44. Mr. David Adamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that motor-drivers, after working from, say, 7 a.m. to 4.30 or 5.30 p.m., are called upon for fire-watching duties from 6 p.m. to 1.30 a.m., and, upon resuming motor-driving duty next morning have complained of drowsiness; and whether he will examine such cases in the interest of public safety?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Colonel Llewellin)I have not received any representations on the subject, nor have I heard of any accidents due to this cause. It would be impracticable to exempt motor-drivers generally from fire-watching duties.
Mr. AdamsAlthough the Minister has not received complaints hitherto, will he accept my assurance that these are fairly numerous in the North of England?
§ Colonel LlewellinI will look into any case that my hon. Friend sends me, but, of course, the great point about the fire-watching Order was to keep it as general as possible and to have as few exemptions as possible.