HC Deb 30 April 1951 vol 487 cc819-20
8. Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

asked the Minister of Transport the powers of the Stopping Places Advisory Committee; who are the members; and what is the statutory authority for its existence.

Mr. Barnes

The Stopping Places Advisory Committee is appointed informally by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee constituted under Section 1 of the London Traffic Act, 1924. It is composed of representatives of the licensing authority, the police, London Transport, the Transport and General Workers' Union and my Ministry. Its main function is to advise on the provision and siting of stopping places for the trams and buses of London Transport in the special area as defined in the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933. I will circulate the names of the present members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

Is the Minister aware that when it was recently desired to move a bus stop in Reigate a matter of 100 yards or so, his Ministry convened a meeting of this committee on the spot, involving the attendance of seven officials from London plus three local officials? Is not this matter best left to local authorities to deal with?

Mr. Barnes

I am not aware of the circumstances of each case, but it is of great advantage to have a small expert committee of this kind to advise on the multitudinous arrangements for stopping places.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

Does that mean that every time a bus stop is moved anywhere in the very large London Transport area, 10 officials have to come together to settle the matter?

Mr. Mellish

How does this committee work if a local authority wants to alter a bus stop? When one writes to the London Passenger Transport Board one is told that it is not convenient and cannot be done. How does this Committee function? Where does it start from?

Mr. Barnes

That is the type of conundrum that I should have to look at separately.

Following are the members:

Chief Superintendent S. G. Wells, M.B.E. (Chairman), Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; Mr. J. T. Barrett, J.P., Transport and General Workers' Union; Superintendent J. W. Goyder, Commissioner of Police, City of London; Mr. L. J. Wallis, Licensing Authority for Public Service Vehicles for the Metropolitan Traffic Area; Mr. A. C. Kain, A.M.Inst.C.E., Minister of Transport; Mr. G. P. Stuart Clark, M.Inst.T., and Mr. R., N. Turnbull, London Transport Executive.