33. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Home Secretary in how many cases, for the last 12 months for which figures are available, proceedings were taken for manslaughter arising out of fatal road accidents; in how many cases were convictions registered; in how many cases of such convictions was sentence of imprisonment passed; and in how many cases were convictions quashed on appeal?
§ Sir J. SimonAccording to the latest available information the number of cases in 1936 in which a motor traffic fatality resulted in a committal for trial for manslaughter was 95. In six of these cases the result of the trial is not yet known. In 20 cases there was a conviction of manslaughter and in 19 of those cases a sentence of imprisonment was imposed. I am not yet in a position to say in how many cases, if any, there was a successful appeal against conviction.
§ 40. Mr. Silvermanasked the Home Secretary whether he will now consider making arrangements for police reports of street accidents to be made available to an injured person, or the relatives of one killed, without the payment of a fee of 10s. which is often beyond the means of poor people to pay?
§ Sir J. SimonIt has been the practice for some years for chief officers of police to exercise their discretion to reduce or waive this charge in all suitable cases, particularly where the full charge would involve hardships, and I have no reason to suppose that this practice does not work satisfactorily.
§ Mr. SilvermanWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to the proportion of cases in which there has been any waiver or remission of the fee, and if that has been done in only a small number of cases will he reconsider the question of totally abolishing the fee?
§ Sir J. SimonAs I have said, each chief officer of police has a discretion in this matter, but I will gladly look further into 1752 the question, and perhaps the hon. Member will give me any information he may have.