HC Deb 02 February 1987 vol 109 cc672-3
3. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with local government officials concerning the effect of deregulation in London on traffic congestion.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Peter Bottomley)

We meet the boroughs to discuss traffic matters of common interest. We share the responsibility for helping Londoners to get about and to make London more prosperous, safer and pleasanter.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister aware that in recent correspondence the local district general manager of London Buses in the Selkent area told me that his greatest problem and the most serious cause of unreliability in bus services was the traffic congestion in central London, where my constituency is located, and that that was totally beyond his control? Can the Minister give the House any hope that the substantial remaining problem of congestion, which is increasing, and which I am sure he will accept is the biggest problem facing all those who try to keep buses running on time, will be brought under better control in the future? What steps can the Minister promise will be taken in that direction over the next few months?

Mr. Bottomley

Like any London Member of Parliament, I have had dealings with Selkent and London Buses. I should like to pay tribute to London bus staff who go through turmoil, show great courage and a degree of love, or at least concern, for their passengers in traffic jams and congestion. Clearly, one of the major problems is illegal parking. Indeed, sometimes it is difficult to find a space on a yellow line. Clamping and some privatising of parking enforcement will help. The issue of congestion comes up at the meetings between LRT and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, and we hope to make further progress on it.

Mr. Chapman

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the best and most effective ways to tackle congestion in the capital is to give support and encouragement to the London boroughs' local road schemes? Will he confirm that in this next financial year the Government are supporting financially a total of £77 million worth of such local road schemes, which will have the most practical, beneficial effect on traffic movement in the city?

Mr. Bottomley

My hon. Friend rightly draws attention to the importance of the transport supplementary grant system through which we work in partnership with the London boroughs. Local roads need to be made safer for local residents, but through roads and through traffic are important for public transport. My hon. Friend will recognise the significant improvements for buses made in most of the major schemes announced in London.

Mr. Tony Banks

Would the Minister be interested to know that I was able to stop and personally thank the police on the Mile End road recently for doing an excellent job in enforcing the bus lane that runs all along the Mile End and Bow road? Will the Minister tell the House whether he has had any discussions with the Home Secretary about providing sufficient policing resources in London to ensure that the bus lanes are enforced and, indeed, that parking restrictions are enforced, because therein lies the key to an easier flow of buses throughout the capital city?

Mr. Bottomley

The hon. Gentleman rightly draws attention to the newsworthiness of his support for the police in their work. If that could spread to other areas of police work, I am sure that it would be greatly welcomed throughout the House, London and especially the Metropolitan police. Obviously, it is important that where bus priority measures apply the rest of us should stay out of bus lanes. I suspect that the House will agree that some bus lanes work well, but others may need reviewing.

Mr. Greenway

Will my hon. Friend congratulate LRT on its many successes, especially on the Underground services and some bus services? Will he note, however, that the 207 bus service is appalling and that my constituents do not believe that one-man operated buses will improve the situation? Heavy traffic notwithstanding, what can be done to bring the 207 bus service up the standard at which it should be?

Mr. Bottomley

My hon. Friend is one of those who supported the movement for LRT to have greater independene from local government control. The matter that he raises relates to operational management and I suggest that he takes takes it up with the management. I join him in paying tribute to the remarkably improved performance of LRT since it left the hands of County Hall.

Mr. Tony Banks

Pontius Pilate.

Mr. Greenway

The pot is calling the kettle black.