Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of introducing 20mph speed limits in Wales on the economy.

My officials and I have discussions with the Welsh Government on a wide range of transport matters. Speed limit issues were devolved to Wales in the Wales Act 2017, which amended the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and the Welsh Government has the power to change national speed limits.

In terms of the 20mph speed limit, it is disappointing that the Welsh Government seems to be ignoring its own impact assessments, which suggest that the damage to the Welsh economy could be as high as £4.5 billion.

Local Authorities in England have the power to set 20mph speed zones where appropriate and the UK Government has no plans to introduce default or national 20 mph speed limits in urban environments.