§ LORD HENEAGEI beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether there have been any prosecutions of owners of motor-cars under Section 5 of the 11th and 12th Victoria, chap. 43, for aiding and abetting an offence against the Locomotives Act of 1896; whether it is possible to obtain any evidence against the owner under the Summary Jurisdiction Act; and further, whether, if any evidence was forthcoming from the driver or other occupant of the motorcar, the owner would be liable to the penalties in the proposed Act.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHThere is no available information as to the prosecutions under Section 5 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, nor can such information be obtained without a great deal of trouble and investigation. As regards the remainder of the Question, 1294 the obtaining of evidence against the owner must depend upon the circumstances of each particular case. If the owner is proved, however, to have aided, abetted, counselled, or procured the commission of the offence, he is liable to the same penalties as the principal offender. Under Section 5 not only is the owner liable, but any other person on the car who aids and abets in the commission of the offence is also liable.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before Eight o'clock, to Thursday next, half-past Ten o'clock.