HC Deb 23 March 1905 vol 143 cc957-8
MR. MALCOLM (Suffolk, Stowmarket)

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, why private carriages driven by electricity are denied the right exercised by private carriages drawn by horses of using the inner circle of Regent's Park as a promenade; and why the road along the Serpentine is forbidden to electric carriages although open to other private carriages paying equivalent taxes.

LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)

Private carriages driven by electricity are excluded from the inner circle of Regent's Park under the regulation which closes the road to carriages and cars propelled or drawn by mechanical means. The road along the Serpentine is closed by regulation to all carriages similarly propelled or drawn.

MR. MALCOLM

May I ask on what principle that preferential treatment is adopted?

LORD BALCARRES

The reason is that there, are certain parts of the Royal parks in which it is thought undesirable that these vehicles should be allowed to run.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

It is for the protection of the public.