§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD MOYNIHANMy 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 under what circumstances mounted police can proceed against the flow of traffic in a one-way street.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, mounted police are not prevented by the law as it stands from proceeding against traffic in a one-way street, and they may of course be required to do so on occasion in pursuance of their duties. This statement of the situation does not apply to motorways, where horse-riding is prohibited.
§ LORD MOYNIHANMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that on the afternoon of March 17, at 3 p.m., a group of ten mounted policemen trotted as fast as trotting is I believe possible up Park Lane the wrong way in the fast lane, causing the whole of the fast lane and part of the second lane to be completely closed to on-coming traffic; and that only twenty yards to the left they could have proceeded along Park Lane the correct way? Is it not possibly a danger to public safety that they should proceed against on-coming traffic in this manner, when by proceeding twenty yards the other way they can proceed with safety?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, clearly I cannot be expected to know whether police trotted up Park Lane on March 17. I would only say to the noble Lord that 158 if he had knowledge of a case of this sort it would be infinitely more economical if he had written to me, and I could have dealt with it. I hope that the noble Lord will take into account in future the cost to the taxpayer in answering Questions of this sort where clearly the noble Lord has something more in mind than the Question on the Order Paper.
§ LORD OAKSHOTTMy Lords, would the noble Lord accept that a great many of us are very willing to see the police ignoring regulations when carrying out their duties; and, also, that a great many of us would wish to express our admiration and appreciation for the manner in which they carry out those duties?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am sure that we all join with the noble Lord in his appreciation, but I think I should correct him. The police do not break regulations: they are entitled, as I have said, to move against the traffic.