§ 36. Mr. FLEMINGasked the Minister of Transport which local authorities have refused to inaugurate or maintain uncontrolled crossings, with or without beacons; and what steps he proposes to take in the case of such refusal?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAOnly local authorities in the Metropolitan Area have, up to the present, been asked to 375 co-operate in the actual laying down of crossings. The only authority to withhold co-operation is the Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey. As my hon. Friend will be aware, I have power in the event of a local authority declining to lay down crossings, to lay them down and recover the cost, but I have no reason at the moment to anticipate that local authorities generally will refrain, after I have appointed a date, from employing this practical method of promoting road safety.
§ Mr. FLEMINGDid the local authority in question, Bermondsey, give any reason for refusing?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI must ask for notice, but I remember that it was a very short letter.
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTIs it the case that an alderman of this authority sits on the Traffic Advisory Committee?
§ 38. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider adding to the luminous traffic signs illuminated verbal indications to pedestrians as to whether they are to cross or not to cross?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAYes, Sir. My Department is actively engaged in trying to overcome the difficulties which have hitherto been held to stand in the way of adding indications for pedestrians to light signals which are primarily intended to control vehicular traffic.
§ 41. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrian beacons have been put up in the county of London; what is the total cost of the same; and what proportion of the cost has been borne by the local authorities and how much by the Government?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAApproximately 14,000 beacons have been erected at pedestrian crossings in the County of London. The cost of these beacons is about £15,000 which is being borne, in the first instance, by the Road Fund, subject to a refund by the local authorities concerned of 40 per cent. of the cost of any permanent works taken over by these authorities.
§ Sir P. HARRISWill the hon. Gentleman consider not spending any more 376 money on these expensive ornaments until he is satisfied that they are really fulfilling the purpose for which they were put up?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI have given a long time for the results of this experiment to show themselves. Compared with the casualties last year, there is a distinct improvement, and also the figures for this year have hitherto shown a distinct improvement, the number of pedestrians in relation to other sections of the population who have been killed having diminished.
§ Sir P. HARRISDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that the improvement is due mainly to the white lines rather than to the beacons, which cannot be seen at night?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI can assure the hon. Baronet that my sole desire is to promote the public safety. It is for that reason that I have allowed an extended period for the experiment in London before extending it to the provinces. I shall not shirk the conclusions of the evidence, whatever they may be, for I feel that the public as a whole want to discover the right method by experiment, and there is no other way.
§ Sir JOHN HASLAMWill the hon. Gentleman continue his progressive policy of trying any method which will help to save life rather than the do-nothing policy that is advocated in certain die-hard quarters?