HC Deb 15 April 1988 vol 131 cc260-1W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the impact of tourist coaches on traffic movement on roads for which he is responsible near the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Responsibility for all roads in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster rests with Westminster city council as local highway authority.

Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the effects of tourist coaches in central London traffic.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Traffic management and the provision of parking for tourist coaches in central London are primarily the responsibility of London borough councils as highway and planning authorities. We encourage local authorities and private bodies to improve existing facilities and provide additional ones.

We issued a report on tourist coaches in London in 1986. Copies were placed in the Library of the House. More recently we have co-operated with the Bus and Coach Council, Westminster city council, the Metropolitan police and the London tourist board in developing a code of practice. This was launched on 2 March. It should lead to better routeing and parking of coaches.