HC Deb 19 May 1914 vol 62 cc1771-2
67. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Home Secretary whether, on the 5th instant a motor omnibus and a private motor cab collided in Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, E., with the result that both tram way tracks were stopped; that the collision happened at 7.10 p.m., and the police in the vicinity immediately took charge of the vehicles and prevented anyone removing them so as to clear the road; and that it was nearly 9 o'clock before the official from Scotland Yard arrived, and the road was then cleared within two or three minutes; whether he is aware that, if the tramway inspectors had been allowed to do their work, the road would have been cleared with much less delay and inconvenience to the public; and will he state the grounds for instructing the police that in such cases nothing must be done until a Scotland Yard official reaches the spot?

Mr. McKENNA

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the facts are generally as stated; seven persons were injured. When a collision in which a motor public carriage is concerned results in death or personal injury, it is necessary, in the interests of justice, that the cause of the accident should be ascertained, and for this purpose an examination of the vehicle in situ by a competent official is essential. Such examination is only made in cases of serious accident. I will inquire why there was so much delay in this case.

Mr. W. THORNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the practice of Scotland Yard, and that, in the event of a collision taking place and persons getting injured, it is quite impossible to get the local policemen to remove any vehicle until an officer from Scotland Yard arrives, thereby causing great delay?

Mr. McKENNA

That is exactly the point I meant in the last sentence of my answer, when I said I would inquire why there had been so much delay in this case.

Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that tramcars of the London County Council have in many cases been held up for hours and that the whole of the service on certain lines has been dislocated?

Mr. McKENNA

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the question on the Paper, he will find that it refers to particular circumstances of that kind.