HC Deb 16 April 1951 vol 486 cc123-4W
72. Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has, in default of financial assistance, to enable or require London boroughs to carry out street repairs in important thoroughfares by double shift or week-end working as recommended in the Report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

Mr. Barnes

I have no power to require double-shift or week-end working. It is for the Metropolitan Borough Councils to consider how far they may appropriately adopt these methods.

73. Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Minister of Transport which recommendations in the Report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee were rejected on financial grounds; and whether the benefit of these recommendations to production and re-armament was first considered.

Mr. Barnes

The only recommendations rejected mainly on financial grounds, were those numbered 4 and 52. The former suggested that grants from central funds should be made towards the extra cost of double-shift and week-end working on street repairs; the latter recommendtion was that the possibility of installing subway escalators for pedestrians at suitable points should be considered. Neither of them would in my view have any appreciable beneficial effect on production or re-armament.