§ 35. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Transport why no inquiry under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, was held concerning the accident, of which details have been sent to him, which caused the death of a child who was leaning against the front of an electric milk float, the driver of which could not see the road nearer than nine feet ahead; and whether he will order an inquiry about any future accident presenting this or any other special feature.
§ Mr. BarnesMy technical officers have inspected this vehicle and reported that visibility from the driver's seat is good. I doubt, therefore, whether an inquiry into this accident would produce any significant information beyond that already available. When an accident presents special features worthy of investigation I arrange for an inquiry to be held.
§ Mr. KeelingDoes not the Minister realise that the reason for Parliament putting this Section into this Act was that it thought that the technical officers of the Ministry were not infallible? Would it not be a good thing to get an outside fresh mind to bear on matters like this? A suggestion for a new design for such floats might have been the result in this case.
§ Mr. BarnesI certainly agree that technical officers are not infallible, but in this case the issue is quite clear. We know the construction of the vehicle, and we know the circumstances of the accident, and I do not see that any inquiry would bring forth any fresh facts.