§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the conviction, at Hampshire assizes on 7th December, of a motorist for dangerous driving resulting in a fatality, in which it was admitted that the driver was blind in one eye, had imperfect sight in the other, and is deaf; whether this man intimated his defect when obtaining or renewing a licence; and, if not, whether proceedings have been or are likely to be taken against him for making a false declaration regarding his disability?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)I am aware of the case referred to in the first part of the question. I am informed that the answer to the second part is in the negative, but that having regard to the penalties already imposed on the defendant, including his disqualification for life for obtaining a driving licence, it is not proposed to take further proceedings against him.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that this man secured a relatively light sentence because of his claim that he was defective; does it not seem that the man must have misled the authorities in the first place; and does he also realise the danger involved to pedestrians in having men of this kind driving motor cars on the public roads?
§ Mr. LloydI appreciate the danger but, I do not think the first part of the supplementary question is founded upon good information. I am informed that all the facts were known to the judge who passed sentence.