§ Mr. Keelingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has any further statement to make about the issue of warning letters by Regional Transport Commissioners to persons who have been convicted of offences but have received purely nominal sentences.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir, since my hon. Friend last raised the question of warning letters, I have had the opportunity of discussing the matter with the Regional Transport Commissioners. As a result, I am satisfied that cases arise from time to time in which it is in the public interest that warnings should be given, if only because it is desirable that any firm which has been convicted should immediately take steps to ensure that the regulations are fully understood and complied with. So far as I am aware, there has only been one complaint about a warning letter, namely, that which my hon. Friend raised in a recent Debate on the Adjournment. Since that Debate took place, I have learnt that the occasion of the warning letter was by no means the only occasion in recent months when the firm had been convicted of offences in the running of their vehicles.