§ 2.5 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will request local authorities authorised to introduce parking meter schemes to provide annual reports of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the schemes, and of the expenditure from the profits upon the provision or maintenance of off-street parking accommodation.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am sure that, in the early stages, we shall all welcome information about the financial results of these parking meter schemes, including the help they are giving to off-street parking schemes, and that the local authorities running them will be very ready to satisfy our reasonable inquiries. Later on, however, when all such information has been obtained annual reports would be of little value and would involve unnecessary work and my right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, does not contemplate seeking any amendment of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, to make such reports a statutory requirement.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether when this idea of parking meters was first brought before Parliament it was not distinctly laid down that the monies raised were to be devoted towards the provision of off-street parking? Surely the motor world, which is paying well over £500 million a year, has a right to be told how much of the proceeds are being devoted to this particular purpose. May I also ask the noble Earl whether he has noticed that in the last day or two the Minister has given authority for eleven new schemes in 338 eleven cities? Are we to be told that we are never to know how the money contributed by the motor world for parking is spent, and never to be given any idea of what the balance sheet might be?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I fully appreciate the noble Earl's feelings in this matter, but I thought that perhaps the first part of my reply would have already answered his question. I am certain that there is no desire on the part of the local authorities to hide any such figures; in fact, we are convinced that they will provide all the figures which my right honourable friend will require to help over the future. But the fact still remains that there is no statutory requirement on the local authorities to provide these figures as a right by demand from Parliament.
§ VISCOUNT BRENTFORDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he appreciates that there is a great depth of apprehension concerning the provision of off-street parking places out of the proceeds of parking meters?—because that was the bargain. Can the noble Earl indicate whether he is aware that any plans have as yet been promulgated by any local authority in order to provide off-street parking out of the profits of this venture?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I understand that that is, in fact, so. As regards the first part of that question, I should like to take this opportunity to emphasise that in Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, local authorities are required to use surplus monies which they get from the parking meter schemes to meet all or any part of the cost of the provision and maintenance of parking accommodation otherwise than on highways.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he is aware that the Answer which the Minister has given through him to-day will be regarded as most unsatisfactory by the people interested?
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I should like to ask whether, in the interests of getting the maximum co-operation possible in all the circumstances put by the noble Earl, the Minister would undertake to ask the local authorities—I know that there is 339 no statutory compulsion—to make returns from time to time, and with the privilege of laying them before Parliament for its information?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I can assure the noble Viscount that my right honourable friend requires this information as much as anybody else, and there is no doubt that local authorities will provide him with all the information that he requires. But he has not the right to demand that he should receive the information. My noble friend Lord Howe will forgive me for saying that I think his final remark is most unjust, in view of the first part of my reply, which was that my right honourable friend is convinced that the local authorities will supply all information to all interested parties. It is a new scheme. All I am saying is that it is not up to my right honourable friend to demand such information by law, because the law does not provide for him to do so.
§ VISCOUNT BRENTFORDMy Lords, arising out of that last reply, may I ask the noble Earl whether he will ask his right honourable friend to make available to the public whatsoever information he does receive from local authorities upon this subject?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I will certainly ask my right honourable friend about that. I cannot give a direct reply to the question.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, can the noble Earl say if the accounts of local authorities when, they are audited will show whether the income from parking meters is being devoted to off-street parking? If that is so, the public will be aware of the situation.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that intervention. That, as I understand it, is so.