§ 2.23 p.m.
§ BARONESSS SWANBOROUGHMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Fraser of Lonsdale, who is unavoidably absent, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in his name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the working of the parking meter and traffic wardens system, and what plans are in prospect for its extension.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, We are satisfied that the introduction of parking meters and traffic wardens has done much to relieve congestion and to ease the flow of traffic. In London, applications for designation orders now before my right honourable friend should make it possible to authorise a substantial increase in the number of parking meters before Christmas and it is hoped that the whole of central London will soon become a controlled parking zone.
1000 Outside London, there are parking meter schemes in Bristol and Manchester. All provincial authorities are now empowered to apply to my right honourable friend for designation orders, and he hopes that many will be encouraged to do so by the success of these schemes.
The decision whether to employ traffic wardens in a particular area rests with the police authority, or, in the Metropolitan Police District, with the Commissioner. But parking meters and traffic wardens do not necessarily go together. In Leicester and Blackpool, wardens are being employed although there are no parking meters. Conversely, in Marylebone, Holborn, Woolwich and Manchester, there are parking meters but no traffic wardens. Since the use of both parking meters and traffic wardens is still, to some extent, in the experimental stage, these variations are to be welcomed, in that they provide experience which will be helpful to other authorities in deciding what arrangements are best suited to their local needs.
§ BARONESS SWANBOROUGHMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer.