§ MR. T. LOUGH) (Islington, W.I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether it is true that private cabs are now stationed in the yard of the Hotel Cecil and in the neighbourhood of Harrod's Stores, with horses attached, and fully equipped for the purpose of being hired; (2) whether such cabs and drivers are duly licensed; (3) whether it is a breach of the Hackney Carriage Act for such cabs to stand in a public place for the purpose of being hired; and (4) whether, if he finds that there have been any infringements of the Metropolitan Carriage Acts, he will see that the law is duly enforced.
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am informed that unlicensed cabs were stationed at the Hotel Cecil, but have been removed and will not stand there again. The vehicles at Harrod's Stores do not ply for hire within the meaning of the Public Carriage Act of 1869, and are not required, therefore, to be licensed; they stand in a private yard and are really livery carriages. The answer to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.