§ 2.45 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government: whether any estimate has been possible, as yet, as to the probable effect of the relaxation of hire-purchase restrictions on the number of motor vehicles which will be in circulation on our roads; whether Her Majesty's Government would anticipate a considerable net increase due to this factor; whether any such increase would be in addition to the estimate of the Road Research Board that existing traffic would be doubled in ten years; if so, whether a further review of the adequacy of our road system to deal with such increase would be advisable, and whether a further increase in the road programme would be necessary to deal with it; and, if so, whether it can be treated as a matter of national urgency.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, it is not yet possible to estimate the effect of changes in the hire-purchase regulations on the number of motor vehicles likely to be in circulation on the roads. It would be natural to assume that there 390 will be an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads due to these changes, though the increase is likely to be largely due to week-end and holiday traffic.
The new construction and improvements in the present road programme of my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation are designed to cater for traffic increases for many years to come. As for the road programme itself, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to press ahead to the limits the country can afford.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for that reply and paying every tribute to the work of the present Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, I should like to ask him whether he has by any chance studied the figures in the chapter entitled "Traffic" in the Report of the Road Research Board, 1957; and, if so, whether he thinks, and whether it is the view of the Government, that the roads are really adequate to carry a much greater load in the years to come.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his tribute to my right honourable friend, I should tell him that I have studied that Report, and, as I said in my statement, the roads are designed to ewer for traffic increases for many years to come. I would ask the noble Earl to wait and see what the position is when the new roads have been completed. I am sure that he will not be disappointed.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, does my noble friend mean that the present road programme will look after the increase of traffic for many years to come? If so, is that not a new statement of Government policy?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the road programme is capable of considerable expansion, as and when it will be required, and the position is kept under review constantly.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, by "the road programme", is the noble Earl referring to the present road programme, or to one about which we have not heard?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the programme on roads for the future is kept constantly under review, and the 391 design of roads for the future is in itself capable of expansion to cover any increase in traffic which has not been envisaged.
§ LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEUMy Lords, in view of the fact that British railways are obviously out of date and uneconomic, would not now be the time to set up a Royal Commission to study the whole future of transport in this country, and perhaps divert to our roads some of the millions of pounds spent on backing up an out-of-date railway system?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I do not think that question is related to the Question in hand, but I will bring it to the attention of my right honourable friend.