§ M R. CARR-GOMM (Southwark, Rotherhithe)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the number of accidents in narrow streets caused by motor omnibuses; and whether he will direct the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police to allow these motor omnibus companies to continue their services only along wide thoroughfares especially in the case of the omnibuses which are now being sent down Great 1602 Smith Street, Westminster, in which street during the last ten days two serious accidents have happened, in one of which a horse was badly injured.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am aware that there have been a number of accidents caused in London by motor omnibuses, and no doubt the chance of accident is increased in narrow streets unless the speed of the omnibuses is much reduced. The Commissioner of Police has no power to prescribe the routes which omnibuses are to follow and to prevent their passing through any street.
§ MR. VILLIERS (Brighton)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents, due directly or indirectly to automobiles, occurred in the Metropolitan area during the month of April last; and how many occurred during the same month last year.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The number of accidents caused by motor vehicles in London last month which involved personal injury was 283. The number for April, 1907 was 250.