§ 42. Mr. Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, owing to the inability of workers to obtain electric batteries, prosecutions are taking place because the worker is without lights on his bicycle; and whether he will stop these prosecutions until such batteries are available?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I have no power to take any such action as is suggested in the second part of the Question, but I have no doubt that in considering whether to prosecute in any individual case the police will take into account any mitigating circumstances. I think I ought, however, to emphasise that riding bicycles without a light constitutes a serious danger not only to pedestrians and other users of the road but to the bicyclists themselves.
§ Mr. WakefieldIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that workers unable to have lights on their bicycles are frequently late for work and are prosecuted for continual absenteeism, and is it right that workers should be prosecuted whatever they do? There must be some way out.
§ Mr. MorrisonThere are two things to be said. One is that as long as the law exists it must be administered. The other point is the supply of lamps, and I think the latter is the best remedy, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the appropriate Departments are dealing with that matter.
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir, but the law is not an ass in this respect.