§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the inconvenience and annoyance caused to the public by- the use of motor vehicles, especially motor-cycles, which have inefficient silencers or to which no silencers are fitted, he will strengthen the law so as to secure the abatement of this nuisance?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)My hon. Friend does not think that the law on this subject needs strengthening. A penalty as high as £20 can be imposed for a first offence against the regulations dealing with the construction, weight or equipment of motor vehicles and the regulation with regard to silencers comes within this category.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the law is persistently broken, and will he take steps to draw the attention of local authorities to the matter in order to see that the law is enforced?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI am not aware that the law is continually broken, and certainly it is not the duty of the Minister of Transport to see to the enforcement of the law.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman is not deaf, he must be aware of it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI am glad to say that I am not deaf and, though I have heard the noises referred to by my hon. Friend, I think that it is possible to exaggerate the nuisance caused by them.