HC Deb 27 November 1950 vol 481 cc771-2
33. Mr. Crouch

asked the Minister of Transport how many road haulage vehicles carrying A and B licences were involved in accidents owing to negligence on the part of their drivers during 1948 and 1949, respectively.

Mr. Barnes

I regret that the information is not available.

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

In those circumstances, how was it that the Minister of Town and Country Planning sneered at the private road hauliers the other day for increasing the number of road accidents, if he had no information whatever on the subject? Was that not a monstrously dishonest bit of party propaganda?

Mr. Barnes

I am not aware of any statement of that kind or whether it conflicts with my answer. All I am stating is that I have not got the information asked for in the Question.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Would the Minister read the speech which the Minister of Town and Country Planning made in the debate on the Address, in which he sneered at them and said that they were using petrol, wearing out the roads and increasing the number of road accidents? On his own showing, the Minister of Town and Country Planning had no information whatever.

Mr. Barnes

I am fairly certain that I should possibly form an impression of that speech different from that of the hon. Member.