§ 2. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Transport what arrangements he is making to withdraw horse-drawn traffic from the more congested streets of London.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Barnes)I propose to ask the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee to advise me how best the congestion in the streets of London can be relieved, and I 1284 have no doubt it will deal with the subject of horse-drawn traffic. That Committee, as the hon. Member will recall, is fully representative of all the major interests likely to be affected.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that four months ago he said that this matter was under consideration, and as it cannot be allowed to continue like this for very much longer, will he kindly hasten it along and get an early decision?
§ Mr. BarnesThe hon. and gallant Member will recollect that the London and Home Counties Advisory Committee was suspended during the war. I took the earliest opportunity to revive it.
§ Mr. KeelingAs the Minister has recently approved the initiative of Westminster in closing certain streets to through traffic in the interests of children, ought it not to be even easier to close other streets to all horse traffic?
§ Mr. BarnesThere are rather wider repercussions in the closing of streets to horse drawn vehicular traffic which require much deeper consideration.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisWill the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Committee to the congestion caused by the large number of horse drawn railway vans in the neighbourhood of the great termini on the Euston Road?
§ Mr. BarnesI have no doubt they will take that into consideration.
§ Mr. BowlesWill the right hon. Gentleman also ask the Committee to go into the question of prohibiting right-hand turns and forcing left hand turns only, in view of the great deal of congestion caused by turning right across the roads?
§ Mr. BarnesThat is rather a different issue.