§ 41. Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Transport what percentage of the surface area of Greater London is made up of streets and roads; and how this compares with other capital cities; from information received from international organisations.
§ Mr. John MorrisInformation on the new Greater London highway area is not available but in 1962 roads and streets occupied 17 per cent. of the area then administered by the London County Council.
The highway pattern in different cities in England and elsewhere varies greatly but such scanty information as I have suggests that comparable percentages overseas range from below 15 per cent. to over 25 per cent.
§ Mr. WellsWill the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to see that those areas of south London that lead on to the A20 road are sufficiently improved before the A20 is converted to a motorway to link up with the Channel tunnel, because in that part of London streets are particularly scarce and it is essential that if there is to be proper planning it should be done soon.
§ Mr. MorrisI am sure that my right hon. Friend is well aware of this problem.
§ Mr. AtkinsonWould not my hon. Friend agree that the present roads in London are inadequate for the volume of traffic, and would he not therefore also agree that the decision not to build multistorey car parks above the new London underground stations will not improve that situation? Will he reconsider the decision not to build these car parks?
§ Mr. MorrisI am sure that my right hon. Friend is well aware of the whole problem of London traffic.