asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in how many cases he has rejected proposals submitted in the past 15 months from the Highland regional council to impose speed limits where the environmental or accident criteria were met; and if he will give his reasons for refusing each application.
My right hon. and learned Friend has not turned down any applications in the past 15 months from Highland regional council where both the environmental and accident criteria were met. Satisfaction of one of these criteria on its own is not a sufficient reason for imposing a speed restriction. In any case, there are three other criteria to be taken into account.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consultations he has had with local authorities about the existing criteria for speed restrictions; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consultations he has had with the police about the existing criteria for speed restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
In 1979 a draft circular was issued for comment to several representative bodies, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland). Following these consultations, the Scottish Development Department issued circular No.18/80, which sets out the criteria.