§ 27. Mr. BARRasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that owing to uncontrolled opposition by motor omnibus owners, subject to no statutory obligations, the Lanarkshire Tramways Company, which has operated for 24 years a tramway system of 28 miles in the County of Lanark under statutory obligations, will soon be forced to close down, thus putting out of work all their tramway employés, whose annual wages now amount to £45,000, and throwing on the ratepayers the annual cost of maintaining the roadway now borne by the company; that the company have in the past been paying to the local authority about £13,000 annually in relief of the rates; and whether the Minister can take any immediate action to protect the company, their employés and the ratepayers?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I have been informed by the company that the severe competition of motor omnibuses may render it necessary for them to cease working the tramways. I have no control over the issue of licences granted to omnibus proprietors, which is a matter for the licensing authorities concerned.