§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is intended to install mechanically operated traffic lights at the junction of Savoy Street and Victoria Embankment, in view of the considerable waste of police manpower in controlling the present hand-operated 433 lights and the fact that any need for the latter has ceased to exist, due to the closing of the tram tunnel and the completion of the new Embankment carriageways.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, the signals referred to are provided and operated by the Metropolitan Police to enable one man to control traffic at this junction. Their replacement by automatic signals would be a matter for the Westminster City Council, who are the highway authority. I understand that they are considering this possibility.
LORD GIFFORDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, but I feel that this is a matter of some urgency. There are other similar junctions on the Embankment which have for many years been controlled by automatic lights, and it would add safety and efficiency to traffic on the Embankment if this were also changed to automatic control.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, may I ask whether, although this matter comes within the purview of Westminster City Council, it is intended that the Ministry of Transport should make any recommendation in this direction? Surely, the Ministry bear some responsibility far what the noble Lord, Lord Gifford, points out is a serious waste of police power when police power in London is so desperately short.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, suggestions have gone from my right honourable friend to the Westminster City Council, who are also in touch with the Metropolitan Police with a view to trying to eliminate this particular unnecessary police control.