§ Captain Pluggeasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many cases of soldiers in uniform driving unauthorised Army vehicles and colliding with other vehicles or with pedestrians have been reported in the last six months; and what has been the maximum penalty imposed in each such type of case?
§ Mr. SandysTo date there have been reported to the War Office as having occurred during the last six months 42 accidents in which an Army vehicle being driven without authority by a soldier in uniform has collided with a civilian vehicle, and 7 cases in which such a vehicle has collided with a civilian. In only 24 and 3 of these cases respectively has the Claims Commission decided that, as the War Department would not have been legally liable had it been a private944W employer, it could not assume responsibility for the damage or injury caused by the collision. As the soldier responsible is usually arraigned on more than one charge arising out of the escapade, and as only one sentence is awarded in respect of all the charges on which an accused soldier is found guilty, I am not in a position to answer the last part of the Question.