asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the justification for the recently reported introduction of hidden speed cameras. [HL4289]

The Government have not introduced hidden speed cameras. The national safety camera programme in England and Wales ended on 31 March 2007, and since then local road safety partnerships have had greater freedom and flexibility to deploy cameras in response to community concerns about speeding or at locations where there are speeding problems and a high risk that casualties will occur.

The department has issued guidance that sets out the Government's intention of continued high-visibility speed enforcement and encourages the continued use of the previous visibility and conspicuity rules, which were shown to reduce speeds and casualties at camera sites. However, the department's guidance does not restrict or fetter the discretion that the police have always had to enforce covertly anywhere at any time.

The guidance is contained in Department for Transport Circular 01/2007, New Guidance on the Deployment of Speed and Red Light Cameras, issued on 31 January 2007. The guidance was placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the department's website.