§ 24. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Home Secretary whether any instructions are issued to police engaged in traffic regulations in the vicinity of Parliament to exempt motor-oars of Members from the ordinary traffic regulations?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo, Sir. I have every hope that hon. Members will find that the new system will facilitate their approach to the House, and to issue any special exemption in favour of Members' cars would, I fear, render the system quite unworkable.
§ Sir JAMES REMNANTIs it at all possible to confine the police who are on duty around this House as nearly as possible to men who know who are the Members of the House? That used to be done always. Such men have now been shifted to other places. It is not fair to the men now on duty around the House to expect them to know the Members.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think there is a great deal in my hon. Friend's suggestion. But we must leave the administration of the police to the Commissioner. I will consult the Commissioner as to whether it is possible during a Session of Parliament to keep at West minister policemen who know my hon. Friend and others.
§ 26. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Home Secretary who was responsible for the decision not to prosecute the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his recent breach of the Traffic Regulations in Parliament Square; on what grounds the decision rests; and to what extent Cabinet Ministers enjoy such exceptional facilities?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs already explained in a statement which was issued in the Press, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was in possession of a special pass, issued to Ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers and others, entitling them to proceed direct to their destinations, and no question of a prosecution arises. The question of the arrangements to be made for pass holders, in view of the new conditions created by the present system of traffic regulation, is under consideration.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDid the police authorities make any communication 296 to the right hon. Gentleman before deciding not to prosecute, and did the right hon. Gentleman in his turn hold any communication with the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is not a question of prosecution. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had a certain pass authorising him to pass through the traffic. I am quite prepared to justify the issue of such passes to Cabinet Ministers, and I see no reason to consider the question.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs it not a fact that the policeman on duty took the name and address of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and that in the ordinary course a prosecution would have been carried out? Did that policeman communicate with the Home Office at all before deciding whether the ordinary procedure would be followed?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. and gallant Member is quite wrong. The police constable reported, not to the Home Office, but to the Commissioner of Police, that this incident had taken place. If there was any reason for a prosecution of any kind it would have been considered by the Commissioner. In this case there was no question of prosecution.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo we understand that Cabinet Ministers occupying a temporary position, have passes and facilities for passing through the traffic into this House, which facilities are denied to Members of this House who are not Cabinet Ministers?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the hon. and gallant Member bad asked any of his friends who had occupied such a temporary position he would have known that it has long been the practice to issue passes to Cabinet Ministers and the Ambassadors of foreign Powers. They have facilities which could not be afforded to the whole of the Members of the House.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn a matter of privilege, Mr. Speaker. Is it not a fact that at the beginning of every Session of Parliament an Order is passed, approved by you, to free the entrances to this House for the use of Members? May I point out that in this 297 case Members were not given certain privileges which apparently it was the practice to give to Cabinet Ministers?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not a question of access to the House at all.