asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents have occurred causing personal injury to passengers falling inside public service road vehicles during the latest convenient 12 months; how far the number shows an increase upon previous years; and whether he will cause a special inquiry to be made into this type of accident.

The figures asked for by my hon. Friend are not distinguishable in our road accident statistics. Such information as is available, however, indicates that there may have been some increase in this type of accident over the last two years, and I propose to ask the Departmental Committee on Road Safety to look into the matter.

Having regard to the fact that a great number of recorded accidents in main traffic streets are due to this cause, will this inquiry consider the position of the victims of these accidents, who, through lack of evidence, are frequently unable to obtain any compensation whatever for injuries they receive?

The purpose of my Departmental Committee's review will be to seek to avoid accidents. I do not think that questions of the legal rights of those concerned are for me.