§ 50. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Transport the number of road accidents in which no mechanical vehicle was involved, for the years 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively; and what was the corresponding figure for 1938.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Gurney Braithwaite)I regret that statistics are not available to provide a complete answer. Accidents involving pedal cycles but no other vehicle totalled 17,276 in 1949 and 17,207 in 1951; I cannot give similar figures for 1938. In addition, there were some other accidents not involving mechanically propelled vehicles which have not been separately analysed, for example those involving horses and horse-drawn vehicles, but these were relatively few.
§ Mr. CrouchIn view of the fact that in 1938 figures were available for accidents involving non-mechanically propelled vehicles—I believe about 10 per cent. of the accidents were caused by such vehicles—and in view of the increased number of accidents on the road, could my hon. Friend get these figures made more readily available?
Mr. BraithwaiteThe statistics for 1938 were not analysed in sufficient detail to enable the information requested for that year to be given.
§ Mr. BowlesWill the hon. Gentleman consider the question of compulsory third-party insurance for non-mechanically propelled vehicles?