Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Champion and Lord McLoughlin

Thursday 25th April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab)]

10. What recent discussions he has had on increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 miles per hour; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)]

Work is continuing to assess the potential economic, safety and environmental impacts of trialling 80 mph speed limits across a number of sites on the motorway network. It is important that decisions are made on the basis of sound evidence, and as part of that I have had discussions with a number of bodies.

[Sarah Champion]

The Highways Agency proposes to expand its managed motorways programme so that the hard shoulder between junctions 32 and 35A of the M1 will be used as a permanent traffic lane, with the scheme running 24 hours rather than at peak congestion times, as other schemes do. Does the Minister share my concern, and that of local authorities, South Yorkshire safer roads campaign, and South Yorkshire police, that that proposal, especially at 80 miles per hour, will create a real safety issue?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I am obviously willing to hear any representations about the managed motorway scheme that we are progressing. We have found that where we have managed motorways, we have a better flow of traffic and safer statistics overall for the use of that particular road. These are important matters and I am more than happy to discuss the issue with the hon. Lady. I assure her that we are trying to increase capacity for her constituents and other people who use that very important motorway.