HC Deb 13 July 1896 vol 42 cc1318-9
SIR BARRINGTON SIMEON (Southampton)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) whether his attention has been drawn to the very numerous accidents which have occurred in the streets of London; (2) whether he would give a Return of the number of such accidents during the last quarter; and, (3) whether any regulations could be made making it compulsory for all heavy fast vans drawn by two or more horses to be fitted with brakes of sufficient power to enable them to pull up quickly?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

A great number of accidents unhappily occur in the streets of London in the course of a year. Returns of such accidents appear in the annual Reports of the Commissioner of Police—those for 1895 will be published shortly. A special return for the last quarter would take some time to prepare, and in the absence of any urgent reason I should not be disposed to anticipate the publication of the figures in the annual Report. The suggestion in the last paragraph of the Question could not be carried out without further legislation.