§ 2.53 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is anticipated that work will be started on the road improvement scheme embracing the Marble Arch, Park Lane, and Hyde Park Corner, as outlined in recent official announcements; how long the work may be expected to take, and what steps can be taken to relieve the increasing traffic congestion in the area in the meantime.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, legislation will be required to provide the necessary powers to enable Her Majesty's Government to undertake the Hyde Park road improvement scheme, and my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation hopes to authorise the improvements as soon as possible after those powers have been obtained. Until the contract drawings are completed, it is difficult to say how long the work will take to complete, but it will be pressed forward with all possible speed. It is not practicable to undertake any improvement works in the area in advance of the scheme, but the arrangements for traffic control will be kept under constant review to keep congestion to a minimum.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that figures have just been published showing that 91,000 vehicles are using this concentration point per day, and that the 8 figures have gone up by 10,000 since the last figures were available in 1954? Would the noble Lord say, when the Ministry of Transport were indicating this very desirable scheme, whether or not they had been in touch with the London County Council before the scheme was published? How long have we to wait while legislation takes its accustomed course—because it may take a long time? And is the noble Lord aware that this is the highest concentration point in this country—perhaps in the whole of Europe?
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he can inform us when it is proposed that his right honourable friend should place the proposed legislation before Parliament?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, it is well known that Hyde Park Corner is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, of traffic intersections in the world. The figures which my noble friend Lord Howe has given the House serve only to emphasise the wisdom of Her Majesty's Government in initiating this bold and comprehensive scheme. The London County Council, of course, have been consulted all along throughout the negotiations. I hope that the initiating of legislation will not take too long, but complicated matters, involving the ownership of land, are involved. In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Lucas of Chilworth, we hope to commission the whole scheme in the financial year 1958–59, and if the passing of the Bill is not delayed, there is every likelihood that work will begin in that year.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, does that mean that the necessary Bill will not be introduced into Parliament until 1958?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, the commission of the scheme is within that financial year. We hope to introduce a Bill into Parliament as soon as possible.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I am sorry to press the noble Lord on this matter, but could he give us some idea when "as soon as possible" may be?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I am afraid that I have no control over the legislative programme. All I can say is 9 that Her Majesty's Government desire to press on with this matter as fast as they possibly can.
§ LORD MANCROFTYes, my Lords.