HC Deb 14 December 1977 vol 941 cc485-6
18. Air. Michael Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on plans to introduce measures to control public nonresidential parking.

Mr. Horam

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 21st November, he does not propose to legislate at this stage to control private non-residential parking but he does intend to enable local authorities to license privately operated public car parks.

Mr. Roberts

Does the Minister agree that further restrictions on parking would be damaging not only to the interests of the private motorist but to employment and commerce in the city centres?

Mr. Horam

The principle on which we operate is essentially that local authorities are responsible for implementing sensible traffic management policies and should have the power to do so.

Mr. Clemitson

Will my hon. Friend say something about the increasing practice of motorists to park their cars on pavements—a practice that is extremely annoying to pedestrians, extremely dangerous to blind persons and extremely costly for ratepayers?

Mr. Horam

I note my hon. Friend's point.

Mr. Adley

Have the Government now abandoned their proposals for private non-residential parking?

Mr. Horam

We have. We announced that on 21st November.