§ 3. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to state the number of complaints which have been made respecting the emission of smoke, steam, and sparks by steam tractors as a result of the circular to Chief Constables and the Chief of the Metropolitan Police which he promised to issue on the 3rd March last; and whether, in view of the continuance of this danger on the main roads leading out of London, he will ask the Chief of the Metropolitan Police to see that the matter has his special attention?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWith regard to the provinces I have no information, but I understand from the Commissioner that no specific complaints on the matter have been received by the Metropolitan Police since the issue of the Home Office Memorandum on 10th March last. The Metropolitan Police are fully alive to their duties in the matter, and I do not think it is necessary for me to 1412 issue any further instructions on the subject. If, of course, the hon. Member has any information which I have not, I will gladly consider it.
§ Mr. BAKERHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the complaint I sent to him at the beginning of the week of a flagrant breach of Regulations in regard to this matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI cannot charge my mind as to whether I have seen it. I know there was a letter from the hon. Member a few days ago, but I have received so many letters that I cannot keep all of them in my head. This question does not refer to any particular letter.
§ Mr. BAKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a daily occurrence on the main roads leading out of London for steam tractors to pollute the atmosphere in the way of which complaint is made?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAll I can say is, that, with the exception of the possible complaint to which the hon. Member refers, I have had no complaints, but I will communicate again with the Commissioner of Police and ask him to let me have a report of what takes place during the next 10 days.
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLHaving regard to the nuisance caused by the cut out of the exhaust on petrol vehicles and other nuisances caused by petrol vehicles, does he not think this is really a gross exaggeration?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCandidly, I have not had any number of complaints, and I am having the matter inquired into.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the Minister aware that a year ago I put a question on the same lines to the Minister of Transport, and that in reply to my question he said he was leaving the matter in the hands of the Secretary of State, because it was his business to deal with these wagons that travel through London?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs my right hon. Friend aware that the smoke and steam let out by these great steam tractors cause a regular fog on the roads?