Daithí McKay
North Antrim · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Will the First Minister give us a more detailed update on the civic advisory panel? Would she also agree that, as we face what is, undoubtedly, a political and economic abyss, it is more important than ever that we hear from civic voices in society as well as political leadership?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I recognise much of the work that is ongoing. Given the recent reported and alleged race crime in the Minister's constituency involving several members of the police, will she give us an assurance that a proper and fully independent investigation will be carried out?”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent years, it has become harder and harder to secure your vote. In that context, it does not make sense that support to secure the vote is withdrawn from those on the ground when they need it more than ever. I am sure that most people picked up anecdotes when canvassing in the recent election.”
“We should move forward with confidence and take on more powers to ensure that we protect local services and workers. <BR /> <BR />Look at the list of offices to be impacted: Ballymena, Banbridge, Omagh, Derry, Newtownabbey and Newtownards. If all those were to close, it would leave a huge gap in rural constituencies.”
“I thank the proposers of the motion for bringing it to the House. I am moving the amendment on behalf of Sinn Féin. <BR /> <BR />I think that all 108 Members received a letter from NIPSA concerning the action that has been taken. The letter also highlights the lack of accountability regarding local politicians.”
“I did so along with other MLAs from all the parties locally, so we are unanimously opposed to the decision there. But, we are all 108 locally elected politicians who are powerless to do anything about this. That is why we should see these small — I have to say they are small — but significant functions being transferred to Belfast.”
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“The Committee agreed to recommend that the Rates (Owner Allowances) Order (NI) 2015, be affirmed by the Assembly. I, therefore, support the motion.”
“The Department may agree, where the owners so undertake and pay the Department on or before the date or dates specified in the agreement the amounts payable by him thereunder, to make an allowance not exceeding 12·5%. The order reduces this maximum allowance to 10%. <BR /> <BR />The rule also seeks to substitute 10% for any allowance in an existing agreement made under the 1977 Order between the Department and a person or body other than a housing association or the Housing Executive. <BR /> <BR />The formal statutory rule before the Assembly today was considered by the Committee in February, together with the accompanying report from the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Examiner raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny.”
“A landlord who is responsible for rates payments under certain criteria receives an allowance of 7·5% provided that payment is made before 30 September or within one month of billing, whichever is the later. This rule aims to increase that allowance to 10%. <BR /> <BR />The second aspect is to reduce the maximum allowance, or discount, provided for by a rates payment agreement between the Department and landlords. Landlords whose rent is paid or collected at intervals shorter than quarterly may, by agreement with the Department, undertake to pay the rates chargeable in respect of the hereditament whether it is occupied or not.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas Cheann Comhairle. The purpose of the rule is threefold. The first aspect is to increase the allowance or discount that the Department provides to landlords — owners — who are subject to compulsory provisions under the Rates (NI) Order 1977.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a rural MLA, I also support the motion on a party basis. I recall, as a councillor and an MLA, lobbying for many years to get ATMs in villages. I am sure that every rural MLA has done the same. This is a very worthwhile proposal. It is worth continuing, as it provides a great service to young and old alike in our countryside villages and towns.”
“<BR /> <BR />On a minor technical point that I noted subsequent to the Committee receiving its briefing, perhaps the Minister could clarify why the rule provides for an extension to 1 April 2016, rather than 31 March, as has been the case in previous years. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was nonetheless satisfied with the Department’s answers to its queries and had no objection to the policy proposals at that time. The formal statutory rule was subsequently considered at the Committee’s meeting on 18 February 2015, together with the accompanying report from the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Examiner raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />The Committee agreed to recommend that the Assembly affirm statutory rule 46/2015, the Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (NI) 2015.”
