§ 53. Mr. HARRISasked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be able to present his scheme for dealing with London traffic; and whether he expects it to be ready before the end of this Session?
§ 55. Major NATHANasked the Minister of Transport what is the position as regards the projected London Traffic Bill?
§ 56. Mr. GEORGE OLIVERasked the Miniser of Transport whether in view of the urgency of the matter, he is now in a position to make any statement as to the Government's policy in respect of the London traffic question?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONProgress is being made with the preliminary investigations, which, as I informed the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) on 5th December last, have been entrusted to Sir William McLintock, but I am not able to state when I shall be in a position to present the Government's proposals to the House.
§ Mr. HARRISHave not these investigations been going on for nearly a year, and ought we not by now to have completed at least the preliminary stage?
§ Mr. MORRISONIt is perfectly true that the financial investigations have been proceeding for some time, but the financial organisation of the undertakings concerned is one of some complexity, and some time has had to be taken. The hon. Member may be sure that nobody is more anxious than I am to get the investigations concluded at the earliest possible date.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it would be much quicker to re-introduce the old London Traffic Bill?
§ Mr. MILLSWill the Minister consider the increasing development of arterial roads maintained by local authorities, and is the acquisition of that work as a national measure under consideration?
§ Mr. MORRISONI think that supplementary question has no relation to the original question. As regards the question put by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) the Government have no intention whatever of re-introducing those completely unsatisfactory proposals.
§ Major NATHANIs any progress being made as regards the main lines of agreement with the various authorities and bodies concerned, apart from some inquiry into financial matters?
§ Mr. MORRISONThe difficulty on that point is that it is impossible to enter into negotiations, even on broad lines, until we have all the information as to the present financial facts and have substantially determined, in a preliminary way, our own policy, particularly on the financial aspect of the matter. Therefore, negotiations at this stage would be inadvisable.
§ Major NATHANHave the Government decided as to the principle on which they intend to proceed in this matter?
§ Mr. MORRISONYes, certainly, and that principle was announced to the House in December last.