HC Deb 01 February 1961 vol 633 cc981-2
29. Mr. C. Royle

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent incident in which nineteen foxhounds were killed on the railway line near Dover on Saturday, 14th January, whether, in the interests of public safety, he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to safeguard effectively all their electric lines from access by persons and animals.

Mr. Hay

No, Sir. We do not consider that this is a matter which it would be proper to deal with by a general direction. I am advised that the Commission could not reasonably be expected to provide more secure fencing than existed at the site of this particular occurrence.

Mr. Royle

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will look at the matter another way. In view of other occurrences of this kind which have taken place and the potential danger to the travelling public arising there from, will he now instruct that prosecutions for trespassing should be instituted against masters of hounds?

Mr. Hay

I do not think that my right hon. Friend has any power to instruct that prosecutions should be instituted.