HC Deb 26 May 1954 vol 528 cc391-2
34. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take on the Report for 1953 of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The great majority of the Committee's specific recommendations either have been or are being implemented by Orders and Regulations under the London Traffic Act, 1924. The more general and far-reaching recommendations of the Report are receiving my active consideration.

Mr. Davies

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the statement in the Report that nothing has been done about the recommendations which the Committee has made with a view to relieving the traffic congestion in London?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I reconcile it in this way. The vast majority of the recommendations have been carried out. The Chairman of the Committee came to me on the day of publication of the Report and apologised for certain interpretations which had been put upon it.

Mr. H. Brooke

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind particularly the view expressed by the Committee that the extension of restrictions on waiting to more and more streets renders absolutely essential the provision of extra parking space off the highway, for it will other-wise increasingly prejudice the good relations between the public and the police?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have that very much in mind.

Mr. Davies

As one of the main recommendations of the Committee has been the construction of underground garages and the provision of more garage space in London, and as nothing has been done about it by the Minister, does the right hon. Gentleman still insist that he is carrying out the Committee's recommendations?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Two major recommendations have so far not been implemented. One is the ring road, which would cost £88 million, and the other is the provision of underground parking accommodation, on which an immense amount of preliminary progress has been made.