§ 80. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the medical-history sheets of all motor-cab drivers who have been placed in Grade 3 and rejected are being used and that a private medical examination is being enforced on these men before renewing their licences; and whether this is a departure from the understanding that the medical examinations were to be used for military purposes only?
§ Mr. BRACEThe Commissioner of Police, as the licensing authority, is under a statutory obligation to satisfy himself of the fitness of applicants to hold a licence, and makes use of the information afforded by the military medical examination only to satisfy this obligation and to ensure that the licence can be issued without risk of injury to the public.
§ 81. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, owing to the Military Service Act, the Commissioner of Police refuses to grant a renewal of the driving licence of Joseph Bailey, a motor-cab owner-driver, although he has driven a motor-cab for a number of years 2501 with no accident during that period, and is at present driving a medical officer with his cab transformed into a hackney carriage; and whether, under these circumstances, the case will be reconsidered, with a view to the driving licence being renewed?
§ Mr. BRACEThis man was examined by an eye specialist, and his report showed that the vision of one eye was so defective that the Commissioner felt he had no alternative but to decline to renew his licence. In so doing he acted in accordance with the recommendation of a Committee of which my right hon. Friend was a member. I propose to reconstitute that Committee in order that the subject of the employment of injured men as drivers may be further considered in connection with demobilisation.
§ 82. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Commissioner of Police has refused the renewal of the driving licence of motor-cab owner-driver W. B. Cayford, who lost an eye through a boy throwing a stone at his glass screen; and whether, in view of the fact that this man had driven a cab for a number of years and is still driving a hackney carriage, will he consider the desirability of renewing his licence or refer the matter to a medical committee of three, one to be appointed by the Commissioner of Police, one by the owner-driver's branch of the London and Provincial Union of Licensed Vehicle Workers, and one by the House of Commons?
§ Mr. BRACEI am informed by the Commissioner that Cayford surrendered his licence last March, saying that he had no further use for it. The rest of the question, therefore, does not arise.