§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, since there is great difficulty in obtaining suitable sites at ground level for large garages, there is any reason why, as there are no structural difficulties, the land now occupied by the nationalised railway controlled marshalling yards, and also some of the areas now occupied by railway tracks at the approach to many of the larger stations in the cities, should not be covered with one or two or more parking platforms—an arrangement which has been most satisfactorily adopted in some countries.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, there is certainly a need in most towns for more off-street parking space. The provision of parking facilities is a matter for local authorities and private enterprise; and the British Transport Commission are prepared, where railway operations permit, to discuss the leasing of sites. If, therefore, they can make mutually satisfactory arrangements to increase such facilities in the way suggested, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport would welcome it.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his promise that if and when a proposition is put up to him he will see it is carried forward, as far as his position enables him so to do, may I ask whether he is aware that this arrangement has been carried out in Chicago where they have steam trains and in New York where they have electric 368 trains, and probably in a dozen other places, and we cannot find the land available anywhere to carry it out by any other means?
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, might I ask the noble Lord, before he replies to the noble Lord's supplementary question, whether this could not well be one of the questions to which Her Majesty's Government are addressing their attention in the proposals for the reorganisation of the British Transport Commission and its operations in the near future?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, may I take Lord Lucas of Chilworth's supplementary question first? I should not have thought that this particular aspect was entirely appropriate for that discussion, but it is certainly among other aspects that might well he considered, as he says, in the forthcoming considerations.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHWould the noble Lord accept it from me that one of the deterrents to rail travel in the country as a whole is because one cannot find room to park one's motor car at some of the main line stations?
§ LORD CHESHAMI think the noble Lord is becoming a little confused between station car parks and the suggestion made by the noble Lord, Lord Bossom, for utilising railway space (if we may call it that) in other places by building car parks over it for the benefit of the public at large, and not necessarily in any way connected with the operation of the railways. I think that is so. My noble friend has already kindly drawn to my attention the benefits to be obtained by this scheme and, as I have said, should there be any good schemes put forward, the British Transport Commission would be ready to consider them.
§ LORD BOSSOMI thank the noble Lord very much.