§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport why he has deferred implementation of section 77 of the Road Traffic Act 1974: and whether he will give reconsideration to this matter.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI assume that the hon. Member is referring to section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 prohibiting the parking of vehicles on verges, central reservations and footways. Implementation of the section was deferred in July 1979, following representations from local authority associations and the police that the additional tasks of implementation and enforcement should not be imposed when the need to contain public expenditure is overriding.
It is too soon to say when local authorities and the police might be in a better position to implement and enforce the section. However, the case for implementation will be kept under review.