§ 26. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the serious congestion of traffic in the London streets, he will consider making regulations that will prohibit horse-drawn vehicles using certain streets during busy hours of the day?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 11th March to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Maidstone Division (Commander Bellairs), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. DAYIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the great success that has been attained where these regulations have been introduced in America?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIt does not follow that what is good for America is good 971 for us. This matter on three occasions, I think, has been thoroughly investigated, and on the whole those who investigated it came to the conclusion that we should not be justified in excluding horse traffic.
§ Commander BELLAIRSCan my right hon. and gallant Friend not fix a time limit in years in order to enable the railway companies and brewery companies possibly to adapt themselves?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, because in some cases it is distinctly better to use horses.
§ Mr. DAYDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that in some of the very narrow streets experiments might be tried?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThat has been considered, but on the whole that project has been turned down.
§ Mr. MACLEANDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that in narrow streets it is slow traffic which should be allowed and not fast traffic?