HC Deb 04 August 1925 vol 187 cc1140-1
33. Mr. R. MORRISON

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many omnibus proprietors have been prosecuted for offences committed under the London Traffic Act; and whether any special officers are detailed for the detection of offences under the Act or whether the police are dependent upon information lodged by omnibus proprietors against each other?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Godfrey Locker - Lampson)

Twenty omnibus proprietors have been prosecuted under the London Traffic Act, 1924, in respect of 26 offences since the 1st January, 1925. No police officers are specially detailed for the detection of these offences, but the police are not dependent upon information lodged by omnibus proprietors against each other.

Mr. MORRISON

If the police are not dependent on information lodged by omnibus proprietors against each other, how is it that an ordinary constable can tell whether an omnibus is running upon a route for which it has a schedule?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

They are not only dependent on information from other proprietors.

Major CRAWFURD

Does the expression "not only dependent" mean that they receive information other than from omnibus proprietors?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Certainly, from a great many quarters.

Mr. HARRIS

Is not this the inevitable result of passing the London Traffic Act, and is not the only crime of which these men are guilty that of carrying passengers where they want to go?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is an argumentative question.