§ 71. Earl WINTERTONasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Marlborough Street Police Court on Saturday a person was convicted of being drunk in charge of an automobile and driving to the danger of the public, and that he was fined £10, his licence taken away, and he was imprisoned for one day; whether he is aware that for exactly the same offence several taxi-cab and other professional drivers have been given terms of imprisonment with hard labour; and whether, in view of the disparity of those sentences, he will bring in legislation to impose imprisonment without the option of a fine for driving automobiles when drunk?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe facts of the case are as stated in the question. Diversity in the punishments awarded for offences of this kind may, I think, be explained by the great diversity in the circumstances, and I do not think it would be right to deprive magistrates of the discretion they at present possess in this respect; but I think it is probable that when Parliament reviews the Motor Car Acts it will be disposed to increase the severity of the punishment for reckless driving.
§ Earl WINTERTONHas the right hon. Gentleman taken into consideration the fact that in the case of taxi-cab drivers may not only suffer imprisonment but probably lose their employment for the future; whilst in cases like that in the question, and as the right hon. Gentleman has no doubt seen reported in the Press, those concerned only suffer imprisonment?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, the distinction that the Noble Lord has referred to is a very serious one.
§ Earl WINTERTONHas the right hon. Gentleman any power to address a memorandum to the magistrates on this matter; if so, will he do it?
§ Mr. McKENNAI should be glad to send to the Noble Lord a copy of the 363 various memoranda on the subject which I have already addressed to the magistrates.