§ 55. Mr. HALESasked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the increasing practice of parked motor cars being utilised by motor bandit s in smash-and-grab raids, he will issue instructions giving permission to the owners of parked motor cars to lock the doors, which is now forbidden?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)The Parking Place Regulation applicable to London to which my hon. Friend refers is to the effect that vehicles shall be so left that they can be moved from one position to another by manual power. This is held to be desirable in case of an emergency such as a fire. In the very large majority of the parking 293 places in London, cars are parked head to tail, and general inconvenience might be caused if the vehicles were immovable.
§ Mr. HALESWould it not be possible to allow a car to be locked and the key left with the attendant?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not a perfectly intolerable interference with liberty to prevent a man from locking the door of his own car?
§ Mr. HALESWould the Minister refer to the authorities in Berlin and Paris, where this is a common practice and where owners are requested by the authorities to lock their cars?
§ Mr. LOGANIs it the Minister's intention to provide facilities for people not to lock their cars in order that they may be grabbed?