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28th July 1933, Page 44
28th July 1933
Page 44
Page 44, 28th July 1933 — Road Transport Activities
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Keywords : Disaster / Accident

IN PARLIAMENT

By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent Insurance Companies' Deposit.

TTPON a suggestion that the deposit J of £15,000 by insurance companies referred to in Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, should be increased and a close scrutiny obtained of the accounts of insurance companies, if and when expedient, Colonel Colville, Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department, said the purpose of the statutory deposits was to provide some measure of check upon companies entering upon this class of business without resources. The question whether the deposit of £15,000 fixed for 1930 for motor insurance business was adequate would be considered when legislation was under consideration. He referred to special powers recently conferred on the Board of Trade by the Assurance Companies (Winding "Up) Act, 1933, which would necessitate a close scrutiny of the statutory accounts of motoring insurance companies.

Compensation for Accidents.

IN the House of Lards a few days ago a discussion took place on Lord Danesfort's Road Traffic (Compensation for Accidents) Bill, which has been reported upon by a Select Committee. On the Committee stages the Bill as amended by the Select Committee was

• submitted and, after an intimation that the Government were prepared further to consider the legal aspects of the question, but could not this Session provide facilities for the passing of the 1326 Bill, the amendments were passed en bloc and the Bill recommitted.

The main principle of the Bill as amended is that where bodily injury to a person is caused by or arises out of the use of a motor vehicle on a road or in a place to which the public have a right of access damages shall be recoverable from the owner of the motor vehicle in respect thereof without proof of negligence or intention or other cause of action as though the injury had been caused by his wilful act, neglect or default, except where the injury was solely due to thd negligence of the injured person. There is a proviso to the effect that where the injury was contributed to but not solely due to the negligence of the injured person the degree in which the negligence of the injured person was the cause of the accident shall be taken into account in assessing the damages. There are other provisos and in brief the effect is to shift from the pedestrian to the driver the onus of proof.,

Traffic Signs.

iurR. STANLEY informed the House .1.V_Lthat he had already circulated the report of the Departmental Committee on Highway Signs to highway authorities and had intimated to them his decisions on the major part of the committee's recommendations. He had reserved his decision on a few points. The initiative with regard to the erection of approved signs rested with the highway authorities concerned.

Third-party Risks.

nVER 60 Members of Parliament, le/belonging to all Parties, have subScribed their names to a proposed resolution in these terms :—That this House is of opinion 'that the experience of the past two years has shown that part 2 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, dealing with third-party risks arising Out of the use of motor vehicles does not make full provision against such risks, and is, being largely contravened, either deliberately or in ignorance; and that a Select Committee of this House should be appointed to report on the whole question of the compulsory insurance of motor vehicles with a view to amending legislation being introduced.

Coal-produced Oil.

THE First Lord of the Admiralty has stated that the quantities of oil, produced by the low-temperature carbonization and hydrogenation of coal, purchased by the Admiralty were—in 1929 20 tons, in 1930 540 tons, in 1931 224 tons, in 1932 570 tons, and in 1933 3,025 tons.

Liberals' Resolution.

SIX Liberal Members have given notice of a resolution that a Select Committee of the House of Commons be appointed to consider and report upon the proposal to guarantee a preference on petroleum spirit produced by' the hydrogenation of coal or other process.


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