HC Deb 26 July 1961 vol 645 cc421-2
44. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take powers to control car parking in streets too narrow for this purpose.

Mr. Marples

I already have powers to control car parking on trunk roads and on roads in the London Traffic Area. On other roads this is a matter for the local authorities.

Mr. Spriggs

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has been reported as saying that he gave some measure of encouragement to car drivers to park part-way on the footpaths? Will he ask his right hon. Friend at least to show a good example to the travelling public?

Mr. Marples

The hon. Member should put a Question to my right hon. Friend so that he can answer it direct.

Mr. Manuel

What is the right hon. Gentleman doing to control the all-night parking of commercial vehicles in streets already overcrowded? If members of the public have to provide garage accommodation for their cars, is not the least we can do to see that off-street parking facilities are used by these commercial vehicles?

Mr. Marples

In London, where this problem is at its most acute, my Department and the police are in consultation with local authorities at Bermondsey and other places in the hope of taking remedial action.

Mr. Strauss

While there has been much discussion of this matter in the House and statements by the Home Secretary and the Minister, is it not about time that this serious problem was sorted out and some announcement made about car parking on the pavements in narrow streets, often making it impossible for pedestrians to walk along the pavements properly? Ought there not to be some decision in the matter and a proper Government announcement, or some direction to the police which can be properly obeyed?

Mr. Marples

Any question of directions to the police is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and not for me.

Mr. G. Brown

Can the Minister of Transport say whether it was after consultation with him that the Metropolitan police moved parked cars away from outside the house of the Home Secretary?

Mr. Marples

I am afraid that I could not answer that.

Mr. Speaker

That is outside the terms of the Question.