§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is proposed to make steering locks compulsory on all new cars.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, manufacturers already fit steering locks voluntarily on all new cars.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that thefts of cars are still quite a frequent occurrence, and would it not be advisable to make this provision compulsory in order to avoid a lot of needless trouble for the police?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords; we are aware that there are many thefts. The voluntary fitting of locks on cars has taken place only from January 1, 1970, if the cars were of new design. But, of course, as from January 1, 1971, even cars of existing design have had them fitted. I am advised that the Home Office and the police wish to have this fitting made compulsory. But we are just feeling our way.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask what is the good of making the fitting of locks compulsory unless you also make the use of those locks compulsory, which would be a gross interference with the ordinary common sense conduct of citizens?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. But once we have introduced 998 the compulsory element I think this will be automatic. Many of these steering locks operate automatically when you take the key out.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, the noble Lord has talked about compulsion, and it seems that successive Governments have got into the habit of making compulsory things which interfere with the liberty of the subject. I think we ought to be giving more consideration to the liberty of the subject, and allowing a person to make up his own mind about whether he ought to do this or that with whatever is in his possession.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, before my noble friend replies, may I ask him two questions? First, if he makes fitting of locks compulsory will he see that the keys are different, because every key for almost every car in Britain opens every other car. Secondly, is it not very dangerous to lock the wheel? If you do you cannot drive the car.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have every sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Slater, and understand his feelings on this matter. Equally, we all feel as citizens that we should not make crime too easy, and the fitting of locks would help stop motor theft which is a very serious matter. In reply to my noble friend Lord Fraser of Lonsdale, the problems of keys are a detail which I think we shall be able to overcome in due course. The only reason why we have not gone fully ahead with the European regulations is that we are not 100 per cent. satisfied that there are no slight risks that the steering might be locked while the engine was still running. But those are small details.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, at the same time, could some indication be placed on the car to denote that it is fitted with a steering lock, which would act as a deterrent to some sections of the community who are frequently involved in exchanges with the police authorities?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think those are words of wisdom. Speaking for myself, my car has always had a sign on the window advertising that fact and, touching wood, since I have displayed the sign nothing has happened to the car.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that love laughs at locksmiths, and that the gentlemen who go about stealing cars usually have a ring of 50 or 60 keys in their pockets?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords; I am aware of that, but we can only do our best.