Victoria Line Tube

HC Deb 22 July 1959 vol 609 cc1272-3

23. Mr. Albu

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now received the report of the London Travel Committee which has been examining the proposed Victoria line.

32. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to announce when a start will be made with the construction of the proposed new underground railway from Victoria through North-East London.

Mr. Nugent

As I told the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 1st July, the London Travel Committee has not yet completed its study. My right hon. Friend will reach a decision as soon as possible after receiving the Committee's report.

Mr. Albu

As the facts about the need for this line have been known for several years, does not the Minister think that it is time that the Committee came to a conclusion and the Minister made up his mind?

Mr. Nugent

What the Committee has been doing is to try to take an expert view of whether this large sum of money, £50 million to £60 million, could be better spent on improving other aspects of communication in London. The Committee has had fifteen meetings on the matter and I believe that it is nearing the end of its deliberations, but it has lost no time over it.

Mr. Fletcher

Is it not a fact that the London Transport Executive is very anxious to make a start with this? Is it not also a fact that no better alternative method has ever been suggested for alleviating the appalling traffic conditions in North-East London.

Mr. Nugent

The London Transport Executive is certainly anxious to start on this proposal. The Committee is taking an expert view on whether £50 million to £60 million would be best spent on this project for relieving traffic problems in London.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Is not the Minister aware that his replies to this question are becoming a matter of boring repetition? We have had the same answer for at least twelve months. Is he aware that this is the only way in which traffic in London can be relieved satisfactorily, and that if his predecessor had taken this attitude fifty years ago London would be in an impossible situation today?

Mr. Nugent

The hon. Member is quite wrong. The same question has been asked a number of times, but until the report has been made it is inevitable that the answer will be roughly the same. A decision will be taken as soon as possible, but we want to have a well-balanced and expert report.