§ 72. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take on the street loading restrictions which were the subject of a recent official inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have now received the report of the public inquiry held by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee into proposals for a ban on loading and unloading during morning peak hours at 23 sites in London. Its principal recommendation, which I accept, is that I should not impose such a ban on these sites at present and, in any case, not before we know the effect of extending normal "No Waiting" restrictions to cover the morning peak traffic period.
The report states, nevertheless, that such restrictions may eventually be desirable and recommends that any further proposals should be based on a more detailed comparative study of all factors affecting traffic congestion at the sites concerned. The Advisory Committee is itself undertaking this study, and I shall consider the long-term issue in the light of its further report.
I am making copies of the report of the public inquiry available to interested individuals and organisations and placing copies in the Library of this House and of another place.