HC Deb 21 April 1971 vol 815 cc1169-71
31. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will now publish for the information of Members tile rules governing parking and accommodation of motorcars in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster, steps in hand to end present severe congestion, and rebuilding plans to ensure accommodation for a minimum of 1,600 cars for Members, Officers of the House and others as authorised during hours of Parliamentary sittings of both Houses.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. William Whitelaw)

As requested, I will publish this information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir G. Nabarro

As an adjunct to the information published in the OFFICIAL REPORT, will my right hon. Friend cause a working model to be constructed and displayed in the Upper Corridor of the House showing his Ministerial and other intentions with regard to future accommodation of motor cars for Members of both Houses of Parliament, for the staffs of both Houses and the officers of both Houses, to demonstrate how we propose to accommodate 1,600 vehicles, which i3 the estimated figure projected forward to the year 2000 A.D., as presumably we shall be building accommodation for many years ahead?

Mr. Whitelaw

I will certainly consider the point about the working model. I should tell my hon. Friend that at pre- sent it is hoped that a start will be made in the long recess of 1972 on providing an underground car park beneath New Palace Yard to hold about 350 cars. Further car parking space will eventually be available when the redevelopment of the area north of Bridge Street is complete. I would also remind hon. Members that there is space for 50 Members' cars under Church House which is not fully utilised at present.

Mr. Strauss

When the underground car parking space is being constructed 4,400 beneath New Palace Yard, what will happen to the present car parking space in New Palace Yard? Will it be available? Will it be severely reduced?

Mr. Whitelaw

I understand that it will be exactly the same as at present, but I will look into the point.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

Does my right hon. Friend realise that if he increases the amount of parking in or under or above New Palace Yard the congestion getting out of New Palace Yard in Parliament Square will be even greater than it is now? Is he aware that it is no good providing for more vehicles in this sector until something is done about the traffic in Parliament Square?

Mr. Whitelaw

These are inescapable facts, but not all are matters for my responsibility.

Mr. McNamara

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House, whatever arrangements may be made about the parking of cars, whether there will be provision of mounting blocks for hon. Members?

Mr. Whitelaw

If they are still there I am sure they will remain.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that too much riding in motor cars is almost as dangerous a health hazard as too much smoking? Would he not agree that it would be much better, and solve a great many of our parking problems, if we had earlier nights, in which case there would be no need for car parking in New Palace Yard?

Mr. Whitelaw

I still think there would be need for the parking of cars. As for the question of riding in motor cars, I am informed by my wife and many others that the more one walks the better.

Mr. Michael Foot

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply a minute ago, would he say which Department in the Government is responsible for facing inescapable facts since we have not noticed that any of them are prepared to accept that responsibility?

Mr. Whitelaw

I think it is fair to say that this is covered by the famous phrase —"We inherited them from our predecessors." These must be faced. I am simply saying that I cannot be responsible for the arrangement of traffic outside the precincts of the House of Commons. Parking inside is my responsibility.

Following is the information: There is space for about 230 cars for Members and officers of the House in New Palace Yard, Commons Court, Star Chamber Court and Commons Inner Court. In addition some 45 can be parked in Speakers Court, but these are confined to Ministers, ex-Ministers and others on the Speaker's list. No one else may park within the precincts, except on Fridays at the discretion of the Serjeant at Arms and in Recesses. It is hoped that a start may be made in the long Recess of 1972 with providing an underground car park under New Palace Yard to hold about 350 cars. Further car parking space will eventually be available when the re-development of the area North of Bridge Street is complete. Hon. Members may care to be reminded that space for 50 Members' cars is reserved under Church House: this is not fully utilised at present.