§ 2. Mr. Rhodesasked the Minister of Transport to what extent it is her pre sent policy to approve, as speedily as possible, the siting of new pedestrian crossings when application is made for such by local authorities.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. John Morris)Yes, Sir. But decisions on these applications often require complex studies and discussions with all the interests concerned.
§ Mr. RhodesWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that some local authorities are reluctant to apply for pedestrian crossings because they feel that for many years Ministry policy has been rather against them and that in my constituency there is considerable pressure from pedestrians that more zebra crossings should be put down on the main arterial roads leading to the eastern and northern parts of the city?
§ Mr. MorrisI am not aware of any such reluctance. Our object is to achieve a nationwide consistent general standard. As regards my hon. Friend's constituency, both the applications which have been made since 1963 were successful.