§ 14. Mr. Speirasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions, arising from accidents, have been instituted during the past 12 months in England and Wales, attributable to vehicles being parked on highways without lights during the hours of darkness.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. SpeirDoes the Home Secretary not agree that very few accidents occur because of cars being parked without lights? Will he, therefore, consider introducing amending legislation on this subject? In the meantime, will he urge police authorities to go slow in instituting proceedings?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe first point is a matter which my hon. Friend ought to take up with the Minister of Transport. On the second point, I must say to the House again, as I have tried to make clear on many occasions, that it is not my business, and it is the opposite of my desire, to influence the police in the matter of prosecutions. The police are free, subject to the assistance of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to bring such cases as they like, and I think it would be a very dangerous precedent if this House encouraged the Executive to interfere.