§ Sir I. Alberyasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of two Army officers who were summoned at Gravesend police court for driving a motor-car in a manner dangerous to the public at Old Road West, Gravesend, on 4th April, 1942, without an insurance policy and failing to produce a driving licence; when one defendant was fined £10 for dangerous driving, £10 for having no effective insurance, 10s. for failing to produce his driving licence and disqualified from driving for 12 months, the other defendant was fined £5; that a Mr. Leonard John Read, a carpenter, was injured by the motor-car in question, which was the private property of one of the defendants, but was conveying a naval officer on duty on the orders of a superior officer, owing to a War Office vehicle being under repair; and under these circumstances, why his Department has refused all responsibility for the injury, or even 10 recommend any adequate compensation on compassionate grounds?
§ Sir J. GriggI am aware of the case referred to, but the incident took place on 4th April, 1941. Regulations clearly lay down that an officer shall not use a private car on official journeys unless he is adequately covered by insurance. My Department cannot therefore accept any liability in the matter. I understand moreover that the police proceedings established that the car was not being used on official service.