§ THE LORD BISHOP OF HEREFORDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the growing menace, especially to children and handicapped people, of cars parked on pedestrian pavements, and whether they will take every measure to stop this dangerous practice.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government will consider legislation making it an offence to park on the pavement as soon as a suitable opportunity arises.
§ THE LORD BISHOP OF HEREFORDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for the assurance that action will be taken, may I ask him whether, since the offence is so obvious and blatant, it might be possible to consider instant fines rather than undertaking the rather difficult process of prosecuting and then collecting the fine?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think the principle of instant fines is one which has yet to be decided. As the right reverend Prelate and noble Lords will know, it is at the moment a matter for the police to decide whether to prosecute and for the courts to decide on the question of guilt.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, is my noble friend saying that there is at present no law or regulation against parking on the pavement?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONNo, my Lords; there are laws, but it is up to the police to decide whether or not to prosecute.
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that that is the point many of us would like to make? There is no point in having a law unless it is enforced. At the moment, roads are being painted with white and yellow paint, apparently to no avail, simply because enforcement does not appear to be feasible.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Beswick, is on to a very good point. When there are yellow lines, parking on them is certainly an offence which is immediately available for police attention. Where a car is on a pavement, the law at the moment, I am told—I am no lawyer, so I hope that your Lordships will hold me absolved if I use the wrong words—does not automatically assume that the car has been driven on to it.
§ LORD HALEMy Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to congratulate his noble friend Lord Ferrers on his singular foresight in guarding the reputation of this House, in that yesterday we were discussing the problems of Transport by rail, and to-day we are discussing problems arising from cars which have been left and may cause danger to the community?
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, is not my noble friend aware that a worse menace to children and handicapped people than stationary cars parked on a pavement is the fact that the rear parts of lorries of great length cannot avoid passing over the pavement when they go round corners? Is my noble friend aware that part of the barrier at the corner of Bridge Street and Parliament Square has been knocked down only this morning by some such vehicle?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, much as I sympathise with my noble friend, I do not think that is really relevant to the Question.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell us whether there is any special regulation for a hovercraft proceeding down the street?
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, returning to the serious aspect of this Question, would the Minister have in mind—I see that the noble Lord, Lord 1281 Fraser of Lonsdale, is not here to-day—that this is a particular handicap to blind people who may walk into these obstructions? Could the noble Lord make this problem rather more widely known and call it to the attention of the various motoring organisations?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think the noble Baroness is on to a very good point. I said in my original Answer that we are considering legislation as soon as the moment is appropriate, and this could be when we produce the next Road Traffic Bill.