§ Mr. MORTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the desirability of in- 2222W creasing the fines and penalties in connection with motor offences so as to make them really effective?
§ Mr. McKENNAThis would be a question for the consideration of the House in the event of the amendment of the Motor Car Acts. As I pointed out on the 31st of December, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Blackburn, a person convicted for the first time of dangerous driving can be ordered to pay a substantial fine, and on a second conviction can be sentenced to three months' imprisonment without the option of a fine In the event of his causing the death of a person he is of course, liable to prosecution for manslaughter. I have recently issued a circular to justices, calling their attention, among other things, to the importance of imposing an adequate punishment when offences under the Motor Car Acts are of a serious character.