§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask how many drivers of motor vehicles convicted and disqualified in the Metropolitan. Police District at magistrates' courts, quarter sessions and assizes respectively have had their licences restored during the three years ended December 31, 1948, under Section 7 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, before the expiry of the period of disqualification.]
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, no separate record is kept of applications made under Section 7 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, for the restoration of driving licences, and to obtain the information asked for would require looking through a very considerable number of individual files. The Home Secretary does not consider that at the present time it would be justifiable to allocate officers for this special research, and lie is sorry to say, therefore, that he is not in a position to give the information
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. I understand his difficulties. I am a little disappointed that the figures are not available, but in the circumstances there is nothing more to be said.