asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to make an order under Section 24(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1974 to bring Section 7 of that Act (prohibition of parking of vehicles on footways) into operation.

Time must be allowed for authorities to survey their areas and prepare exemption orders under subsection (5). My Department is consulting the local authority associations on the length of time required before fixing the date of commencement.