HC Deb 08 July 1924 vol 175 cc2002-3W
Mr. COMYNS - CARR

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the large number of cases in which persons who have been ordered to pay damages to other persons on account of injuries inflicted by motor vehicles have been unable to do so owing to lack of means and failure to provide full insurance against this risk; whether he is aware that such a person was recently made bankrupt at Brighton County Court on this account; and whether he will talc steps to make it a condition of the íssue of a licence for any motor car or motor cycle that the applicant shall produce a policy with a recognised insurance office covering without limit the risk of claims from third parties and employés of the applicant, and a receipt for a full year's premium thereon

Mr. GOSLING

I am aware that cases arise such as those referred to by the hon. Member, though my attention has not been drawn to the particular one at Brighton. So far as my information goes, however, these cases are extremely rare. In the Metropolitan Police district, the Commissioner, who is the licensing authority, satisfies himself, before granting a licence to ply for lure with public service vehicles, that the applicant is either adequately insured or is of sufficient financial standing to meet any claims that may be made against him. The extension of a similar system to the provinces is under consideration by the Departmental Committee on Hackney Vehicles, and I hope that this Committee will be able to devise a satisfactory scheme to effect this. Public service vehicles stand, however, upon a somewhat different footing to other vehicles, and the application of compulsory insurance to all motor vehicles and motor cycles presents serious difficulties, both practical and administrative. Legislation would, in any case, be required before any such scheme could be put into operation.