement.

[Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con)]

15. What his Department’s plans are for the future funding of fixed speed cameras; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mike Penning]

I had been informed that these questions had been grouped, and I apologise to you if I was impertinent, Mr Speaker.

The Government will not provide any more money to local authorities for new fixed speed cameras. If authorities want to put up new fixed cameras, they are free to do so using their own resources, but we strongly encourage them to use other methods and effective safety measures.

[Gareth Johnson]

I am grateful for that reassurance. Does the Minister agree that when speed cameras are used more as a money-raising mechanism than as a road-safety measure, confidence in them will continue to fall?

[Mike Penning]

There are now three times as many speed cameras in this country as there were in 2000, and the public must be confident that speed cameras are there for road safety, not as a cash cow. Under this Government, they will be.