“At its meeting on 14 January, the Committee considered the proposal to make the order. During that consideration, several points were raised about which designation of rural areas was being used for the scheme, who exactly assessed which of the machines was stand-alone or part of a building and who exactly would receive the exemption. The Committee was advised that NISRA provided the designation of rural areas, that the professional valuation officers from LPS assessed each ATM and decided whether it fell into the scheme's remit, and that the exemption would go to the individuals or group responsible for the stand-alone ATM.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. The purpose of this rule is to extend the current rates exemption for any ATM that is assessed separately for rating purposes in a designated rural area from 31 March 2015 to 1 April 2016. ATMs that are located in banks or building societies tend to be valued as part of the property and are therefore not affected. <BR /> <BR />The exemption initially came into effect in 2007, and policy evaluations carried out in 2009 and 2012 showed increases in the number of rural ATMs. The Committee noted that, at present, Land and Property Services (LPS) has estimated that around 60 ATMs are covered by the scheme. The Department has estimated that the cost of the scheme in 2014-15 is just over £130,000, with an estimated cost of around £2,200 per ATM.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee agreed to recommend that statutory rule 48/2015, the Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2015, be affirmed by the Assembly. I therefore support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department undertook an early review of the scheme in 2013, which indicated that, although there had been a reasonable number of successful applicants throughout the time of the scheme, they were not evenly spread throughout the North and, as a result, the scheme was extended for two years. The purpose of the rule is to provide a further extension of the scheme to the end of this Budget period on 31 March 2016. The Committee formally considered the statutory rule that is before the Assembly at its meeting on 18 February. It also considered the accompanying report from the Assembly's Examiner of Statutory Rules, which raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for his remarks. As has been outlined by the Minister, the purpose of the rule is to amend paragraph 2 of article 31D of the Rates (NI) Order 1977. This would allow an extension for applications to the empty retail premises rate rebates scheme beyond the present March 2015 closing date until the end of the present Budget period in March 2016. <BR /> <BR />In 2012, the Committee was first advised of the initial proposal to provide 50% relief for one year to a new occupier of an empty shop. The initial scheme was limited to one year so as to reduce any unwanted displacement and minimise any advantage over established traders, and it also allowed the Department to review the success of the scheme during the initial period.”
“In turn, I believe that the Committee functions are exercised most effectively when they provide constructive input that adds value to the Budget considerations. <BR /> <BR />This evening, on behalf of the Committee, I support the motion.”
“Noting the particular governmental structures in the North, the Committee has highlighted the need for a robust external advisory and challenge function to be exercised within and across all Departments in respect of budgetary savings and efficiencies. Specific recommendations have been made, which would be distinctive from, but complement, the role of existing oversight bodies, including the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Finally, in facilitating the role of the Assembly, full and timely engagement by Departments with their respective Committee will be crucial in ensuring that all Statutory Committees can fulfil their important advisory and scrutiny functions in the implementation of the 2015-16 Budget provisions.”
“There will need to be greater focus on preventative spending, and I am interested to note that this is an area being considered within the terms of reference for an ongoing OECD review. A coordinated approach to promoting the uptake of financial transactions capital will also be needed. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has also called for a fully informed and mature public debate on how best to help to meet the further budgetary challenges ahead, based on complete information and analysis of all options for raising additional revenue through charges and further devolved taxes and duties. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has called for measures to compensate for the fundamental weakness in our system of budgetary control and oversight, which came about when DFP’s role changed following devolution from one of challenge to one of pure coordination.”
“<BR /> <BR />Given that the Bill makes partial provision for 2015-16, I shall take a few moments to reiterate some of the Committee’s key conclusions on and recommendations for the next financial year and beyond. The Committee identified various strategic issues that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Those include careful management of the voluntary exit scheme to minimise risk to public-service delivery, and the Committee will continue its scrutiny of that at its meeting tomorrow. The Executive will need to take a corporate approach to controlling and bearing down on administrative expenditure across Departments. The Committee was concerned to note how this has increased in various Departments over recent years.”
“The Committee therefore welcomes the engagement with DFP during the quarterly monitoring rounds and on the Estimates and the Bill. It was particularly helpful for members to receive clarification on the details of the in-year technical changes to Departments' resource and capital allocations, some of which were quite significant. <BR /> <BR />Where the residual issues to be addressed in the weeks ahead are concerned, the Committee reiterates the importance of Departments' minimising any year-end underspend to ensure that the Executive keep within the limits of the Budget exchange scheme, which was agreed with the Treasury. I expect that all the Statutory Committees will closely monitor their respective Departments' forecasting and expenditure during the remainder of this financial year and, indeed, over the next financial year.”
“Where the latter is concerned, that would include changes to front-load Committees' input so that their scrutiny and advice is provided at the formative stage of the Budget-setting process and before the Executive have agreed the draft Budget. During 2015-16, we will be faced with the commencement of another Budget process, so we must not delay that work. <BR /> <BR />As I outlined previously, the Committee took evidence on the Bill from DFP officials in early February. That marked the culmination of a process of scrutiny of the 2014-15 in-year monitoring rounds at a strategic and departmental level. On the basis of that engagement process, the Committee determined that it was content to grant accelerated passage under Standing Order 42(2).”
