§ 36. Mr. CROWDERasked the Minister of Transport whether his Department has any objection in principle to the construction of private garages under houses such as exist in various South American cities; and whether in any case he has investigated this possibility of private garaging?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe provision of suitable garage accommodation is, of course, to be encouraged.
§ 37. Mr. CROWDERasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider giving financial assistance to those London boroughs who will undertake the provision of large-scale underground garages in London so as to reduce the congestion in the streets?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHALocal authorities now possess powers to construct parking places not only on the ground level but under or over it and to make charges to recoup their expenses. I have no power to contribute.
§ Mr. CROWDERCould the right hon. Gentleman consider talking the matter over with the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence with a view to building such garages, because they might be used as air raid shelters in case of war?
§ Mr. MESSERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the wonderfully successful experiment at Hastings along these lines, and is he aware that the streets are bereft of motor cars in consequence of underground parks?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am well aware of that, and I hope the good example of Hastings will be followed on as broad a scale as possible.