HL Deb 29 November 1971 vol 326 cc4-6
LORD DERWENT

My 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 why on November 18, it was found necessary to shut down all parking meters in the area of Leicester Square before 1 p.m. because there was going to be a premiere of a new film at a cinema in Leicester Square that night.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)

My Lords, in order to ensure that the parking time purchased at all the parking places in an area to be cleared has run out by the time parking has to be prohibited, the process of shutting down the meter bays has to be started some hours in advance. There is an element of judgment in deciding when to begin, and it may be that the police erred on the side of caution on the occasion my noble friend mentions. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is considering whether the police measures in this area might normally be left until rather later.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his Answer. As he has referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police it is probably a satisfactory answer, as the Commissioner is an intelligent man. But could my noble friend perhaps, in view of the Answer he has given, just look into the question that to-day again exactly the same thing has happened?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, there are a number of interests here that have to be balanced: the interests of those wishing to park their cars; the necessity to avoid congestion at an event likely to be attended by large numbers of people. There is the question of the availability of staff. As I have said, the Commissioner is reviewing the arrangements made on these occasions and I think that in doing so he may wish to take into account the second occasion referred to in my noble friend's supplementary.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, perhaps my noble friend would point out to the Commissioner of Police that this is a rather exceptional area because there are so many restaurants and cafés in it. Would it not be perfectly simple to close the meters immediately after lunch, rather than before lunch?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the number of restaurants, cafés, clubs and so on in the area is a factor to be taken into account, and if it is possible for the Commissioner of Police to close these parking meters a little later in the day, I am sure he will want to try to do so.