§ 74. Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the introduction of one-way traffic at certain points within the Metropolitan Police area has resulted in an economy in the number of police officers on point duty; if so, how many; and what annual saving does that reduction of staff represent?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)No, Sir; there is at present a slight increase in the number of police required, but it is hoped that it may be possible to reduce the number when the public are more, familiar with the system.
§ Mr. RYECould we have any information as to whether the number of fatal accidents has increased since one-way traffic has been in operation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI could not give the figures without notice.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI only express my view. I have heard of no 829 increase. I must not be taken as giving a definite answer unless the question is put on the Paper.
§ Mr. REMERHas my right hon. Friend received reports showing that one-way traffic makes it much more difficult for pedestrians to cross the streets?
§ 75. Major GLYNasked the Home Secretary whether he will obtain a return from the proper authorities in England and Wales which will indicate the number of fatal accidents in town and country due to persons being killed, or so injured that they died, as a result of being either passengers in private or public motor vehicles, or being knocked down by road motor vehicles when either walking or bicycling or driving in a horse vehicle, since the police reports are admitted to be inadequate?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am considering the question of extending the Police Returns for 1927 to include further particulars of the kind suggested. Pendding the issue of these Returns, my hon. and gallant Friend may care to refer to the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for 1925, where certain particulars with regard to fatal accidents are given in Table 22, page 429.
§ Major GLYNIs it a fact that it is quite impossible to know how many people are killed every year by accidents with motors?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-H1CKSI agree, and the very fact that I am trying to alter the mode of the returns shows that I am not quite satisfied that they give all the information which ray hon. and gallant Friend desires.
§ Mr. PALINGWould it be possible to give the figures, in these accidents, as to the injuries that are due to broken glass in motor cars?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will consider that point. I cannot say more.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASWill the right hon. gentleman bring out a return giving a comparison between the accidents with motors and on the railways?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am glad to say that, with the right hon. Gentleman's assistance, accidents are very few indeed, almost negligible, on the railways.
§ 86. Major GLYNasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by children, even when accompanied by nurses, desiring to cross the highway in the neighbourhood of the parks, especially where one-way traffic is in operation, as at Hyde Park Corner and the Marble Arch; and whether the London Traffic Committee have considered the possibility of setting up overhead bridges with inclined ramps at congested points when subways would be too expensive?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The whole question of the safety of pedestrians when crossing the carriageway of streets where one-way traffic is in operation is under consideration by the London Traffic Advisory Committee, and I must await their Report before reaching any conclusions in the matter.