§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any instructions are given to the police in London to take proceedings to check the growing nuisance to the public from the reckless discharge of oil smoke by motor vehicles; and in how many cases have prosecutions been instituted within the last twelve months, and with what results.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELAs my right hon. friend stated in reply to a Question on this subject from the hon. Member on 2nd June last, the Metropolitan Police can and do take disciplinary action in the case of motor cabs and motor omnibuses discharging oil smoke, since a condition of their licensing is that: "the lubrication of the engine or the carburation of the working mixture must be so controlled that smoke is not projected with the exhaust, or from any other part." But in the present state of the law, legal proceedings cannot successfully be taken against drivers of motor vehicles where the emission of smoke is due to any temporary or accidental cause, which my right hon. friend understands is practically always the case.
§ MR. MACKARNESSasked how many prosecutions have been instituted.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELreplied that he was not aware if there were any actual prosecutions, but in 1906 over 300 omni buses were reported for emitting smoke, and in 1907 over 150. These would not be allowed to be used again until the defects had been remedied.
§ *MR. STUART WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)asked whether the power to prosecute was limited to licensed vehicles.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELasked for notice.