21. Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Minister of Transport whether, in consequence of the congestion caused in the London streets by horse-drawn traffic, he will give instructions that the Regulation that such traffic shall be kept to the near side of the road shall be more carefully carried out, and that examples shall be made of those guilty of negligently causing such congestion?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Captain Hacking)I have been asked to reply. This is a matter with which it is very difficult to deal by police action, but the police take such steps as they can to enforce the law.
Sir F. HALLAs the law stands, are people indictable for an offence if they fail to keep on the off-side of the road, and thereby hold, up the whole of the traffic? Can the hon. and gallant Member see that the Regulations are more 218 carefully carried out in the future than they have been in the past?
§ Captain HACKINGAs the hon. and gallant Member knows, this is a question of a London County Council by-law made before the War, which spoke of slow-moving traffic. It is very difficult for the Police to determine what is, and what is not, "slow-moving." It is largely a problem of the relative degree of speed. Another difficulty is in connection with that traffic which is allowed to become stationary on the near side of the Streets.
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask if the hon. Gentleman can do anything with the traffic on the island site opposite this House between St. Margaret's Church and Parliament Square?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a separate question.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESMay I ask whether it would not be better, in spite of the opposition of the brewers, to have horse-drawn traffic removed from certain streets altogether in London?
Sir F. HALLWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the recommendation made by the Committee on the transport problem, as many of the recommendations have not been carried out.
§ Captain HACKINGThat is a question for the Ministry of Transport., not for the Home Office.