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M66

37. Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the M66 from Denton to Middleton to open. [483]

Dr. Strang: As I said earlier, we are committed to a strategic review of the trunk road programme. A key early decision will be on how to handle those schemes at or near construction, of which the M66 scheme is a prime example.

Mr. Bennett: Will my right hon. Friend accept that there was great disappointment in Tameside at the delay in letting the final contract for the scheme? The traffic congestion caused by the failure to complete it has caused great anxiety to my constituents. Will he give an assurance that it will be completed at an early date?

Dr. Strang: My hon. Friend is right and I am well aware of the importance, to Manchester and surrounding

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areas, of the scheme, which would effectively complete an outer-city bypass for Manchester. He has taken a great interest in the scheme and I assure him that we shall soon announce those schemes on which we shall have to take decisions in advance of the review.

Mr. Bernard Jenkin: How will the Minister justify continuing to answer for the Government on English roads as a Scottish Member of Parliament, when he supports proposals that would deny any say to Welsh and English Members on roads in Scotland? Does he think that that is a sustainable proposition?

Dr. Strang: This is the United Kingdom Parliament, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and I am privileged to serve in it.

Speed Limits

38. Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to review existing maximum speed limits. [484]

Dr. Strang: Speed contributes to a third of all road accidents. I am concerned to reduce its impact and I shall consider a range of measures to manage speed, including speed limits.

Mr. Hinchliffe: I welcome my right hon. Friend to his new post. Is he aware of the increasing numbers of people,

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especially the elderly, who are effectively trapped in their own homes, as they are unable to cross nearby roads because of the speed and intensity of local traffic? Will he consider the proposal made by one of his predecessors, as an Opposition spokesman, to reduce speed limits outside all schools to 20 mph, which would immediately improve the safety of many children and young people?

Dr. Strang: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who raises a number of very important points. I should point out to him--this covers part of what he said--that the failure to observe the 30 mph speed limit in our urban areas is of particular concern. That speed limit is frequently ignored and often a contributor to accidents.

Mr. Ian Bruce: Given that the speed limit on motorways is only 70 mph but on winding roads in Dorset, for instance, it is 60 mph, should we not be considering raising the maximum speed limit on motorways and other such roads and bringing some sense to what seems a nonsensical set of speed limits?

Dr. Strang: I cannot see a case for raising speed limits. Something like a third of all accidents are caused by excessive speed. Road accident statistics for 1996 have not yet been published, but in 1995, 1,200 people were killed in accidents associated with speeding.

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Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill (Allocation of Time)

3.30 pm

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Donald Dewar): I beg to move,


That the following provisions shall apply to the remaining proceedings on the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill:--
Committee
1.--(1) Proceedings in Committee shall be completed at the sittings this day and tomorrow.
(2) At the sitting this day, proceedings on any amendments to Clause 1--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would amend that Clause at any place before the word 'Scotland' at line 6 of page 1 of the Bill,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at half past Seven o'clock.
(3) At the sitting this day, proceedings on any amendment to Clause 1--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would leave out the word 'Scotland' at line 6 of page 1 of the Bill and insert other words in its place,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at half past Eight o'clock.
(4) At the sitting tomorrow, proceedings on any amendment to Clause 1--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would leave out the words 'and tax-varying powers of a Scottish Parliament' at lines 6 and 7 of page 1 of the Bill and insert other words in their place,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at half past Four o'clock.
(5) At the sitting tomorrow, proceedings on any amendment to Clause 1--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would leave out only the words 'tax-varying powers' at line 6 of page 1 of the Bill and insert other words in their place,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at Six o'clock.
(6) At the sitting tomorrow, the remaining proceedings on Clause 1 and proceedings on any amendments to Clause 2--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would amend the Bill at any place before the word 'propositions' at line 7 of page 2 of the Bill,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at a quarter past Six o'clock.
(7) At the sitting tomorrow, proceedings on any amendment to Clause 2--
(a) which may be selected, and
(b) which would leave out the word 'propositions' at line 7 of page 2 of the Bill,
shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at Eight o'clock.
(8) At the sitting tomorrow, the remaining proceedings in Committee shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at half past Eight o'clock.
(9) On the conclusion of the proceedings in Committee the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question and, if he reports the Bill with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.

3 Jun 1997 : Column 188


Report and Third Reading
2. The proceedings on Consideration and on Third Reading shall be completed at the sitting tomorrow and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at Ten o'clock.
Conclusion of proceedings
3.--(1) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2, the Chairman or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions (but no others)--
(a) any Question already proposed from the Chair;
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;
(c) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(d) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded;
and on a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chairman or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
(2) If, apart from this sub-paragraph, two or more Questions would fall to be put by the Chairman under sub-paragraph (1)(d) in relation to successive Clauses and Schedules, the Chairman shall instead put a single Question in relation to those Clauses and Schedules.
(3) If at the sitting tomorrow
(a) a Motion for the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) stands over to Seven o'clock, and
(b) proceedings to which this Order applies have begun before that time,
the bringing to a conclusion of any proceedings at that sitting in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 shall be postponed for a period equal to the duration of the proceedings on that Motion; and paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business) shall apply to remaining proceedings that day on the Bill then being considered.
Order of proceedings
4. No Motion shall be made to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken.
Dilatory motions
5. No dilatory Motion with respect to, or in the course of, proceedings on the Bill shall be made except by a Minister of the Crown; and the Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
Extra time
6. The following business shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House and may be decided, though opposed, at any hour--
(a) proceedings under paragraph 3(1) or (2);
(b) proceedings to which paragraph 3(3) applies;
(c) proceedings under paragraph 8(1).
Business Committee
7. Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply to this Order.
Supplemental orders
8.--(1) The proceedings on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown for varying or supplementing the provisions of this Order shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion one hour after they have been commenced.
(2) If at the sitting this day or tomorrow the House is adjourned, or the sitting is suspended, before the time at which any proceedings are to be brought to a conclusion under paragraph 1 or 2, no notice

3 Jun 1997 : Column 189

shall be required of a Motion made at the next sitting by a Minister of the Crown for varying or supplementing the provisions of this Order.
Recommittal
9.--(1) References in this Order to proceedings on Consideration or proceedings on Third Reading include references to proceedings at those stages, respectively, for, on or in consequence of recommittal.
(2) No debate shall be permitted on any Motion to recommit the Bill (whether as a whole or otherwise), and the Speaker shall put forthwith any Question necessary to dispose of the Motion, including the Question on any amendment moved to the Question.

Mr. Peter Atkinson (Hexham): On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Today's Question Time has confirmed our worst fears that the decision to merge the Departments of the Environment and of Transport has led to a significant reduction in Back Benchers' opportunities to question Ministers on matters of crucial importance to our constituents. In a rural constituency such as mine, environment and transport issues matter. My constituents are more concerned with the funding of local authority and rural schools than they are, with the best will in the world, with international development. As usual, the decision was taken without consulting the House. Ministers took the decision no doubt to solve a diplomatic problem concerning the Deputy Prime Minister. May I urge you, Madam Speaker, to use the influence that you have in this area to reverse the decision?


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