§ 43. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary what staff of the Metropolitan Police is employed at headquarters in dealing with the licensing of motor omnibuses and cabs for the London area; and can he give the approximate annual cost of the men employed on this special work?
Mr. HENDERSONThe total number of officers employed in connection with the licensing of public carriages is 111, and the aggregate cost of their pay and pensions is approximately £51,000. These figures, however, cover the whole of the work in connection with the licensing of public carriages of all kinds (including tramcars), their inspection and supervision, and the licensing of drivers and conductors: and separate figures are not available with regard to the licensing of motor cabs and omnibuses in particular. I should add that a large proportion of the cost is met by fees, etc., received.
§ Mr. GILBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the staff employed on this particular work is specially earmarked, or whether it is a staff independent from the rest of the police?
§ Mr. HAYESIs it not a fact that members of the Public Carriage Branch of the Metropolitan Police are selected from the ordinary or uniform branch because of their special qualifications for the work?