§ 14. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Works whether, in order to reduce traffic congestion in the West End of London, he will extend the hours of floodlighting by one hour nightly.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am advised that this measure would be likely to increase the traffic congestion.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Minister trying to find some solution to the problem of this mixture of chaos and 714 paralysis which comes over the West End of London every night? Is he aware that the trouble is basically caused by the fact that he is expecting a tremendous number of people to avail themselves of what he himself described as "the chance of a lifetime" within dates and times which are excessively limited?
§ Sir D. EcclesOf course the attraction of the decorations has astonished everybody, but I think that if we kept the illuminations on after 12 o'clock that would not help traffic. Indeed, I think it would keep up a lot of children who are already out of bed rather too late. The question of how to manage the traffic is one for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.