§ 89. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport seeing that all motor omnibuses, whether owned privately, or by companies, or by municipal authorities, are under the Finance and Roads Act of 1920 taxed on the same basis for licence duty, why municipal undertakings are 2057 the only ones upon which any direct charge may be made towards the cost incurred in any adaptation, alteration, reconstruction, or strengthening of roads or bridges which are used in common by private owners, companies, and municipal authorities?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAs I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 27th March, municipal authorities are unable to operate omnibus services without Parliamentary sanction, but ever since 1914 it has been the policy of Parliament to impose a liability of this nature where a municipal authority proposed to operate an omnibus service outside its own area. The inclusion of the Clause makes it possible in some cases for omnibus services to be started on roads which would otherwise be unsuitable, which if proposed to be used by a private undertaking might have to be closed to omnibus traffic.
§ 90. Mr. WILSONalso asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he can supply a complete list of the decisions made by the Ministry since the Roads Act of 1920 came into operation under the Clause which is inserted in all municipal motor omnibus powers providing for a contribution by the municipal authority towards any cost which may be incurred in any adaptation, alteration, reconstruction, or strengthening of roads or bridges to which the powers apply; and whether he can give a list of the contributions known by the Ministry to have been made under the Clause?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThree decisions have been given by the Minister of Transport on this point since the passing of the Roads Act, 1920. In the cases of the Colne Corporation v the Lancashire County Council and of the Cardiff Corporation v. the Monmouth County Council the decision was to the effect that no adaptation was necessary. In the ease of Walsall Corporation v. the Cannock Rural District Council, an award was made at the rate of £700 per mile. On the last part of the question I have no information.