HC Deb 08 December 1955 vol 547 cc538-40
17. Mr. Burden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to police officers in the Metropolitan area in questioning the owners of motor vehicles which bear C.D. plates.

Major Lloyd-George

No instructions have been issued on this point.

Mr. Burden

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that police officers accept the C.D. plates as prima facie evidence that the cars are the property of members of the Diplomatic Corps? Does he not agree that people not entitled to diplomatic privileges use these plates in order to gain some benefit; that this is a growing habit and that steps should be taken to stop it?

Major Lloyd-George

The display of C.D. plates on a motor car confers no immunity on the driver, the car or its owner. I wish to make that perfectly clear.

Mr. H. Morrison

This question has also arisen with the Foreign Office, and I cannot understand the position of the Government. Is it not the case that there can be only one purpose for putting C.D. plates on a car—the hope that the police will feel rather benevolent towards the driver? Would not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that it is misleading and that the plates are put on the vehicles without any authority whatever? Ought not the Government to do something to prevent the use of a C.D. label, indicating the Diplomatic Corps, by persons who are not members of the Diplomatic Corps? I beg the right hon. and gallant Gentleman at any rate to promise to reconsider it.

Major Lloyd-George

I am not anxious to interfere in matters where it is not necessary to do so. We have had no complaints about these_ C.D. plates at all, and no immunity is given to the driver, the car or the owner of the car by the fitting of C.D. plates on the vehicle. I have had no complaints, but if there were complaints it might be a different matter. After all, some people put G.B. plates on their car for no reason at all, except that it looks nice. I do not know, but it may well be that some people think there is some value attached to having C.D. plates on their cars.

Mr. Morrison

Is it not the case that recognised members of the Diplomatic Corps, or at any rate those in a certain position, are not prosecuted? I think that is the case. Surely, the purpose of these unauthorised people who put C.D. plates on their car must be to get some more friendly treatment from the police in the event of an offence being committed? Is it not the duty of the Government to look into the matter?

Major Lloyd-George

I have no evidence at all on the subject, and I do not want to interfere in matters where no interference is necessary until I get some evidence of abuse. The fact is that a person enjoying diplomatic privileges can claim immunity from prosecutions, but he cannot claim immunity from the attentions of the police. Were there evidence of gross abuse in this matter regarding speeding and other things, I might consider action, but I have no such evidence.

18. Mr. Burden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints have been made to his Department about the greatly increased number of cars in London that bear C.D. plates.

Major Lloyd-George

I can find no trace of recent complaints.

Mr. Burden

If that be the case, will my right hon. and gallant Friend keep his eyes open, when I am sure he will agree that the numbers are growing? Will he go out, or get someone else to go out, and question the ordinary policeman on the beat about this, as I have done? Is he aware that they will certainly tell him that they accept C.D. plates as prima facie evidence that the people using them are members of the Diplomatic Corps and that they approach these people with that in mind?

Major Lloyd-George

My hon. Friend asks me to keep my eyes open, and I propose to ask him to do the same. The question was: … what complaints have been made to his Department. …? My answer is that I can find no trace of recent complaints.

Mr. Burden

They have been made in this House.