§ 5. Miss Irene Wardasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider transferring to local authorities the power to establish traffic lights at crossings which, in their opinion, are essential to safety on the highway.
§ Mr. BarnesNo, Sir. If the best results are to be derived from traffic lights they should be provided in accordance with a uniform policy, which, I am satisfied, cannot be properly achieved without central control.
§ Miss WardIs the Minister aware that the delays in coming to decisions are interminable and that when the decisions are taken they very often bear little relation to the needs of the district? Does he think that his policy is consistent throughout the country?
§ Mr. BarnesI do not agree that there are interminable delays. It is very often because the proposals put forward do not conform to the general policy. In the matter of traffic lights, I think that both motorists and pedestrians should have a more or less common code throughout the country.
§ Lord John HopeCan the Minister say, shortly, what is the general policy?
§ Mr. BarnesI cannot say shortly, but obviously it means that traffic lights cannot be erected indiscriminately at all traffic crossing points.