§ 63. Sir FRANK NELSONasked the Minister of Transport if there is anything in the existing regulations under which motor-driving licences are issued which prevents such licences being automatically issued to individuals suffering physical disabilities, such as defective sight or hearing, or to applicants who are men tally deficient?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONThe answer is in the negative, and under my existing powers I can make no regulations 1297 in the matter. As the hon. Member is aware, the question of the issue of driving licences has been under consideration by the Royal Commission on Transport and is, I understand, dealt with in their First Report, which was presented to Parliament on Monday.
§ Sir F. NELSONMay I urge on the hon. Member—[HON. MEMBERS: "NO!"] May I request the hon. Member—[HON. MEMBERS: "NO!"]—May I ask the hon. Member whether, taking into consideration the parlous condition of traffic in the streets of London to-day, he will not press upon his Government the necessity of treating this as an urgent matter and introducing immediate legislation to deal with incompetent motor drivers on the streets of London?
§ Mr. MORRISONAll those considerations are present in the mind of the council?
§ Sir F. NELSONWith great deference, may I ask if the hon. Member does not realise that this is a very urgent question?