27. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any scheme alternative to the street widening proposals made by the Traffic Branch of the Board of Trade has been submitted to the Department; if so, whether such scheme requires legislative powers to carry it out; whether it would so reduce the volume of traffic as to render street widening unnecessary and effect economies suggested by a resolution of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, dated 26th May, 1914, which recommended the scheme in question; and whether he will lay upon the Table a full Report on the scheme?
Mr. RUNCIMANBefore effect could be given to the scheme for a central goods clearing house in London, to which my hon. Friend refers, extensive statutory powers would have to be obtained by the promoters, and until the scheme has taken the form of a Bill seeking such powers, I think that no useful purpose would be served in reporting on it to Parliament.