§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the new traffic arrangements which were in operation at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 18th March, following the League Cup final, which resulted in a two-hour traffic jam, in view of the need to avoid a similar situation on 6th May; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that there were no new arrangements for dealing with traffic after the match at Wembley Stadium on 18th March. He considers that the traffic jam occurred through the coincidence of a number of factors. Many spectators came from the north, using the M1 motorway. The match was drawn and, as there was no presentation ceremony, the whole crowd left the ground together. The game ended later than usual, after extra time, when local Saturday evening traffic was increasing and spectators from the international rugby match at Twickenham, also making for the Ml, had reached the Wembley area.
These factors should not coincide on 6th May when the Commissioner again intends to put the usual traffic arrangements into operation.