31. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing inconvenience to the users of public transport in central London from the less frequent running of many of the more popular buses, involving ever longer waits at bus stops; and whether he will issue a general direction to the London Transport Board to ensure that the services should be run with full consideration for the interests of the travelling public.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettWe do not think this would be appropriate. Both we and the London Transport Board are aware of the difficult problems affecting its bus services at present. These are largely bound up with the board's manpower problems, which are relevant to the work of the Committee of Inquiry announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 20th November. The Committee is now busily engaged with its task. It presented an Interim Report in December.
Mr. VaneIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the problem is much more serious than the Answer would seem to indicate? Since Lent is approaching, would it not be a good thing if my right hon. Friend persuaded some of his colleagues to deny themselves the use of official cars so that they might appreciate at first hand what other people have to contend with?
§ Mr. MellishWill the Minister confirm that while private motorists are using the roads in far greater numbers 219 than ever before, it is almost impossible for London Transport to arrive at any satisfactory schedule for the central part of London?
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettWe are aware of this point and that is why my right hon. Friend has taken so much action, not always popular in the first instance, to establish non-parking zones, one-way streets and so forth.