“<BR /> <BR />As the Finance Committee recognised previously and in plenary debates over recent weeks, the legislative stages for the existing Budget and financial processes are cumbersome and in need of reform. Contributions to the recent debates have, in my mind, affirmed that there is broad acceptance across all parties that an overhaul of existing processes should be undertaken. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Minister's comments during last week's Second Stage debate, when he indicated his willingness for work to resume on the memorandum of understanding on the Budget process. At its meeting last week, the Committee agreed that I should write to the Minister to request that that happens quickly to put in place improved arrangements for the next Budget process so that it meets the needs of the Executive and the Assembly.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. By this stage in the passage of the Budget Bill 2015, Members will be well aware of its purpose and provisions. It provides the statutory authority for expenditure in 2014-15 as specified in the spring Supplementary Estimates, encompassing the year’s monitoring rounds. The Bill also includes the Vote on Account, which allows public expenditure to continue in the early part of the next financial year until the Assembly votes on the Main Estimates for 2015-16 in early June. <BR /> <BR />I do not intend to rehearse the Committee’s contribution to the debate on the Supply resolutions, as that was the appropriate time to debate the detail of the provisions in the Supplementary Estimates.”
“We can do much more than that. There is a train coming down the track, and that is the projected costs of the health service for the Executive. We need to meet that head-on, and we need to introduce innovative proposals, not only to raise revenue but to try to change people's behaviours when it comes to obesity and diabetes. <BR /> <BR />I hope that we can have a worthwhile debate. I look forward to the amendments being proposed by the Alliance Party and the DUP, and I look forward to the debate.”
“It would boost spending as well, and that is something that we need to do. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, we brought the motion to the Chamber today not only to put forward some of our ideas and proposals for moving the economy forward but to kick-start debate. We need to have more constructive debate on the economy and fiscal levers. We will have different views on issues such as corporation tax and air passenger duty — issues that we may have flogged to death on the Finance Committee — but I believe that, since the previous mandate, we have moved on to some interesting ground. At the moment, the Finance Committee is considering the effects of the Barnett formula and its future. The Assembly and the Executive need to push forward economic proposals and be innovative. I gave one example, which was that of the carrier bag levy.”
“Belfast City Council has already ensured that all of its employees receive the living wage, and we should follow its example. Derry and Strabane District Council has followed suit. A living wage is not just aspirational. <BR /> <BR />Of course, we have been here before. There was the debate many years ago about a minimum wage, and it was said that it was too much to ask for. When it was introduced, the economy, the private sector and the public sector soon adjusted because it was the bare minimum. Now, we need to ensure that people have a basic income to ensure a basic standard of living, and, by introducing the living wage, we would introduce more money into the economy.”
“Remember that this is the rate to ensure that workers have a basic — a basic — standard of living. It is not too much to ask. <BR /> <BR />In the North, about 170,000 workers, such as sales assistants, care assistants, hairdressers, bar staff etc, earn less than £7·65 an hour. More than 80% of our 18-to 21-year-olds earn less than the living wage, so there is a huge disparity between young and old. I believe that our young people are worth much, much more than that and should be treated fairly. Paying workers a better wage, a basic living wage, will increase productivity, which is better for their employer and better for them. It would also boost spending in the economy by some £124 million a year, according to Oxford Economics, and give the Exchequer a net gain of £83 million through increased tax receipts and reduced benefit payments.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our levels of poverty, as they stand, will not lead to economic growth, but eradicating low pay will lift people out of poverty and help us to build a more sustainable economy. People want to work, people want to participate in society, and people are better able to participate in the economy from a base of individual security. This is crucial, and it is crucial that our people are paid a living wage. Paying the living wage to workers is not just an aspirational goal, as some would say. We believe that, at the formation of the next Executive, the Programme for Government should include a commitment to delivering the living wage in the public sector. We believe that we should have the power to decide the same for the private sector. At the moment, the living wage is £7·65 an hour.”
