§ 122. Mr. Marloweasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the recent case at Lewes Asizes when one Andrews was convicted of causing the death by dangerous driving of the 15 year old son of Mr. R. J. Reed of Hove; why this man, who had several previous motoring convictions, was permitted to take out eight successive provisional driving licences when it was known that he was registered and drawing benefit as a partially blind person; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the repeated issue of provisional licences to persons unfitted to be in charge of vehicles on the road.
§ Mr. MarplesYes. I understand that the offence to which my hon. Friend refers was committed by a driver who 175W while registered as a partially sighted person had declared when applying for a driving licence that he was able to fulfil the prescribed eyesight requirements and that he was not disqualified. At the time of the offence he did not hold any licence and had not done so for more than a year.
As for the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) today.