HC Deb 14 February 1962 vol 653 cc1298-300
28. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Transport in what places in Great Britain he is investigating the possibility of employing the monorail type of transport; and, in particular, what new proposals he has for linking London Airport to central London by monorail.

57. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport what further consideration he has given to the plan for a monorail to London Airport.

Mr. Marples

I have informed the various monorail promoters that I am prepared to consider proposals for monorail transport on their merits. So far proposals have been made to me only in respect of a possible monorail link between central London and London Airport. None of the schemes put forward has been sufficiently comprehensive to permit a full assessment to be made of its possibilities.

Mr. Bossom

Will my right hon. Friend continue to give every encouragement to this project? Everyone agrees that his fly-over has been successful and has speeded up the flow of traffic, and everyone also agrees that in this supersonic age we need a quicker way of getting out to London Airport, Gatwick and other airports?

Mr. Marples

If the people who are proposing to instal a monorail will give me full and comprehensive details I will look at them, but so far they have not done that. The plans which we have for improving the road to Heath Row will speed the journey. At the moment it takes thirty-five minutes from West London Air Terminal to Heath Row, and when we have finished it will take between eighteen and twenty-five minutes from the West London Air Terminal to Heath Row, which I think is a great improvement.

Mr. Lipton

While it is encouraging to see that the Minister is prepared to look favourably upon a monorail scheme, if one is submitted to him—that is the interpretation which I place on his answer—does he not agree that he is very optimistic when he says that with all his improvements we shall be able to get to London Airport in twenty minutes by road? Is not the best long-term solution to get as much traffic as possible off the roads and to use a monorail and similar devices to transport people?

Mr. Marples

I do not know whether I am optimistic compared with the hon. Member. I did not say that I would look favourably on such a proposal. I tried to convey to the House that I would look dispassionately and intelligently at it.