§ 32. Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESasked the Minister of Transport what public inquiries he has directed to be held into fatal or other serious road accidents in pursuance of the powers vested in him by Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930; and whether, having regard to the importance of giving greater publicity as to the factors responsible for road accidents, he will consider the desirability of exercising his powers under this section in all suitable cases?
§ Mr. BLINDELL (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. Since the provisions of Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, came into force, special inquiries have been made into five road accidents. Two of these inquiries were held in public. In addition, the Minister of Transport has caused less formal investigations to be made into a large number of accidents in connection with which a defect in a vehicle or a road was alleged to be a contributory cause, and he will continue to bear in mind the desirability of making appropriate inquiries. My hon. Friend has also recently arranged to obtain special reports on cases in which an accident is alleged to be due to a road defect.
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESDoes not the Minister of Transport realise that the holding of public inquiries into accidents on the roads enables the general body of road users to know the nature of the dangers connected with road traffic and the best means of obviating them?
§ Mr. BLINDELLI will convey that observation to my hon. Friend.