§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they would give consideration at the earliest possible time to the careful town planning of the British congested cities where tall buildings are likely to be erected, to ensure that these buildings are constructed in places where their presence will not cause added but avoidable and serious congestion to the existing local traffic situation.]
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, the policy of my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is that each proposal for the erection of a tall building should be considered by the local planning authority on its merits, taking into account, among other things, the effect of the building upon traffic. Where the planning authority grant permission for a tall building likely to generate traffic, they impose conditions designed to avoid the increase of traffic congestion, for example, conditions requiring provision of car parking space within the curtilage.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that we are making the same mistakes here to-day that were being made in America 50 years ago, due to the fact that a comprehensive planning arrangement is not made before any of these buildings are laid out? We shall need to have them, but at the same time I think we ought to plan the areas and not leave it to chance and to individual examination at the last minute. It ought to be done collectively on a very large scale.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, in reply to my noble friend I would say that I do not think this matter is left to chance. Each individual project is gone into very carefully indeed. I imagine that he may have in mind the recommendations of the Royal Fine Art Commission in their recent Report, their Seventeenth Report. On that, all I 4 would say is that the Ministry and the London County Council will give very careful consideration to the views of the Royal Fine Art Commission; and, in fact, as a start, the Ministry are initiating discussions with the L.C.C. about this whole matter.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I thank my noble friend very much.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that the general public are eagerly awaiting news of the starting of the "C" tube, which will do a great deal to overcome errors of planning that should have been done years ago in the West End?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I am afraid that I am not quite clear to which Tube my noble friend is referring. Is it the Victoria Tube?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I will, of course, bring that point to my right honourable friend's attention.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, would the noble Earl say, in relation to the first Answer he gave, what is the definition of a "tall building"?