HC Deb 09 December 1931 vol 260 cc1846-7
21. Mr. MUNRO

asked the Minister of Transport how many appeals from the Traffic Commissioners have been heard since they were appointed and of such appeals how many have been allowed?

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)

178 appeals have been decided. Of these 40 involve orders on the Traffic Commissioners reversing or modifying their decisions.

22. Mr. GLOSSOP

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the urban district councils of Stocksbridge, Holmfirth, New Mill, Honley, Thurlstone and Penistone, and the rural district council of Wortley are opposed to the action of the traffic commissioners in declining to renew the licence of Mr. Leonard Baddeley to run motor omnibuses over sections of the area covered by these councils; and, seeing that large sections of country in that district are likely to be deprived of omnibus facilities, will he take steps to have the whole case reviewed?

Mr. PYBUS

Yes, Sir. This case is under appeal and in coming to a decision I shall certainly take note of the views expressed by local authorities concerned.

24. Major DESPENCER-ROBERTSON

asked the Minister of Transport with reference to the appeals of omnibus owners to the Ministry of Transport in how many cases companies have received permission to run their omnibuses on routes which have been hitherto used by omnibuses belonging to individual owners?

Mr. PYBUS

The answer is none.

25. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider taking steps to set up an independent tribunal to hear appeals from the decisions of the traffic commissioners?

Mr. PYBUS

The right of appeal to the Minister was recommended by the Royal Commission on Transport. Under the Roads Act, 1920, a similar right of appeal to the Minister of Transport existed against the decisions of local licensing authorities. Bearing in mind the need for an expeditious and economical procedure for hearing the appeals of aggrieved parties, I am not aware that any satisfactory alternative has been suggested nor indeed could one readily be found.

Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the omnibus owners are very dissatisfied, because they are appealing from men appointed by the Minister to the Minister himself; and that, if he turns down the commissioners it implies that he has made a bad appointment?

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

In any event, is not the Minister far too busy to deal with these appeals?

Mr. PYBUS

No, Sir.