§ MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is now in a position to inform the House what steps are being taken to carry out the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Cabs; whether the new inspectors to be appointed will be men possessed of technical knowledge of cab building, and what instructions they will act under with regard to the approval of vehicles; and when the new regulations will come into force?
§ MR. ASQUITHArrangements are now completed for giving effect (with some slight modifications) to the recommendations of the Committee relating to the increase of the staff and the technical qualification of the inspectors, to registration of cab-yards, to the prohibition of sub-letting, to the minimum age and practical knowledge of drivers, to the use of cautionary notices in the case of first offences, and to the incorporation of a statement of facts with summonses against drivers. Some other points are still under consideration, and will be settled without delay. The new inspectors will all be possessed of technical knowledge, and will act under the instructions which are issued from time to time by the Commissioner of Police. It is hoped that the new regulations will all be in force by July 1 next. Several of them are already in force.