HC Deb 08 December 1955 vol 547 c529
6. Mr. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warnings or summonses have been issued by the Metropolitan Police in the past year to owners of diesel-engined vehicles which emit smoke from their exhausts.

Major Lloyd-George

In the twelve months ended 30th September last five summonses and one hundred and fifteen written cautions were issued in respect of the emission of exhaust smoke from motor vehicles. No separate record is kept of the type of engine concerned or of the numbers of oral warnings.

Mr. Russell

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say what response there has been to the warnings or to the summonses? Has he no impression, apart from actual figures, about whether diesel-engined vehicles are the main offenders in this respect, and whether the owners of them are helping in any way to reduce the smoke?

Major Lloyd-George

I could not answer that question now, but from my own observation I should have thought that probably the diesel engine may emit a lot of smoke. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on this question, and I hope to be able to do something about it.