§ 7. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that his warning, issued to motorists last year, that they must more effectively silence their machines, has not produced any appreciable diminution in the noisiness of a great many machines; and whether he will take further action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member may be interested to know that, in the first six months of this year, there were over 5,700 prosecutions in the Metropolitan Police District. I hope they have not been entirely without effect. In any event, the police will continue to take such steps as are possible to abate the nuisance in so fat as it still exists.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that these infernal, screeching motor syrens are causing intense mental anguish to hundreds of patients in nursing homes in London, even to the extent, in some cases, of causing death; and does he not realise that it is time for him to take drastic action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not know what more drastic action I can take than prosecuting 5,700 people in six months. I may say that my definite 547 instructions to the police are that they should do their utmost to stop noise, in the case either of motor cycles or of motor cars.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are tens of thousands of motor cyclists and motor drivers in London, and why should he confine himself to 5,000?