§ 41. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recommendations for unilateral parking he has received from the Metropolitan Police for streets in the Tottenham Court Road area.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)None, Sir, apart from those for streets on which in accordance with my statement to the House of 17th November and with my approval, experimental restrictions have been imposed since Monday, 6th December.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to try to obtain such recommendations? After all, it is the policeman on the beat who has the knowledge and experience in these matters, and his advice would be more useful than that of the heads of the Departments in this matter.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI shall certainly watch the matter, but I think that the experiments which only started on 6th December ought to be allowed to go on for a little while.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIs the Minister aware that the traffic difficulties in this area are absolutely appalling and that unilateral parking is at least one way in which improvement can be achieved? Will he look at, or encourage the Chief Commissioner of Police to look at, conditions in Great Portland Street?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that restrictions of this kind can help. I have introduced quite a lot of them, and I am watching them.