HC Deb 28 July 1965 vol 717 cc451-4
18. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to compile statistics and data on the provision or otherwise of, or need for, parking facilities by local authorities in view of the wide difference in parking policy between authorities.

Mr. Swingler

No, Sir. Parking policy must fit local needs, which vary from town to town. In a planning bulletin issued last March, we and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government gave local authorities advice on all aspects of parking and urged them to adopt positive and comprehensive policies.

Mr. Lubbock

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that on the outskirts of Greater London different local authorities adopt very different pricing policies in relation to the parking facilities which they provide and that these are in no way co-ordinated with the parking facilities which are provided by either London Transport or the British Railways Board? What steps is the Ministry taking to see that the policies of all the various authorities which provide parking on the peripheries of our major cities, particularly Greater London, are properly co-ordinated?

Mr. Swingler

I agree very much with the hon. Gentleman that we want a co-ordination of policy on this matter, co-ordination which we have sadly lacked in the past. We are endeavouring to get this co-ordination, particularly among the nationalised boards. However, traffic conditions vary considerably from town to town and, as I said to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) the other night, the parking policy of one authority—such as the use of disc parking—may not be suitable for others. We must, therefore, depend on the local highway authorities to adopt the policy which is best suited to their local needs.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Is the hon. Gentle-aware of the increasing irritation in the London area because of the parking of heavy lorries in residential roads and streets? Is it not time that the Ministry took a lead in attempting to solve this problem?

Mr. Swingler

The local highway authorities and local police have a considerable degree of responsibility here. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to enforcement, then that is the responsibility of all concerned. If it is an offence—and it often probably is—for heavy lorries to be parked in residential streets in the way described, that is a matter for police action.

24. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Transport if he will initiate research into the effect on property values in town shopping and business areas of the absence of adequate parking facilities.

Mr. Swingler

My Department is already sponsoring a research group whose work includes the inter-relationship between transport facilities and urban development. My right hon. Friend does no think he should give special priority to this particular aspect of the problem.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that in many suburban areas around Greater London parking facilities which were originally provided for the benefit of people using the shops are being used by commuters who leave their cars there the whole day while they are in London and thereby prevent people who come in by car using the shopping areas? Does this not indicate that the imperative need is co-ordination between British Railways and the local authorities in outer London?

Mr. Swingler

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. It emphasises the imperative need for a policy of co-ordination, which we have lacked for so many years. We are trying to come to grips with the problem of having parking facilities available at the rail terminals.

Mr. Speaker

Lord Dalkeith.

Mr. Lubbock

Will the hon. Gentleman—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman did not hear me. I called Lord Dalkeith.

The Earl of Dalkeith

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this Question and other Questions today mark an historic occasion, namely, the sudden and belated transition of the Liberal Party from the horse and carriage age to the motor car age?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I do not think that the Minister's responsibility extends to that degree of historical research.

25. Mr. Bowen

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the extent to which town shopping centres with adequate parking facilities attract shoppers from towns without such facilities.

Mr. Swingler

In the joint planning bulletin "Parking in Town Centres" issued last March, we and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government advised all local authorities that towns without an adequate policy for both on-street and off-street parking are likely to lose trade to those that have.

Mr. Bowen

Is it not extremely important to stress not only the convenience aspect of the matter but also the basic commercial value of providing adequate parking facilities in urban areas?

Mr. Swingler

Yes, Sir. It is extremely important that all local highway authorities should consider this, and a bulletin was issued as a matter of urgency in the light of the continued build-up of ownership of vehicles. This is something which will be essential in the co-ordination of transport in the future.

Mr. Powell

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the time is approaching when it would be wise to have a full-scale and thorough investigation into the economics of parking from every point of view—charging, land use, and so on—and that this is a task which might usefully be entrusted to an independent body?

Mr. Swingler

It would have been wise to have had this many years ago. With the advantage of the advice of his Transport Advisory Council, my right hon. Friend is considering this matter as one of urgency. That is why we have issued a bulletin to local authorities.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

How does the Minister explain the fact that the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell), who we thought was a 100 per cent. capitalist, is now demanding public initiative?

Mr. Speaker

The Minister of Transport has no responsibility for giving such explanations.

Mr. Goodhew

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Labour Party suggested that they were poised and ready to swing many policies into action? It is no excuse for him to say that the Conservative Party did nothing for 13 years. What have hon. Gentlemen opposite been doing for 13 years?—[Interruption.]

Mr. Swingler

We have swung policies into action. That is why my right hon. Friend and the Minister of Housing and Local Government issued a bulletin on car parking facilities last March to local highway authorities. It indicates to them the policies that we wish to see adopted.

Mr. Speaker

I would remind the House that parking, whether by discs or by meters, seems to be rather noisy, and that we have had the Answers to 20 Questions only by 17 minutes past three o'clock.