§ MR. BRIDGEMANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- 934 ment whether the additional charge of 2s. 6d. for a cabman's badge, which was recently imposed, has been removed; and, if so, whether that sum has been refunded to those cabmen who had paid it.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe operation of the regulation referred to was suspended shortly after it came into force, pending the consideration of the matter by a Select Committee. It was, however, never intended to make any additional charge for a cabman's licence, but only to require a deposit of 2s. 6d., which would be returned when the badge was given up. Certain cabmen paid this deposit of 2s. 6d. before the operation of the regulation was suspended—in many cases the money has already been refunded; in those where it has not, it may be had on application at any police station, on production of the receipt.