HC Deb 28 May 1895 vol 34 cc457-8
MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has observed the demonstration of London cabdrivers, which had taken place on Thursday last, with the object of inducing him to carry out the recommendations of the late Departmental Committee, especially with regard to the abolition of the privilege system at the railway stations; and whether he would request the Board of Trade to communicate with the railway companies having stations in London, and ask whether they would appoint a small sub-committee to confer with an equal number to be named by the Home Secretary, for the purpose of considering whether it would be possible to arrive at some adjustment of this question, which might be satisfactory to the companies, and yet concede what is reasonable in the demands of the drivers as well as in accordance with the recommendations of the late Committee?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. H. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)

I noticed an account in the papers of the demonstration referred to. I have asked my hon. Friend the Under Secretary, who was Chairman of the Departmental Committee, to send a copy of their Report to the Board of Trade, and if, on inquiry, it should be found that the representatives of the railway companies are willing to appoint, say, three of their number to enter into a conference with a view of arriving at some amicable settlement concerning "privileged" cabs, I should be willing to nominate three Members of the late Committee to meet them and discuss the matter.