HC Deb 10 July 1930 vol 241 cc790-1
Colonel ASHLEY

I beg to move, in page 58, line 37, after the word "officers," to insert the words: being engineers qualified by technical training and practical experience in the construction and maintenance of motor vehicles. The Clause says: with respect to the certification of fitness of vehicles, the Minister may, with the approval of the Treasury, appoint such officers (in this Part of this Act referred to as certifying officers) as he thinks fit, and those officers shall perform such duties in relation to the examination of vehicles, the issue of certificates of fitness and otherwise, as the Minister may require. These are very necessary officers to be appointed. They will have the responsible duty of certifying that these public service vehicles are in a fit state to go on the roads. On their certificate will depend the lives of the passengers. Therefore they ought to be people who know their job, who have been trained in the work and will be able to give an expert examination of the vehicles. Under the Clause, the Minister can appoint such officers as he thinks fit. One does not mistrust the Minister, and one hopes that he will take all these things into consideration. The adoption of the Amendment would ensure that the officers appointed were technical people who knew their job. In Committee a more drastic Amendment was moved, to the effect that the persons appointed should have all sorts of qualifications, diplomas, etc. It was thought that that would tie the Minister's hands too much. The Minister is anxious to do the right thing, and it would do no harm to tie his successor to do the same excellent things I am sure the present Minister intends to do.

Mr. HERBERT MORRISON

It is true that the Amendment moved in Committee was much more definite in terms. Difficulties would arise in administering the right hon. Gentleman's Amendment. "Technical training" is a very uncertain term. What is "practical experience"? Has every hon. Member, who has driven a car, had a breakdown, taken a wheel off and put it on again, had practical experience in the running of a motor car? Certainly their experience has been practical, but there has not been enough of it, and it has not been intensive enough. I do not think the words of the Amendment would work. The interpretation of "practical experience" and "technical training" might exclude from the position of public service vehicle examiner a man who has worked at a motor garage and might be a decent working engineer but not a technician as ordinarily understood. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not press the Amendment. I am sure my right hon. Friend is satisfied that I will uphold the proper requirements for these important appointments. In the circumstances I think it is hardly necessary to press the Amendment, the legal significance of the words of which are somewhat vague.

Colonel ASHLEY

I am not convinced by the hon. Gentleman, but I ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.