HC Deb 17 April 1934 vol 288 cc893-4
71. Major THOMAS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place during the year 1933 in the case of cyclists carrying inefficient red reflectors; and what steps are taken by his Department to test the efficiency or otherwise of red reflectors fitted to cycles?

The Secretary of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available, as the returns do not show such cases separately from others connected with the lighting of vehicles. The testing of reflectors is not undertaken by my Department. Certain standards of efficiency have been prescribed by regulations made under the Road Transport Lighting Act of 1927. Cyclists whose reflectors do not conform to those standards may be liable to proceedings, and the Road Traffic Bill which has been introduced by my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport provides penalties for the sale of reflectors which do not comply with the prescribed conditions.

Major THOMAS

Are we to understand that no tests of these reflectors are carried out?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I have tried to explain that this has nothing to do with my Department.