§ 16. Mr. Grant-Ferrisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works why he has proposed two new blocks of buildings for Whitehall before Her Majesty's Government have produced definite proposals for the traffic in the area; and what steps he is taking to implement Professor Buchanan's scheme for removing through traffic from this area.
§ Mr. C. PannellThese buildings can be planned without prejudice to the traffic proposals. I am now awaiting the outcome of the Greater London Council's studies on these.
§ Mr. Grant-FerrisIs it not really putting the cart before the horse not to deal with the terrible traffic problems which we have outside this building as part of the general scheme for these plans? Would that not give confidence to the public, for does not the public want to see done what it can most easily see needs to be done?
§ Mr. PannellWhat is now apparent to the hon. Gentleman was as clear as daylight to me a long time ago. If he considers the statement which I made in July he will see that I indicated then that these traffic studies were proceeding. They are still proceeding. As I have said, if 662 the consideration of this plan needed a traffic study beforehand then, of course, we would have undertaken one. However, the Martin-Buchanan proposals, including those of Professor Colin Buchanan, showed us that that was not so.
§ Mr. ChannonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he said last week that he hoped to make a further statement? When will he make that statement, for does he realise that this is a matter of great importance to all hon. Members?
§ Mr. PannellI told those concerned that the hon. Gentleman, and all other hon. Members, are interested and I told them to hurry it up.