§ 38. Major NEWMANasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the number of members of the police force at present employed in trapping motorists, especially in the neighbourhood of London; and whether, since members of the force can be safely detached from their ordinary duties for this purpose, he will consider the desirability of those of them who are of military age being employed in the Army, and those above military age in setting free for military service a member of the force at present engaged in ordinary police duty?
Mr. SAMUELI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply to the hon. Member for the Ross Division on the 9th May last. No more police are employed upon this duty than are required to provide a check upon reckless and dangerous driving. If the hon. Member had before him the figures of fatalities and accidents caused by motor vehicles in the streets, he would appreciate the necessity for tightening rather than slackening this control.
§ Major NEWMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that outside London there is a great deal less motoring than there used to be, and, therefore, the same number of traps are not required outside London as inside perhaps? I am speaking about the weekend motorists.
§ Mr. REDDYWhy should these policemen be called away from their duty of preventing motorists from breaking the law, when there are men in this House receiving pay as soldiers who should be at present doing their duty? May I ask the right hon. Gentleman also whether exemptions are allowed in the French Army to so-called officers?