§ 25. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to encourage motorists who now leave their cars in car parks at stations outside London and travel to and from the City and West End by train, to continue to do so after petrol rationing has been abolished.
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes, Sir. The practice to which my hon. Friend refers has advantages for everyone, and I propose to consult the motoring organisations and the British Transport Commission in order to determine what further action can be taken to encourage motorists to park near railway stations and complete their journey by rail.
§ Mr. RussellDoes my right hon. Friend agree that there is still plenty of parking space at some suburban stations which is not used and therefore there can be no valid excuse that there is no room?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI quite agree. I wish that more use was made of those spaces.
§ 27. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the general principles he proposes to observe in ensuring that congestion of London traffic does not resume its former proportions when petrol rationing is ended.
§ 39. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how he proposes to maintain, after petrol rationing ends, the present reduction in the number of private cars in central London.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe policy must be to try to spread the traffic load more evenly as it increases again. I hope to do this by the increasing application of staggered hours and the full use of the traffic provisions of the 1956 Act.
I am examining with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and with the Commissioner of Police what additional enforcement measures, including the towing away of parked cars, may be necessary or desirable in the coming months. In the longer term I look to the general installation of parking meters by local authorities as a major contribution to the solution of this problem.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIn addition to these measures, which I am sure the House will welcome, would my right hon. Friend not consider placing an absolute ban in certain streets on all unattended cars and vans except those belonging to the occupier of the premises or his immediate agent? Does my right hon. Friend really defend a situation in which every butterfly that wants to flit round London can park its steel chrysalis on the Queen's highway?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIf I may say so, even butterflies, in a free world, can sometimes fly where they like. I have to be very careful to strike a proper balance between giving motorists reasonable freedom and keeping London's traffic flowing.
§ Mr. LiptonWhile welcoming the belated support of the noble Lord the Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) for the suggestion that I made a long time ago that there should be some kind of ban on parking in central London, may I ask the Minister whether he will really face the problem? Is he aware that there is not sufficient money available for road improvement in central London and that therefore he should indicate that he will give priority to the needs of London Transport buses and goods vehicles over the use of these roads by private cars in central London?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe hon. Member has so often asked me for a complete and final ban on private motor cars entering London, and I have said that I am quite opposed to that.
§ Mr. UsborneSurely the Minister's proposal is simply fiddling with the problem. Is it not perfectly obvious that, in 1257 the general interest of everybody who lives, works and travels in London, the time has come to face the problem and provide the ultimate solution, which is a complete ban on private cars, at any rate in the centre of London, with the exception of priority cases, like that of doctors? Is not that the right thing to do, through legislation?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not think that hon. Members opposite should let their desire to limit people's freedom carry them too far.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltIs my right hon. Friend aware that part of the trouble is that, certainly before petrol rationing was introduced, the present regulations were not being enforced?
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is the freedom of the people to use public service vehicles which is being interfered with, and that it is only since there has been a reduction in the flow of traffic on the streets that London Transport buses have been able to keep to their schedules? If banning is not the answer, is the answer not that we should do everything in our power to deter private motorists from coming on to London streets by a very strict enforcement of all parking restrictions?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI quite agree, and that is the policy that I shall carry out.
§ Mr. LiptonIt is not enough.