HC Deb 23 March 1955 vol 538 c2065
45. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of vehicles which will use the roads of this country in the next three years.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

On the basis of the current rate of growth, I estimate that the increase over the next three years in the number of motor vehicles will be about 1½ million, including motor cycles and motor-assisted pedal cycles.

Mr. Russell

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that his road programme will be adequate to ensure that worse congestion does not occur than that which exists at present, especially in large towns?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

It is this expected increase in the number of vehicles on the roads which makes it so urgent to proceed with the road programme.

Captain Pilkington

Will my right hon. Friend consider the question of bigger commodities being sent by rail instead of by road?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I think that in due course that may well be the result if the Transport Tribunal approves the Transport Charges Scheme which the Transport Commission has recently put before it.