HC Deb 24 October 1983 vol 47 cc8-9
9. Mr. Tracey

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which body will be responsible, when the Greater London Council is abolished, for traffic matters.

Mrs. Chalker

Our consultation paper seeks views by the end of January on the detailed proposals about those traffic matters which might become the responsibility of individual boroughs and about those which need to be handled on a wider basis.

Mr. Tracey

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her promotion. In the context of the consultation paper may I focus her mind on the south circular road, since it causes such chaos for the residents and damage to businesses in south London? May we be assured that the Government will look carefully at where the responsibility for developing that collection of signposts will finally rest?

Mrs. Chalker

I assure my hon. Friend that we shall be looking carefully at the future of the south circular road. He will note from paragraph 13 of the paper published on 10 October by my Department that the first individual road mentioned to come under the Secretary of State's responsibility is the A205 south circular road.

Mr. Maples

Is my hon. Friend aware that under its present powers the GLC has instructed its officers to report by the end of the year on the implementation of a lorry ban in London? Will my hon. Friend examine those powers and the powers of her Department to ensure that no hasty or premature decision does irreparable carnage to the city's economy?

Mrs. Chalker

If there were any proposals for inflicting irreparable damage we should not hesitate to step in. I hope that that will not be necessary and that the GLC will see that there is no point in making a proposal for one part of London which adversely affects a neighbouring part.