§ 22. Sir A. YEOasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, owing to the Military Service Act, 1916, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has refused to grant a renewal of the licence of Thomas Arthur Read, motor-cab owner-driver, badge No. 1189, of 137, St. Elmo Road, Shepherd's Bush, although he has been licensed to drive a motor-cab and an omnibus for the past twenty years, has passed the Scotland Yard driving examination on nine different types of motor-cabs, two of which have been in the dark, has not had an accident above the value of £10, has not caused any injury to the life or limb of anyone, and has an excellent certificate of examination by Sir Anderson Crichett, F.R.C.S.E.; and whether, taking all these facts into consideration, he will immediately order a renewal of Read's licence?
§ Mr. BRACEThe driver in question has lost the sight of one eye, as is stated in the medical certificate referred to in the question. The Commissioner of Police informs me that in refusing the licence he has acted on the recommendation contained in the Report of the Committee on the Licensing of Partially Disabled Men as Drivers, that a licence should not be granted to a man who has only one eye. As I stated in a reply to the right hon. Member for Deptford on the 12th instant, it is proposed to reconstitute this Committee in order that the subject of the employment of injured men as drivers may be further considered; and this case along with other similar cases will then come again under review.
§ 23. Sir A. YEOasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Commissioner of Police has refused to grant a renewal of driving licence to Herman Stern, badge 9588, motor-cab owner-driver; and whether, in view of the fact that Stern drove a motor-cab for a number of years before joining the Army, was in France for nearly two years in the Royal Fusiliers, was in several engagements, was badly gassed, and eventually discharged, he will order an immediate renewal of Stern's licence?
§ Mr. BRACEStern was licensed in July, 1914, to drive a motor-cab. He enlisted in the Army in December, 1915, and was discharged in. September, 1917, as "subject to epileptic fits," and his application for renewal of licence had to be refused on medical grounds. As Licensing Authority the Commissioner 2862 would fail in carrying out his statutory duty if he licensed an epileptic to drive a motor-cab.
§ Sir A. YEOIs it the fact that this man is fully incapacitated from resuming his work because of epileptic fits?
§ Mr. BRACEI cannot give any other answer than this, which has been supplied to me by the Chief Commissioner of Police; who speaks with full authority.