HC Deb 03 April 1957 vol 568 c376
9. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress he has made in his conversations with the motoring organisations and the British Transport Commission with a view to persuading motorists to park their cars at stations outside London and complete their journeys by train.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)

Preliminary inquiries have shown that the amount of parking space provided at most suburban stations is adequate to meet the present demand. British Railways and London Transport have, however, already announced plans to extend such facilities, and I hope that motorists will take full advantage of them and, when they can, complete their journeys by rail.

Mr. Russell

Has my hon. Friend had any discussions with the motoring organisations about this? Can he hold out any hope of his persuasion being successful?

Mr. Nugent

My right hon. Friend and I have spoken to the motoring organisations about this, but what is needed is the general co-operation of all motorists at present coming into London. The organisations will do what they can, but it is the individual who must be responsible.

Mr. Ernest Davies

If that is the case, cannot some inducement be held out to the suburban motorists to use the public transport facilities and park their cars at the outlying stations? Cannot there be some form of cheap-rate season ticket with parking facilities combined?

Mr. Nugent

A good many are doing it now, and I think that motorists will be sensible enough to see the advantage of this to themselves and the rest of the country.