§ 25. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any special steps are being taken by the police to abate the public inconvenience and nuisance that is caused by traffic noise, especially by the engines of motor cycles; and can he say the number of prosecutions that have taken place for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date against owners of motor cycles who do not conform with police regulations with reference to silencers?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)In the Metropolitan Police District officers are specially detailed for the duty of detecting cases of ineffective silencing or excessive noise caused by motor vehicles. I have no specific information as to the steps taken in other forces, but I think it can be assumed that they are similar. As regards the number of prosecutions in respect of ineffective silencers, statistics are not available for the country as a whole, but in the Metropolitan Police District there were 15,961 prosecutions for this offence during the year ended 28th February, 1930. The large majority of these cases related to motor cycles.
§ Mr. DAYCan my right hon. Friend say whether any conference has taken place between the manufacturers of British motor cycles and the Government for the purpose of improving silencers?
§ Mr. CLYNESI do not know whether there was a conference with the Home Office, but I will inquire.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the chief constables in the provinces, because the nuisance is really intolerable?
§ Mr. CLYNESWe recognise the importance of the matter, and will follow it up.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact that the manufacturers of motor cycles have done their best to comply with the requirements of the Home Office by making these machines as silent as possible, and that the blame rests with the people who ride them?