HC Deb 21 March 1935 vol 299 cc1356-8
8. Sir PHILIP DAWSON

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements will be made by him to see that the police are supplied with speedometers tested by an independent authority so as to guarantee their exactitude, in view of the general liability of speedometers to error and variation; and whether, on demand by any person stopped for exceeding the speed limit, the police will be directed to produce a certificate as to the correct ness of the speedometer on the police car?

Sir J. GILMOUR

Police speedometers are regularly tested, and evidence as to their accuracy will be available to the courts if required. The evidence necessary to prove any speed which may be at issue is for the court to determine, and I do not think it is necessary to make any special arrangements of the kind suggested.

13. Mr. THORNE

asked the Home Secretary how many drivers of public vehicles have been convicted under the Traffic Acts in connection with the speed limit of 30 miles per hour?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I must refer the hon. Member to the annual returns of offences relating to motor vehicles, the latest of which is for the year 1933. The corresponding return for 1934 is not yet available.

Mr. THORNE

Is the Home Secretary not aware that in all these prosecutions the men in question come under the Act of 1930 and not under the recent order of the Minister of Transport; and may I ask whether he is in a position to obtain a time-table of the way that the men's hours are regulated, say, from London to Birmingham, and vice versa?

9. Sir G. FOX

asked the Home Secretary how many summonses have been issued from 18th March to date against motorists for exceeding the 30 miles-per- hour speed limit in built-up areas; and what is the present average daily number of police officers engaged in speed-trapping work?

Sir J. GILMOUR

In view of the fact that the new speed limit has only been in force for three days, it is unlikely that any summonses have yet been applied for. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Levy) on Tuesday.