“<BR /> <BR />In Scotland, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has led on a diverse portfolio of projects across the country, which helps to attract more than £4 billion of additional investment over and above traditional capital budgets. We need to maximise all the funding avenues that we can to try to bring forward projects that would otherwise remain in the pipeline for years to come. Over five years, from 2009-2010 to 2013-14, the SFT in Scotland has brought cumulative savings and benefits of over £640 million. That is a proposal worth exploring at Executive level. I think that the Finance Minister should look at it in how we can move the economy forward and how we can generate more support for infrastructure projects over and above the traditional approach to such matters.”
“It is only fair that occupiers pay according to the value of their home, especially those who live in a humble abode valued at £0·5 million or £1 million. That inequality needs addressed. <BR /> <BR />If we had full economic power, we would, in the context of an economic setback or continued economic decline, arrange a compensating public expenditure stimulus to buoy up the economy. In fact, the stability of the North's public services has been key to protecting the Northern economy from further slippage. In the absence of economic power, we need to consider other options. One is to ensure that the North can fully benefit from the European Investment Bank. We believe that the Executive should establish an outside body to draw down loans from the European Investment Bank to fund major infrastructure projects.”
“Collectively, we need to consider what new levies we can administer that will enhance our local budgets and be built on the premise that those who can pay should pay. The onus is on us, within the context of our local budgetary restraints, to ensure that no one is asked to pay more than they can legitimately afford. Raising the maximum capital rates value, for example, would ensure that some of the more well off gave a greater contribution to society. We wish the upper limit on domestic rates to be removed so that a person with a £400,000 house, a £500,000 house or a £600,000 house will pay according to the value of that property. This will raise close to £7 million and address the inequality in the system.”
“<BR /> <BR />The carrier bag levy helped to reduce bag usage by over 200 million in its first year — 2013-14 — and generated net proceeds of over £4 million, which have been invested in community and environmental projects through the challenge fund. The levy demonstrates how a levy or taxation, whatever way you want to describe it, can be used not only to deliver a sea change in public behaviour and but to deliver real financial support to community groups and others working on the ground to educate, maintain and improve health and well-being. <BR /> <BR />Elsewhere, there is the Scottish health levy and the community infrastructure levy in England and Wales. I am not endorsing them but flagging them up as examples of some of the range of options that other Administrations have in taxation.”
“Tax effects that should benefit our public finances being siphoned off to Westminster is not a fair situation, especially given the recent developments in Scotland relating to the Smith commission. We should benefit from all changes in local policy. <BR /> <BR />We need fiscal levers to improve our tourism sector, manufacturing and inward investment. We also have to raise revenues, consider progressive taxation and be innovative in how we do that, if it helps to change people's behaviour in public health and well-being. We are all aware of the massive challenges ahead of us in health and health expenditure.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. As Members are aware, the Executive have come through a period of budgetary challenge and that challenge looks set to continue in the time ahead. To have no control over our economic destiny ensures that we are seemingly reliant on getting scraps from the table of Westminster again and again. We are blind to our economic statistics and, to some extent, to our own economic outputs as well. Fiscal balance reports are accepted without question, and there is no total economic vision of how we could do things differently or better by ourselves. We need to see greater economic growth. Economic rule from Westminster has stymied, not enhanced, economic growth, and it is in that context that we need to ensure that we get the best deal — a fair deal — on corporation tax.”
“That was noted by the Committee as part of its scrutiny, and the Committee therefore agreed to recommend that the Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2015 be affirmed by the Assembly. Therefore, on behalf of the Finance and Personnel Committee, I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the Examiner raised no issues by way of technical scrutiny in relation to the rule before us, he had previously advised the Department on Monday 26 January that, as an earlier version of the rule purported to have been made subject to affirmative resolution, it would have no effect since it should have been laid in draft before making. The Department subsequently replaced the rule accordingly with the one being considered today.”
