HC Deb 27 January 1970 vol 794 cc1193-4
17. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for constructing underpasses to the approaches of the Thames bridges in the Central London area.

Mr. Bob Brown

None, Sir. Such routes are the responsibility of the Greater London Council or the Corporation of the City of London as highway authority.

Mr. Wall

Will the Joint Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind the lessons that have been learned from other capital cities such as Paris and Brussels as to the advantage of these underpasses and do all he can to ensure that they be constructed in London?

Mr. Brown

We have just given the Greater London Council the most comprehensive powers in road traffic that any authority in the world has. It would not be proper for either my right hon. Friend Dr me to attempt to dictate plans to the Council.

Mr. Lipton

Is my hon. Friend aware that as a result of giving the Tory-controlled G.L.C. greater powers than any municipal authority has ever had in transport London's transport is worse now than it has ever been? London's bus services have been cut to ribbons, to the vast inconvenience of London's travelling public?

Mr. Brown

These are points that my hon. Friend should take up with the responsible authority, namely, the G.L.C.