HC Deb 18 November 1953 vol 520 cc1718-20
37. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his regulations in respect of insurance of the car, road tax and holding a British driving licence are imposed on foreign service men in Britain who own a private car, in the same way as they are imposed on British subjects who own a private car.

Mr. Molson

Members of Visiting Forces are subject to the same legal obligations as British subjects in respect of the insurance and licensing of their private cars, with the one minor exception that no licence duty is payable for the first 90 days for a car which such a person brings into this country with him. They are also required to hold British driving licences, but these are granted without a driving test to members of a Visiting Force, in common with other temporary visitors to Great Britain, if they hold driving permits issued by the authorities of their own country.

Mrs. Braddock

Can the hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for ensuring that a foreign service man who drives a car in this country complies with British regulations? Is he aware that there have been instances where British civilians have been killed by foreign service men who have been driving their own cars and that the relatives of the British civilians have no recourse to British law for compensation? Will he take some steps to deal with the matter or at least tell the House who is responsible and what steps can be taken to ensure that there is compliance with British regulations?

Mr. Molson

It is the duty of the British police to see that the ordinary regulations are complied with. With regard to the second point, I think the hon. Lady is referring to a case which she took up with the Foreign Office. I understand that she has not responded to the invitation of my hon. Friend, one of the Joint Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, to convey to him the further details upon the subject for which he asked.

Mrs. Braddock

That case is an entirely different matter. What I want to know now is, if the British police authorities are responsible for dealing with these matters, how is it that they cannot take any action at all against a visiting foreign service man who commits a crime in this country by killing someone when using a car which is not insured? What are the responsibilities of the British police in this matter?

Mr. Molson

If a breach of the regulations was committed, the police would make representations to the military authorities or whoever was responsible for the Visiting Forces

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. Gentleman look up the debate we had in the House when this matter was dealt with by legislation and see if the promise then given by the Ministry that the law of this country could and would be enforced can be carried out in the case of uninsured cars being on the road?

Mr. Molson

A civil action would lie. I will certainly look up the matter and see if any undertaking which was given has been carried out.

Mr. Ede

Surely the hon. Gentleman knows that to drive an uninsured private car on the roads of this country is a criminal and not a civil matter?

Mr. S. Silverman

Does the hon. Gentleman really mean to tell the House that under the existing arrangements between this country and the United States a service man belonging to the United States forces who drives a private car without insurance and without a driving licence can be prosecuted in the British courts?

Mr. Molson

I should be glad if the hon. Gentleman would put that Question on the Order Paper. I was asked what the regulations on the subject were, and I have answered that. I should like to see a Question on the Order Paper before I state exactly what the correct procedure would be in the event of a breach of the regulations.

Mrs. Braddock

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.