HC Deb 27 January 1954 vol 522 cc1747-8
54. Mr. Roy Jenkins

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many regulations he has so far made under the Road Transport Lighting (No. 2) Act, 1953.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Hugh Molson)

No regulations have yet been made under this Act. In accordance with the promise given during the passage of the Act the subject is being examined, but priority has been given to plans for improving rear lights and reflectors under the other Road Transport Lighting Act of 1953.

Mr. Jenkins

Does the hon. Gentleman think it desirable that so far as the leaving in streets in London of unlit vehicles is concerned the law should be left entirely different from the practice, and that the thing should be made to work only because police officers do not enforce the law?

Mr. Molson

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that the present state of affairs is not at all satisfactory. I have been giving personal attention to this matter. One of the reasons why we are not taking action at the present time is that we want to arrive at a really satisfactory solution to this problem.

Sir H. Williams

On a point of order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, why this Question appears on the Order Paper, because the information is already available in the Library?

Mr. Lewis

Is it not, whether intentionally or unintentionally, a reflection on the Chair for any hon. Member to query and criticise a Question that has already received your approval, Mr. Speaker, and that of the Clerks, in so far as it is already on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

An hon. Member is entitled to draw my attention to anything that he considers to be an irregularity. I am not myself aware that the information asked for in this Question exists in that form.

Sir H. Williams

The index to the Statutory Instruments is available, and makes it possible for any hon. Member to obtain this information.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Has not the hon. Gentleman who has raised this point of order himself been guilty of the same thing in Question No. 7 today?

Mr. Jenkins

When does the Parliamentary Secretary hope to be able to start introducing those regulations that he says are desirable?

Mr. Molson

I cannot make any promise, but the matter is being considered at the present time.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Minister, when making this inquiry, also inquire into the rear lighting of bicycles and how far that is properly observed?

Mr. Molson

That is already being done.