§ 71. Mr. ALLEN BAKERasked the Home Secretary whether, in the event of an accident occurring to a tramcar, the police regulations require the car to be detained until the arrival of an official from Scotland Yard; if so, will he say if there is practically only one official at Scotland Yard who attends these matters and who is not always available; and what statutory authority the police possess to make these regulations?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe police have instructions that whenever a serious accident occurs to any public carriage—cab, omnibus, or tramcar—they are to endeavour, unless serious inconvenience will be caused thereby, to have the vehicle kept in position, and at once send word to the Public Carriage Office, when an expert officer is sent down to assist in ascertaining the cause of the accident, and to whom the blame, if any, is attributable. This is in the interests of justice, and the Courts require such evidence. It is not the case that only one officer is available.
§ Mr. ALLEN BAKERWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the circumstances of the case which occurred recently in South London were, owing to an official not being available, traffic was held up for two hours and a half?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise out of the answer.