§ 30. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the undertaking given by the late Minister of Transport to Standing Committee A on the Road and Rail Traffic Act on 22nd June, 1933, that, it was right that vehicles for examination should be stopped only by a policeman and not by an examiner, he is now prepared to implement his promise to honour any obligation undertaken by his predecessor?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the statement made by my predecessor in the discussion of the provisions regarding vehicle examination during the passing of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. Examiners have in fact been instructed that they have no authority to stop a lorry in motion on the road and I have no information that these instructions have been neglected. Highway authorities have power under Section 27 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to appoint persons to weigh vehicles which appear to be overloaded and in these cases a traffic sign has been authorised by me for the purpose.
§ Captain STRICKLANDWill my hon. Friend indicate to the House the essential difference between stopping one type of vehicle for one purpose and stopping 1703 another type for another purpose, when such a statement was made that it was not considered right that vehicles should be stopped by anybody but police in uniform?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWe have two entirely different Acts of Parliament dealing with two entirely different subjects. If an examiner notices a defect such as a brake defect or a tyre defect in a lorry he can take its number. There is no necessity for him to stop the lorry. But a lorry which is overladen must be stopped and weighed in situ when the allegation is made. That is the essential distinction which my hon. Friend asks me to draw.
§ Captain STRICKLANDDoes not my hon. Friend realise that it would be equally possible to have a policeman in uniform at the weighing machine so that a vehicle could be stopped with authority?