§ MR. T. G. FARDELL (Paddington, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can inform the House at whose instance a considerable quantity of number plates have been removed from cabs since the commencement of the cab strike and before the expiration of the year for which the licences of the cabs in question were granted; and, whether such removal is permissible under the orders made by him under The Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, which came into force on 1st September 1896; and, if so, under which of those orders?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolNumber plates are removed before the expiration of the year if proprietors wishing to surrender their licences desire it. There is nothing in the Acts or the Order to prevent this being done.