§ MR. CLAUDE HAYTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the holder of a driver's licence is unable to act as the conductor of a Metropolitan stage carriage unless he is also the holder of a conductor's licence, and vice versa; whether each of such licences cost 5s. per annum and are renewable yearly; whether any other licensing authority makes so high a charge; whether, even in paying for both licences, a conductor has to deposit his driver's licence with the police, and similarly with a driver; whether considerable inconvenience is thus caused 1213 to the licence-holder in changing from driver to conductor, or vice versa, especially when a man's duty is required to be altered at short notice in order that his employers may be able to fulfil their obligations to meet the public convenience; whether, when the holder of one licence applies for another licence to enable him to act in either capacity, even when he may have acted in a licensed capacity, without change of employer, for twenty years, a delay of two or three weeks not infrequently occurs whilst the inquiries applicable to an entirely new application are prosecuted; and whether he will arrange for a composite licence, at one annual charge, to cover driver and conductor,
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The question of composite licences presents considerable difficulties, and is being carefully considered by the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police at the present time.