TRAFFIC WARDENS (SCOTLAND) (Hansard, 4 June 1962)

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. R. Brooman-White)
I beg to move, That the Functions of Traffic Wardens (Scotland) Order, 1962, a draft of which was laid before this House on 16th May, be approved. This Order will make it possible for police authorities anywhere in Scotland to recruit traffic wardens for the limited purposes described in paragraph 1 (1), and paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Schedule. Paragraph 1 (2) meets some immediate needs that at present arise only in Edinburgh, where, as the House will remember, in January of this year the establishment of parking meters was approved. If the House agrees to the Order we propose immediately to lay further orders to authorise "fixed penalty" or "ticket" arrangements within that city.
Paragraph 1 (2) will then make it possible for traffic wardens there not only to carry out the general tasks described in the rest of the Schedule but also to operate the ticket procedure for parking offences. I should emphasise that the ticket procedure will not apply to oases of obstruction of or leaving a vehicle dangerously parked. In such cases, where the degree of the offence may not be self-evident, the warden will be able only 161 to issue an informal warning or refer the matter to the police.
The Order has the approval of the three Scottish local authority associations and of the chief constables. I hope that it will be accepted by the House.

§ Mr. E. G. Willis (Edinburgh, East)
There are a few points on which I should like some clarification. In explaining the provisions of paragraph 1 (2), the hon. Member pointed out that it would have effect mainly in Edinburgh, in respect of which an Order was passed in January authorising the setting up of parking meters. I believe that meters have not yet been installed in any part of Edinburgh, but I agree that there is a good case for their installation—especially around Charlotte Square, and St. Andrew Square and, possibly, along George Street. But the corporation is taking a long time about the matter. When the meter will be installed, I do not know.
The points with which I am mainly concerned are raised in paragraphs 2 and 3. Paragraph 2 provides that: Traffic wardens may, under arrangements made with a local authority, be employed to exercise the functions conferred on parking attendants or to be conferred on traffic warden by a designation order … At present a number of people are now employed as parking attendants. This form of employment has been one which a number of disabled ex-Service men have taken up through the activities of the British Legion and other ex-Service associations. There has been a close understanding between the British Legion and the local authorities, or whoever is responsible, that these people should be employed, and we should like some guarantee that the Order will not put these people out of a job. It is important because this is a most suitable form of employment for these men, and we should hate to think that the very few avenues of employment for disabled ex-Service men should be made fewer by the operation of the Order.
Paragraph 3 provides that: Where a police authority provides school crossing patrols under section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1960, whether as the appropriate authority or by agreement with the appropriate 162 authority, traffic wardens appointed by or on behalf of that police authority may be employed to act as school crossing patrols. The general practice throughout Scotland is for the school crossing patrols to be undertaken by old-age pensioners. This is a common form of employment far old-age pensioners in most burghs in Scotland, and certainly in my constituency. I should hate to think that a form of employment for which an old-age pensioner is suitable and which enables him to supplement his all-too-small income would be taken from him by virtue of what we are doing in the House. Both these points are important not in the national sense but to the people concerned, and they concern the position of people whom none of us would like to see in any way hurt. I hope that the Under-Secretary of State will be able to give some information about these matters.
In general, we on this side of the House welcome the Order. Personally, I cannot help feeling as I go round Edinburgh that there are plenty of things which can be done by other than the police in relation to the parking of cars and other offences of that character which are covered by this Order. If some of these offences were dealt with it might make getting about Edinburgh, Glasgow and some other large cities a much more pleasant task. We are therefore not opposed to the Order, but we should like some clarification of the two matters to which I referred.

§ Mr. Brooman-White
I appreciate the points raised by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis). I cannot give an assurance about them because it must be within the competence of the local authority to decide whom they should employ. But I can give an explanation which may allay some misgivings.
The parking attendants at present active in Edinburgh are not salaried employees of the local authority, although they have the approval of the authority and the status to give assistance to the public and to collect money for their services. What is proposed is a salaried service. How far the same people will be recruited into that salaried service is a matter for the local authority. 163 As parking meter zones are established, the circumstances in which this previous service was operated will be to some extent changed.
I understand that it is not the intention of the Edinburgh Town Council or the Chief Constable to make any significant change in the present arrangements for school crossing patrols. It seems unlikely that any local authority would wish to use wardens to any extent to replace the personnel at present employed in this service. The powers are there simply to enable ad hoc arrangements to be made for replacement in the case of sickness and on other occasions of that kind.
I can give no assurance, because these are matters within the competence of the local authority, but we understand that those are the intentions of the local authority. I hope that that will allay misgivings.

§ Mr. Willis
While these matters are within the province of the local authority, is it not possible for the Secretary of State to send a circular to local authorities drawing attention to the position of these people and suggesting that it might be possible for these persons to be fitted into these schemes in the future?

§ Mr. Brooman-White
I do not know if that would be appropriate for a circular, but no doubt what the hon. Member has said this evening will be noted by the appropriate authorities.