§ 68. Mr. John Rodgersasked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to arrange for three shifts, or at least a day and a night shift, to be worked on repairs to main thoroughfares, such as Oxford Street and Park Lane.
§ Mr. BarnesThere are serious difficulties in the way of doing road work by night, including the shortage of skilled and supervisory staff, the considerable extra cost, objections by residents to noise and the fact that surfacing work cannot be done properly by artificial light. Nevertheless, I encourage highway authorities to do what they can to reduce the time taken on works. Weekend work has been done at a number of places recently and double shifts have been worked, for example, at Hyde Park Corner.
§ Mr. RodgersDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that traffic hold-ups cost the community thousands of pounds, that the extra money which might have to be paid to workers to work overtime would be worth while from a national 960 economy point of view; and, furthermore, that the working conditions, under present lighting systems, are probably more ideal in the evening than during the daytime, when traffic is attempting to negotiate these obstacles?
§ Mr. BarnesI have set out some of the difficulties. Hon. Members are aware that recently I had to address a request to highway authorities to reduce their costs in view of the stringent need for economy. That meant a reduction of their staff, so that they cannot expand at a moment's notice.