§ 68. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an auxiliary fireman was fined £20 at a London police court, on the 8th instant, for exceeding 20 miles per hour when driving an Auxiliary Fire Service car; and, in view of the fact that the man's weekly wage is £2 18s. 5d. per week, that prior to this offence he had a good driving record, and that driving a fire brigade car was an extra and unpaid duty for which he volunteered, will he review the circumstances with special regard to the means of the defendant?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am having inquiry made about this case, and am not in a position at present to make any statement.
§ Captain Sir William BrassWill my right hon. Friend tell the magistrates why this particular regulation, for a 20 miles speed limit in the black-out, was brought in under the Defence of the Realm Act, because misunderstanding is arising?
§ Mr. SorensenIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, in fact, this penalty is 20 times larger than penalties for similar offences under the ordinary law?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think it better that I should not offer any comment without due deliberation with the magistrates concerned.
§ 73. Mr. Keelingasked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions and convictions there have been for exceeding the 20-mile speed limit during the black-out in the Metropolitan Police District since the limit was imposed on 1st February?
§ Sir J. AndersonI regret that the information asked for is not yet available. If my hon. Friend will put his Question down again some time after the end of this month, I hope I may be able to give him the information for which he asks.
§ Sir W. BrassIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Metropolitan Police are trying to tail cars, and that, with the present mask, they cannot possibly see more than feet at 19 paces ahead of them in the dark?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think that Question had better be put down.