§ Captain STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received the result of the inquiry made into the case, to which his attention has been drawn, of the prosecution of three motorcyclists charged with a road offence committed jointly on one day, for which summonses were issued returnable on different dates for each defendant; and whether he proposes to direct the attention of magistrates to the undesirability of such a practice?
§ Mr. LLOYDI find on inquiry that on the application of the solicitor acting for the defence in these three cases it was arranged that they should be heard together. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that when a driver is stopped for an alleged traffic offence, it is often necessary to make preliminary inquiries before a summons is applied for and that the time occupied in making such inquiries varies in different cases. This may lead to different dates being fixed for the hearing of charges originating on the same day, but I am informed that an endeavour is always made to meet the wishes of defendants who represent that it is in their interest that the charges against them should be heard together.