§ 62. Mr. HALESasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by the chief constable of Newcastle-under-Lyme, to the effect that, acting under his instructions, the drivers of the police patrol cars of Newcastle had for the last six months driven without any horn being sounded, the success of which experiment had convinced him of the advantage of this method of driving; and would he now consider extending the time of the zones of silence for the whole 24 hours in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme for one month?
§ Captain A. HUDSONYes, Sir, and my right hon. Friend has already indicated his willingness to entertain an application by any local authority to extend the "silent" period experimentally to the whole 24 hours.
§ Mr. HALESHaving regard to the fact that the Chief Constable of Newcastle-under-Lyme has already experimented 814 with his patrol cars, will my hon. and gallant Friend not make the order compulsory, seeing that the authorities are very backward in making application?
§ Captain HUDSONIf the local authorities will apply to the Ministry, we will consider their applications.
§ Sir W. BRASSWill my hon. and gallant Friend communicate with this particular officer and ask how he was able to pass lorries during the six months without sounding his horn?