§ Mr. COWANasked the Home Secretary the number of traffic accidents to children in England and Wales under five years of age and between five and 14 years of age, respectively, for the year 1931–32 or for any subsequent period?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe street accidents return, which is presented annually to Parliament, does not classify accidents according to age groups, and I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available in respect of England and Wales as a whole and could 1419W not be obtained without the expenditure of considerable time and trouble. I can, however, give certain information as regards the Metropolitan and City of London Police District. During the year ended 31st December, 1932, 236 children under 15, of whom 52 were under 5, were killed, and 10,128 children under 15 were injured in these districts. The corresponding figures for the first six months of this year were 125 children under 15 killed, of whom 31 were under 5, and 1420W 5,541 children under 15 injured. The Annual Statistical Review, published by the Registrar-General for England and Wales, includes figures as to the number of persons killed in traffic accidents, and these figures are classified in 5-year age groups. The Review for 1931 shows that during that year (which is the last year for which figures have been published), 1,286 children under 15 were killed in England and Wales, of whom 393 were children under 5.