HC Deb 05 August 1925 vol 187 cc1361-2
75. Mr. R. MORRISON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the £350,000 recently guaranteed to the Beardmore Taximeter Cab Company, Limited, under the Trade Facilities Acts is for the purpose of enabling this company to act as cab hirers or to sell cabs to owner-drivers on the hire-purchase system; and will he say what is the connection between this company and the firm of Beardmore (Paisley), Limited, builders of the cabs?

Mr. GUINNESS

The purpose of this guarantee is to enable the Beardmore Taxicab Company, Limited, to sell cabs to owner-drivers on the hire purchase, system. The share capital of the company will be held by William Beardmore and Company, Limited, who also own all the shares of Beardmore (Paisley), Limited.

Mr. HANNON

Is it a fact that there is a considerable amount of employment provided in making these taxi-cabs?

Mr. GUINNESS

Certainly. The alternative is that the contract would have gone abroad.

76. Mr. LIVINGSTONE (for Mr. RUNCIMAN)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury consent to the guarantee under the Trades Facilities Act for a loan of £350,000 to the Beardmore Company was given before or after 17th June, 1925, when the Two-seater Taxi-cab Committee Report was signed and presented to the Home Office; whether before promising their guarantee the Treasury were aware of the finding of the Two-seater Taxi-cab Committee; and whether the existing and competing taxi-cab companies are to be given an equal chance of replacing worn-out cabs, as in the case of the Beard more Company, by the assistance of trades facilities guarantees?

Mr. GUINNESS

The Treasury agreed to give this guarantee on the 20th May last: neither they nor the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee were aware of the Taxi-cab Committee Report, but they were of the general possibility of two-seater taxi-cab development. It is open to any other company to make application for a guarantee for a similar purpose.