§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has 637W of the number of people driving cars who are not covered by an insurance policy.
§ Mr. CarmichaelIt is not possible to make any such estimate. I am informed that in 1973 there were 134,298 convictions in magistrates' courts in England and Wales and 5,856 in sheriff courts in Scotland for the offence of using a motor vehicle without insurance as required by law.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the increasing number of lorries on British roads driven by drivers from other EEC countries, some of whom have no understanding of English, he will take steps to ensure that all drivers on the United Kingdom roads can supply sufficient information to other people involved in traffic accidents, to enable insurance claims to be made.
§ Dr. GilbertI am not aware that there is any general difficulty in the exchange of information about addresses or insurance as required by law when foreign drivers, whether from other EEC countries or elsewhere, are involved in accidents here. I do not think it would be practicable to impose special requirements or checks on foreign drivers to establish individual ability to communicate on these matters.