§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)To ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been directed to the hill-climbing contests which the Herefordshire Automobile Club propose to hold on Cockshut Hill; whether, as promised 653 by him on the 27th May, 1907 in this House, he communicated with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the subject of such contests; and whether, having regard to his own opinion expressed on the same date, he will consider the advisability of now taking steps either to prohibit such contests on public roads altogether, or at least to confine them to such times and places as will ensure the public safety.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My attention has not been called to the first matter referred to in the Question. The Answer as regards the second part of it is in the affirmative. As I pointed out, in replying to my hon. friend's Question of the 27th May last, the administration of the law relating to the use of the highways by motor cars is practically in the hands of the local police, and I am not myself in a position to take action in cases of this kind.