HC Deb 11 December 1950 vol 482 cc790-2
12. Mr. C. S. Taylor

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to introduce a Bill to deal with his proposed pedestrian crossing regulations so that the House shall not be in a position of having to accept the regulations as a whole or reject them.

Mr. Barnes

No, Sir. I do not think that a Bill would be appropriate. These matters are best dealt with by regulations, but before making them I am anxious to give hon. Members a full opportunity of expressing their views.

Mr. Taylor

If the right hon. Gentleman envisages an Order in Council or a Statutory Instrument, how will the House of Commons have an opportunity of debating the proposal, and of amending it if we so desire?

Mr. Barnes

I quite agree that the House does not have an opportunity of amendment in the case of a negative resolution. Nevertheless, public opinion can be ascertained and it is very desirable that we should take as much public opinion as possible along with us on these regulations. I think we can make provision to ascertain the views of hon. Members.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman will create an opportunity for the House to express its views on the general purport of the regulations before they are debated or prayed against?

Mr. Barnes

I could not say that I could make an official arrangement for this purpose. Hon. Members may recollect that, when we were discussing the statement I made, opinions were expressed in that direction. I said that, if necessary, I would convene a meeting of hon. Members to enable them to express their views.

Mr. Taylor

Surely that would be a great abuse of Parliamentary procedure. [HON. MEMBERS "Oh."] Surely this is an occasion when a Bill should be introduced and not a Statutory Instrument, which cannot be amended and which hon. Members have only the opportunity either of praying against or of accepting?

Mr. Speaker

Is the hon. Member asking for information, or not?

Captain Crookshank

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider laying a White Paper on the regulations and possibly having a debate on the White Paper?

Mr. Barnes

We attach particular importance to the regulations, which will not be of much value unless we take public opinion along with us. So far, I have seen very little reaction against them. I do not know whether a White Paper would be the best method, but I am exceedingly anxious to give full opportunities for the expression of opinion. We might be able to discuss, through the usual channels, a method of doing so.

Captain Crookshank

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. He will realise, no doubt, that the best place to get public reaction is in this House.

Mr. Barnes

That may be so, but hon. Members can hardly expect the procedure of the House to deal with matters of this kind.

27. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that orange globes indicating pedestrian crossings are often attached to heavy standards carrying trolleybus power wires and on the side facing one direction of traffic only, that the globes are almost invisible from the other direction; and whether, in the interests of safety, he will direct local authorities either to reposition the existing globe so that it can be seen from both directions, or to affix an extra globe on the blind side.

Mr. Barnes

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases he has in mind I will certainly look into them.

Mr. Janner

Is my right hon. Friend aware that recommendations to this effect have been put forward, and will he consider the matter in a general sense because of the difficulties which occur?

Mr. Barnes

I would rather not develop this in a general sense at the moment because the Road Research Laboratory is looking into the whole question of the lighting of crossings.

Mr. Shepherd

As this is a very unsatisfactory method of indicating a crossing, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not spend any more money on it?

Mr. Barnes

That point of view is under consideration.

Mr. Henry Strauss

Before the right hon. Gentleman encourages the use of such a word as "reposition" will he consult Sir Ernest Gowers?