§ Sir F. MEYER(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of his recent public statement referring to the speed of motor cars that "the Home Office could not stand 70 miles an hour in London" whether he can tell the House if he has any knowledge of specific cases of motor cars proceeding at such speeds in the streets of London, and if so what steps he has taken or is taking to prevent such dangerous driving.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA case did occur within the last few weeks in which a motorist was stopped doing 72 miles an hour. Pending the summons, he was again stopped doing 58 miles an hour, and he has since been very rightly convicted.
§ Sir F. MEYERDoes the right hon. Gentleman wish the House to understand that these speeds took place in London?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, certainly; they were on the Great West Road, but within the Metropolitan area.
§ Sir F. MEYERWould not the general public, taking cognisance of the speech of the right hon. Gentleman, be liable to infer that it occurred in the streets of London, and is it not creating a prejudice against motorists to talk of a speed of 72 miles an hour in London when in fact it takes place, it may be in the Metropolitan area, but well outside what it usually known as London.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf my hon. Friend had been present at the meeting of motorists at which that speech was made, he would have seen that it was received with complete approval by the motorists present, and he would not have raised this question in the House to-day. The police have a very difficult task in dealing with the speed of motor cars, but all I desired to emphasise was that that was beyond any possible speed that can be allowed in the streets of London.