§ 33. Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the case of two Royal Artillery motor drivers convicted at Plymouth on the 15th instant of stealing a motor car, and also at Birmingham in December, in which one of them had had his licence suspended, an instruction from the War Office was put before the Plymouth magistrates that any suspension of licences should not apply to Army vehicles; and whether this attempted interference with the course of justice had his approval?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaSection 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, provides that, if the court thinks fit, a disqualification from holding a driving licence under this Section may be limited to the driving of a motor vehicle of the same class or description as the vehicle in relation to which the offence was committed. It is accordingly the practice when a military driver is convicted of a motoring offence involving disqualification, for an officer to put himself at the disposal of the court to explain the considerations arising under the Section from a military point of view. The hon. Member will see that there is no interference with the course of justice,
§ Mr. LeachIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the magistrates were acting in deference to the representation of the War Office in this matter and virtually setting the law aside?