MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state how many stage carriage licences are in force in London; how many stage carriage drivers' and conductors' licences are at present in force in London; and whether he will consider the advisability of regulating the issue of drivers' and conductors' licences so as to correspond to the number of licensed carriages, and of only issuing such licences to men over 20 years of age who have already had experience of driving on the streets?
* MR. GEORGE RUSSELLOn December 31 last there were 3,439 stage carriages licensed. On the same date there were licensed 6,454 stage drivers, 8,534 conductors, but of these very many held both licences, and act 778 as driver or conductor, according to circumstances. The suggested limiting would have no margin for sickness or other causes of abstention from work; and as licences cannot be granted without due inquiry into character, &c, there would be constant delays and complaints that stage carriages were thrown out of work for lack of drivers or conductors, and unlicensed men would be employed. The minimum age allowed by law for drivers is 16, but no one is licensed by the Commissioner who is under 17 years of age, and this only in exceptional circumstances and for country districts on the special application of a proprietor, who undertakes to find the man employment.