§ 41. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange to bring forward into the lists 1622 of notices and proceedings of the traffic commissioners all applications from operators for road service licences in respect of services that have been commenced since his warning in July last; and that the hearings for these be expedited?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONThe fixing of the dates on which applications for road service licences are to be heard is a matter for the traffic commissioners concerned, and I see no reason for interfering with their discretion.
42. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Minister of Transport how many applications have been made for licences for the running of motor coaches for hire under the new Roads Act; how many of such applications have been already decided upon by the traffic commissioners; whether he can give any estimate of the legal and other expenses which will be incurred in dealing with the whole of the applications; and if he has under consideration the question whether it would be practicable to adopt more expeditious and less expensive machinery for dealing with the matter?
§ Mr. MORRISONI am not informed as to the number of applications for road service licences for motor coach services which have been received or decided by the various area commissioners, and to obtain the information would impose additional work upon their staffs at a time of severe pressure. I cannot form any estimate of the legal and other expenses to be incurred by applicants and objectors. It is a matter for the parties themselves whether they wish to be legally represented or should appeal in person or through their own officers, as they are, of course, free to do. With a view to a saving in time and expense arrangements have been made by the commissioners to sit in various parts of their area for the convenience of the parties, and I am unable to suggest any more expeditious or less expensive machinery for dealing with these applications than that at present in operation. I have every hope that, as soon as the commissioners' decisions are given upon a number of applications involving questions of principle, it will be possible for them to deal with the remaining applications more rapidly.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that it would cost an enormous amount of labour to supply the House with the number of applications that have been made and the number already decided by the traffic commissioners? Surely that would not involve an enormous amount of work?
§ Mr. MORRISONI am sure the House will appreciate that the traffic commissioners at present are working under terrific pressure. It is really a very difficult question, and I am anxious not to divert them from their labours. I do not think that the value of this information, when the House had it, would be in sufficient relation to the amount of disturbance that it would cause.
Sir F. HALLDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the reason for asking these questions is that, in the case of some of these applications which have been made, facilities have been granted after the event for which they were required has taken place, so that they were useless?
§ Mr. MORRISONI am afraid I do not understand that question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERColonel England.