HC Deb 27 May 1938 vol 336 cc1602-3

12.46 p.m.

Colonel Sandeman Allen

I beg to move, in page 13, line 1, to leave out from "thereof," to "and," in line 3.

The object of the Amendment is to provide that a signed, written statement shall not be required. I submit that it is not necessary. In spite of modern education, there are still people who cannot read and write, and to make them write out and sign a statement is not necessary. There is no precedent for such a procedure in any other Act dealing with the road motor transport industry, and I cannot see that there is any necessity for it, so that I hope my right hon. Friend will not insist upon it.

12.47 p.m.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My hon. and gallant Friend said that there is no precedent in a Road Traffic Act for words of this kind, and he also said that a certain number of the population still cannot read or write. I hope he does not thereby suggest that there is a higher proportion of people in this industry unable to read and write, because unless he does, there is no particular reason for picking out road legislation as being the legislation in which words like these have not hitherto been inserted. In the Trade Boards Act, the Factories Act, and the Unemployment Insurance Act it is regarded as a necessary power to secure the proper observance of the Act, and it does not appear to my hon. Friend that there is any valid reason why a similar power should not be contained in this Measure.

12.48 p.m.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

I am sure the hon. and gallant Member for West Birkenhead (Colonel Sandeman Allen) does not mean to imply that drivers of road vehicles are an illiterate body of people. I think I can say on their behalf that they are a very intelligent body of people and quite able to write out any reports that may be required.

Mr. H. G. Williams

In the main the implication is that it is the employers who cannot write.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 12 ordered to stand part of the Bill.