§ 30. Viscount CURZONasked the Home Secretary whether motor omnibuses operating in the Metropolitan police area have to comply with certain requirements in the interests of the safety of their pass ngers in order to obtain a licence; whether he is aware that these same vehicles now operate over a much wider area, and over roads for which they are constructionally most unsuitable owing to the height of the centre of gravity of the vehicle; whether anything can be done, when their licences are renewed, to ensure that only vehicles of suitable construction are licensed to carry passengers to and from the Metropolitan police area; and whether any steps have been taken or are to be taken to co-ordinate the various conditions laid down by police authorities throughout the country and insisted on by them prior to the grant of a licence to public-service vehicles or vehicles adapted to carry passengers?
§ Mr. SHORTTBefore omnibuses are licensed in the Metropolitan area they have to conform to the police requirements, which are devised to secure the safety of the passengers and other road users. The suitability of the vehicle for the journey to be taken is always considered before it is licensed, and before omnibuses extend their route to places outside the Metropolitan area the routes are carefully gone over and any necessary safeguards imposed. I have no jurisdiction in the matter outside the Metropolitan area, but the question of coordinating the requirements of the different licensing authorities is under consideration.