HC Deb 24 November 1971 vol 826 cc1338-9
38. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is now considering to curb the nuisance of parking in residential areas by heavy lorries.

Mr. Peyton

I am considering the recent report of the Working Party on lorry parking.

Mr. Dykes

I am grateful, of course, for the immense work which my right hon. Friend and the Department as a whole do, and I am appreciative of it, but could the Government not now act with a sense of urgency on this problem, in view of its gravity? Is my right hon. Friend not aware of the depredations by heavy vehicles in urban and residential areas, particularly in large conurbations such as London and Birmingham, and is it not time now for really urgent action to curb these monsters destroying the environment, particularly for old people and children?

Mr. Peyton

I entirely accept what my hon. Friend said about the gravity of the problem and the urgency, and I can assure him that my Department is fully aware of it and needs no reminders of the fact that it needs dealing with, and quickly. It is, however, an exceedingly complicated problem, and one in which many industries are involved, and I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish to take up an attitude which, if carried to its logical conclusion, would simply add intolerably to the cost of transport.

Mr. George Cunningham

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even if, in this business, he and his Department appreciate the urgency of the matter, the Greater London Council and the Metropolitan Police Force certainly do not, and will he use his influence with his colleagues at the Home Office to bring pressure to bear on the Metropolitan Police to cease obstructing the wishes of the London boroughs, and on the G.L.C. to make use of the powers which the G.L.C. already possesses to ban overnight parking of lorries in parts of London where there are off-street parks or where the nuisance is extremely intense?

Mr. Peyton

The G.L.C., of course, deals with this matter separately. If the hon. Member has any particular area in mind and would like to call my attention to it or to any particular problem—

Mr. George Cunningham

I have for the past year.

Mr. Peyton

—I should be grateful to him if he would let me know and I will do my best to see that action is taken.