(1)The Secretary of State shall review the operation in relation to rural roads of the provision made by and under—
(a)Part VI of the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (speed limits), and
(b)Schedule 9 to that Act (orders) so far as relating to orders under that Part.
(2)The review shall in particular include consideration of whether (and, if so, how) the law should be amended to facilitate the introduction of rural road hierarchies.
(3)A rural road hierarchy is a system under which rural roads are categorised by a local traffic authority (by reference to the ways in which they are used) for the purpose of subjecting different categories of rural roads to different speed limits.
(4)The Secretary of State shall consult—
(a)the Scottish Ministers, and
(b)the National Assembly for Wales,
when carrying out the review.
(5)The Secretary of State shall publish a report of the review before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
(6)The Secretary of State shall lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament.
(7)In this section “local traffic authority” has the same meaning as in the [1984 c. 27.] Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.