“Members also noted that DFP conducted a four-week consultation exercise on the draft regulations, and that ended on 19 December. The Department advised that the shortened four-week consultation process with trades unions only was because the regulations and the Act were already subject to a full public consultation. Moreover, members were advised that trade union side did not have any objections and had indicated that it would not be submitting a formal response. <BR /> <BR />The Committee formally considered the statutory rule before the Assembly today at its meeting on 4 February, together with the accompanying report from the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules. The rule was laid before the Assembly on Friday 23 January subject to draft affirmative resolution procedure.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee noted, in particular, that there are two changes required, which will be made by draft affirmative resolution: transitional provisions to stop transitional members being treated as deferred members of their pre-2015 scheme; and consequential modifications to the tax regime in respect of ill-health benefits. Transitional members who take ill-health retirement will be protected from being assessed against tax twice as a consequence of their having non-accruing membership of the old scheme in addition to membership in the 2015 scheme. <BR /> <BR />The policy proposals contained in the rule were formally considered by the Finance and Personnel Committee on 21 January. After consideration, the Committee confirmed that it had no comment to make on the policy proposals at that stage.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. As the Minister has outlined, the Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2015 make consequential provision in relation to the new Civil Service pension scheme under the Public Service Pensions Act (NI) 2014. This regulation supersedes the Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Consequential and Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2015 — that is a mouthful — that was made incorrectly. The regulations modify the effect of other statutory provisions in their application to the Civil Service pension scheme. These amendments are necessary to ensure that the new alpha pension scheme operates as intended within the wider framework of pensions and tax legislation.”
“Issues were raised about cost — the cost of the Bill can be counted in pounds and pence; the cost of not implementing it will be measured in lives.”
“To lose your son like that and go on and campaign for a law that would prevent another family going through the same trauma is an extremely courageous thing to do, and we should commend the Brennan family for that. <BR /> <BR />The speed limit in that estate in Kilkenny is 50 kmh, which is 30 mph, the same as applies in all our estates and residential areas here. It is too high for areas where our children live and play. Whether it is in the North or the South, it does not matter. We have to protect our children, our families and our communities. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin supports the Bill's principles and objectives and the approach of political parties in the House today. Some may have issues with it, but they are willing to take the Bill to the Regional Development Committee for further consideration and amendment, if necessary.”
“Evidence from the pilot scheme in south Edinburgh showed similar results: average speed reduced by around 10% to just over 20 mph, and there was a larger fall of about 14% on roads that had higher average speeds before the limit was introduced. Of 1,000 people surveyed in the south Edinburgh pilot area, 79% supported the 20 mph limit and just 4% opposed it. <BR /> <BR />Roseanne Brennan lost her young son Jake when he was knocked down and killed by a car outside his home on an estate in Kilkenny last June. She is sleeping outside the Dáil in a bid to force the Government to reduce speed limits in housing estates. A couple of days ago, she launched 'Jake's Law' with my party colleague Mary Lou McDonald TD in an effort to reduce the speed limit in residential areas.”
“Opinion research carried out in the south Edinburgh pilot area found that residents felt that the new speed limit had had a range of positive impacts, the most often mentioned being improved safety for children and for walking and cycling. <BR /> <BR />Myth five is that the city would be covered in speed humps. The new limit will be introduced without traffic calming measures. However, if monitoring finds that speeds remain significantly above 20 mph on certain streets despite signage, speed-reducing measures on the roads concerned will be considered. <BR /> <BR />Another myth is that signs alone do not lower drivers' speeds. Evidence has shown that sign-only 20 mph speed limits can help to reduce average speeds and improve safety.”
“Myth three is that the 20 mph speed limit will not be enforced. The legal speed limit on all roads in Edinburgh is enforced by Police Scotland, which says that this will be no different. Whether a street has a 20 mph, 30 mph or 40 mph speed limit, the police will direct their resources to particular problem areas as they do currently, and drivers caught flouting the limit will face a warning or fine. <BR /> <BR />Myth four is that 20 mph limits in shopping streets will be bad for businesses. It is considered that businesses will benefit from the increased liveability that slower speeds foster in their area, with more people attracted to spend time in shopping streets where they feel safer and the environment is generally more pleasant.”
“Research indicates that vehicles flow more smoothly through junctions at slower speeds. Additionally, as a result of reduced acceleration and braking, a 20 mph limit may help to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions. Some environmental benefit from the change is expected from helping to unlock the potential for walking and cycling, as I mentioned earlier.”
“There needs to be discussion about what changes can be made at the edges of the Bill, but we would be missing a huge opportunity if the Bill were not to be introduced into law in one form or another. <BR /> <BR />Last month, Edinburgh's bid to become the first 20 mph city in Scotland moved a step closer when councillors approved a map of 20 mph, 30 mph and 40 mph limits for the city. The council said that it wants to dismiss a number of myths concerning that. Those myths are equally as applicable to here as they are to Scotland. Myth one is that slower speeds will increase congestion. The council does not anticipate any increase in congestion. In fact, research indicates that vehicles flow more smoothly through junctions at slower speeds. <BR /> <BR />Myth two is that slower speeds will increase emissions and worsen air quality.”
