§ 36. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the observations of Mr. Justice Finnemore at Monmouth Assizes on the subject of instructions to their drivers issued by the Road Haulage Executive; and if he will make a statement as to the general directions he will issue to the Transport Commission to the effect that they shall in future give assistance to the administration of the criminal law.
§ Mr. BarnesI am informed that the notice which was issued to drivers of the Road Haulage Executive in one locality was withdrawn the day after attention was drawn to it. I do not propose to issue a direction in the sense suggested, nor would it be appropriate for me to do so.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhen a nationalised industry issues a direction which a Judge of the High Court describes as a direction to defeat the ends of justice, is it not time for the right hon. Gentleman, on behalf of this House, to instruct that industry that it has the same duties to assist in the enforcement of the criminal law as everybody else?
§ Mr. BarnesThe suggestion in that question is not quite correct. This direction was not issued by the Road Haulage Executive. It was issued locally, and immediately their attention was drawn to it they gave instructions that it should be withdrawn.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWas it not issued by one of their subordinate officers, and are they therefore not responsible?
§ Mr. BarnesYes, and immediately they discovered it they issued a contrary direction that it should be withdrawn, because the drivers of the Road Haulage Executive must, of course, conform to the law, like everybody else.