HL Deb 11 December 1962 vol 245 cc670-2WA
LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state:

  1. (a) What the average cost of installing one parking meter is;
  2. (b) How many parking meters have been installed (regardless of Whether yet in operation) to date in
    1. (i) London
      2. 671
    2. (ii) the rest of the country;
  3. (c) How many traffic wardens are at present employed throughout the country;
  4. (d) The average gross weekly salary of a traffic warden;
  5. (e) The total revenue received to the nearest convenient date since parking meters were first introduced;
  6. (f) How the balance of this revenue, if any, is being utilised;
  7. (g) Whether it is intended to introduce some legislation to protect unfortunate residents who find meters have appeared outside the frontage of their houses or flats, and who have no private garage accommodation.

LORD CHESHAM

  1. (a) The average total cost of a parking meter is £30–£35, including the meter, post, installation and associated road marking. Installation costs about £3.
  2. (b) The number of metered bays authorised by orders so far made by the appropriate Minister is—
    1. (i) 14,627 in the London Traffic Area
    2. (ii) 3,113 in the rest of England and Wales, and
    3. (iii) 472 in Scotland.
    The number of parking meters actually installed will be less than this, because some schemes have only recently been authorised and installation is not yet complete.
  3. (c) On 31st October, 496 traffic wardens were employed in England and 672 Wales and 32 in Scotland. Of these 97 were employed by police authorities in areas where there are no parking meters.
  4. (d) The average of the scale of pay of wardens employed in the Inner London Area of the Metropolitan Police District is about £13 7s. 0d. a week. The rates of pay outside the Metropolitan Police District may vary, but are likely to be lower; they apply to relatively few traffic wardens.
  5. (e) The gross revenue from charges for parking in metered parking places up to 31st March 1962 was—
    1. (i) £755,000 (approximately) in London
    2. (ii) £75,000 (approximately) in the rest of England and Wales.

[Note: There were no meters operating in Scotland].

  1. (f) The revenue remaining after payment of wages and other charges is mostly being applied to meet loan charges in respect of the provision of off-street parking places. It is required by law to be used for the provision and maintenance of parking accommodation off the highway but may be carried forward for up to 4 years.
  2. (g) No. My right honourable friend the Minister of Transport sees no reason to make special provision for residents to park their cars outside their houses in a metered zone.

House adjourned at nineteen minutes before eleven o'clock.