“<BR /> <BR />Clause 1 concerns the speed limit on residential roads. The definition of a residential road has to be watertight; it has to address any possible anomalies. That should be discussed in detail in Committee. Some common sense has been shown in the Bill's memorandum, which states that the Department can apply 30 mph speed limits to residential areas if they are a main thoroughfare, but concerns about the definition need to be addressed through the Committee's scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />Clause 7 gives the Department two years to put the changes in place. The question is: how much will it cost? The Committee needs to establish what the projected costs are. Are the projected costs put forward by the Department accurate? Is two years enough? That is the key question that the Committee should consider.”
“<BR /> <BR />The introduction of 20 mph speed limits in inner south Bristol brought about a 12% increase in cycling and pedestrian activity and a 40% reduction in the number of cycle casualties in the first six months of the speed limits being introduced. Average speed reductions of 1·4 mph to 5·3 mph were reported across a range of roads in the area. Slower vehicle speeds are associated with increased opportunities for walking and cycling. According to the Health Forum in England, the associated benefits of walking and cycling include increased physical activity, encompassing weight reduction, reduced chronic conditions and better cardiovascular health, improved mental health and well-being, better social cohesion in communities and safer areas for children to play. We can see that the evidence speaks for itself.”
“That is consistent with the Health Department's strategy to tackle obesity, which aims to empower the population to make healthy choices and reduce the level of harm related to overweight and obesity by creating an environment that supports and promotes a physically active lifestyle and a healthy diet. A number of factors can contribute and create barriers to participation in physical activity. Fast vehicle travel is commonly cited as a barrier to walking and cycling. In promoting cycling and encouraging greater uptake, safety remains a key concern. The NI cycling strategy outlines that it will examine the recommendations of the speed management review in Britain and, where appropriate, introduce further measures to reduce traffic speed in the North.”
“We have to recognise that the 20's Plenty idea fits well with the public health agenda, not like the nonsense that we have seen from the Tories across the water, such as cutting benefits from people according to their weight. We need to take that seriously. <BR /> <BR />People want and should be given better choices. A better urban and community environment will make it more likely that people will make healthy choices about their lifestyle. We need to do more to promote the health benefits associated with increased physical activity as part of efforts to reduce overweight and obesity levels and improve mental health and well-being.”
“Sustrans make a very important point: all the North will be doing is catching up with elsewhere, where 20 mph zones are already being rolled out. <BR /> <BR />The Institute of Public Health outlined the potential health benefits arising from the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas. It points to increased safety for residents, pedestrians and cyclists. Slower vehicle speeds result in perceived and actual changes to the built environment, which generate opportunities for walking and cycling. Increased physical activity will help to tackle obesity, reduce the risk of chronic conditions, improve cardiovascular health, improve social cohesion among communities, improve mental health and well-being and reduce emissions that contribute to climate change and air and noise pollution.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sustrans research has shown that parents are far more concerned about road safety than so-called stranger danger to their children, and speeding traffic is the most common concern in our communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />The cost of road signage should be weighed up against the many benefits of 20 mph limits, which include boosting walking and cycling, in particular, but also related health and environmental benefits and the reduction in roads casualties. Streets with 20 mph limits have 40% fewer road casualties and the greatest reduction in numbers of young children killed and injured. Default 20 mph limits are also cheaper to implement and can reduce the need to spend on significant new infrastructure. The benefits of 20 mph limits reach far beyond road safety to increased social interaction and physical activity, along with improved air quality and noise levels.”
“At the moment, roads and streets are far from safe and, in some cases, getting less so. Rolling out the 20 mph speed limits on streets where people live is a key part of the cycling revolution to which he refers. <BR /> <BR />The potential health benefits are huge as well. Recent analysis of cycle deaths in London found that virtually all fatal collisions occurred on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or higher. Research in London also found that, of pedestrians hit at 40 mph, 90% are killed; of pedestrians hit at 30 mph, 20% are killed; and of pedestrians hit at 20 mph, 3% are killed. Therefore, reducing the speed limit and drivers' speeds towards 20 mph reduces the chances of people being killed on our roads by a huge margin.”