HC Deb 26 January 1953 vol 510 c651
6. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now received a further report from the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee on traffic congestion in Central London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have recently received a report on car parking in Central London from a working party appointed to follow up the Advisory Committee's recommendations on that subject in their report of 1951. This report will be published soon, and I should like to take this opportunity of thanking and congratulating the authors for all the work they have put into it.

Mr. Russell

Can my right hon. Friend give us any idea what the report will contain?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The broad purpose of the report is the building of underground garages in certain selected London squares to be financed out of machines in nearby parking streets on the American principle. I think there is a great deal of value in this report. I have myself read it with the greatest interest, and I told Mr. Samuels, the Chairman, on the day he presented it that I felt sure the public also, on the understanding that we must move forward, would welcome it.

Mr. Ernest Davies

When the report is published, will the Minister convey to the House the views of the Government and, at the same time, what action he proposes to take on the report?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly. I am not in any way anxious that the Government should not take a lead in this matter, but this is one of those things in which public opinion must first be educated, and I propose to start by educating my colleagues in the House and shortly to put certain designs in the Tea Room.