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Road Safety Bill [HL]

As my noble friend Lady Hanham has just pointed out, the speed camera income received in fines goes to fund the deployment of speed cameras, yet over and above that deployment cost, there is a large surplus income. In 2003–04, this amount was about £20 million. It is sometimes called a stealth tax. It would make such good sense for that money to be spent on additional and unspecified road safety activity. So far, that opportunity has been missed since currently it is paid into the Consolidation Fund. However, the funds could benefit the safety plans of local authorities, police forces or voluntary groups. They could be awarded on a rolling programme, the surplus income from one financial year being available for grant during the next. I hope that the Minister will be able to accept this amendment or else achieve its purpose with an amendment of his own on Report.