HC Deb 09 November 1908 vol 195 cc1704-6
MR. HAROLD COX

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the number of persons injured by motor vehicles in the Metropolitan Police District, with a population of about 6,000,000, in the year 1907 was 5,362, and that during the same year the number of persons injured in the German Empire, with a population of over 60,000,000, was only 2,400; and whether he will seek the advice of the German authorities with a view to the improvement of English legislation relating to motor vehicles.

MR. JOHN BURNS

The figures quoted in regard to the Metropolitan Police District include 2,119 accidents due to tramcars, I do not know whether the corresponding figures for Germany are precisely comparable or not. It is possible, I think, that other circumstances besides differences in legislation have a share in producing the contrast to which my hon. friend calls attention. Among them is the much smaller number of motor cars registered in Germany than in the United Kingdom. So far as I can learn the number of motor cars registered in the Administrative County of London (which is a much smaller area than the Metropolitan Police District) is only slightly less than the number of cars registered in the whole of Germany. I shall be happy to consider suggestions from any source which may be useful in relation to motor cars.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

was understood to ask for the figures relating to different classes of motor vehicles.

MR. JOHN BURNS

said the detailed figures were: Motor cars, 23,717, London; 16,214, Germany. Heavy motors, 1,980, London; no figures for Germany. Motor cycles, 9,211, Loudon; 19,808, Germany.

MR. A. DEWAR (Edinburgh, S.)

asked whether there was a twenty-mile speed limit in Germany.

MR. JOHN BURNS

That I could not say at the moment.

MR. MACKARNESS

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had any record of the number of motor car accidents in the United Kingdom this year?

MR. JOHN BURNS

No, Sir; the figures are only obtainable up to date for London, but I will do my best to get complete statistics for the United Kingdom.

MR. HAROLD COX

asked whether in Germany there was a speed limit of nine miles in all villages.

MR. JOHN BURNS

As one who was in Germany last year, I can only say I did not see that speed limit.