§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following the recent traffic congestion in central London, he will request the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis to review the practice of employing police officers for point duty at busy junctions in view of the resultant increase in the build-up of traffic in areas such as Park Lane.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe Commissioner of Police tells me that recent traffic congestion during the evening rush hours in the West End of London has been caused partly by wet weather and partly by an increased volume of traffic. Traffic lights in central London are governed by computer, which ensures maximum flexibility in controlling traffic movement over the whole area. Police officers are not now employed on point duty at busy junctions but are deployed to known congested areas to ensure compliance with traffic regulations. The Comissioner is satisfied that this system works well. No system can obviate congestion at peak periods when extra traffic uses roads already operating to capacity.