§ MR. HULSE (Salisbury)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the increasing number of accidents in the streets of the Metropolis, mused by the drivers of covered carts and vans whilst sitting within or at the rear of these conveyances; and, if he will issue an instruction to the Metropolitan Police for the purpose of cautioning the owners and drivers of such conveyances that the driver must be seated at the front of such vehicle, or that the cart or van should be furnished with a window or aperture, for the driver's convenience and observation, on either side, thereby insuring the public safety, or, at least, minimising the risks to which the public are now liable?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have made inquiries as to the number of accidents in the streets known to the police, and it does not appear that they are increasing; on the contrary, they were 33 in 1887, as against 43 in 1886, and 67 in 1885. The police have no power to enforce any Regulation obliging the drivers of vans to be seated in any particular attitude, or to furnish their vans with side windows or apertures. Any instructions I could issue would, therefore, be inoperative.