Carriers' Licences

HC Deb 26 March 1958 vol 585 cc416-7

15. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of licences revoked or suspended, respectively, for offences committed under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and Section 16 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, for the last quarter of 1957; and the comparable figures for the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Mr. Nugent

No carriers' licences were revoked or suspended for offences under these Sections during the last quarters of 1956 and 1957. Two vehicles were removed from licences for periods of three months during the last quarter of 1956.

Mr. Davies

Does not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that, in view of the large number of offences committed and convictions obtained, it is desirable that penalties should be more severe and that a fine of a few pounds is an inadequate penalty to act as a deterrent? Would not he agree that it is only by a revocation or suspension of licences that firms which have committed offences against the Road Traffic Acts will be deterred from further offences?

Mr. Nugent

It is within the discretion of the licensing authorities to decide what to do in the matter, and they normally consider that a fine is sufficient. In the case of a persistent offender licensing authorities do use these far more drastic penalties, but as a rule a fine is sufficient to deter the offender.

Mr. Davies

Cannot the Minister do anything to draw the attention of traffic commissioners to the desirability of increasing penalties? Is he aware that only this morning I received a letter from the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation referring to a number of offences committed by drivers and by the road haulage operator concerned, where a total fine of only £15 10s. was imposed for several offences? That is guile inadequate. Cannot the attention of the traffic commissioners be drawn to this matter?

Mr. Nugent

I do not doubt that the licensing authorities will read what the hon. Member has said; but they have statutory independence in the matter and I would be reluctant to send them a direction.