§ Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest at Salisbury on 7th January, upon the body of a cyclist, killed by an Army lorry which overtook an omnibus at a corner; whether he is aware that a police sergeant gave evidence that he was refused admittance to the military camp and the coroner protested strongly against the refusal of the Army authorities to co-operate with himself; and whether he can now state 1065W whether this soldier who caused the death is still employed as a lorry driver?
§ Captain MargessonAccording to my information the entry of the police sergeant into the camp was at no time opposed or prevented. The reluctance to let witnesses make any statement seems to have been due to the fact that it was not made clear to the unit that the police officer was conducting inquiries on behalf of the coroner. There was probably also some misunderstanding of existing instructions to units regarding the giving of statements; steps are therefore being taken to clarify these instructions. The driver concerned has been relieved of his driving duties altogether since the accident.