HC Deb 09 July 1964 vol 698 cc613-4
35. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment whether, in view of the photographic and other evidence which has been sent to him showing the different treatment given in London to parkers of large chauffeur-driven cars compared with small family cars, he will now cause an inquiry to be made.

Mr. Woodhouse

No, Sir. The Commissioner of Police informs me that the results of his inquiries do not support the suggestion that large chauffeur-driven cars are given preferential treatment by the police and traffic wardens. I am writing to the hon. Member giving details of the results of the Commissioner's inquiries.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Could my hon. Friend tell me how much evidence he needs on this subject, because I, like probably any hon. Member, could give him daily evidence of this happening in many places?

Mr. Woodhouse

I should be happy to study any evidence my hon. Friend gives me, but despite the form in which the Question is cast, having examined the evidence which has been sent to me so far, I can only say that it appears to relate entirely to self-driven cars.

Mr. W. Hamilton

Did the Under-Secretary see a programme on television a few weeks ago—I think it was called "The Braden Beat"—in which specific instances were given of this and where the programme producers took a Rolls-Royce car one day and a Mini car the next? The Rolls-Royce was at no point brought to book by the authorities, but the Mini was brought to book the first time it infringed the law. Will the hon. Gentleman ask the television authorities if he can have a look at the programme, if he did not see it?

Mr. Woodhouse

That programme was, in fact, the source of the evidence which my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) sent to me.

Mr. Hamilton

Will the Under-Secretary ask the television authorities from where they got the evidence?

Mr. Woodhouse

That is hardly necessary, because it was perfectly obvious where the photographs were taken.