§ 21 and 22. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is satisfied that the new time schedules adopted by the London General Omnibus Company are being maintained without in any way endangering public safety;
(2) if he is aware that since the speedup of London motor omnibuses three drivers have collapsed at the wheel and one died on the way to the hospital; whether the death and sickness rates among omnibus drivers have gone up since the speed-up; and whether the number of accidents involving omnibuses has increased?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)I am informed that the introduction of the full programme of new time-tables was spread over the period October, 1932, to February, 1933. Whilst there has been a slight increase in the number of collisions in the first six months of this year compared with 1932, the figures are appreciably better than for 1931. There appears to be no evidence to suggest that the new time schedules have in any way endangered public safety. I am also informed that the death rate amongst drivers was less in the six months ended June, 1933, than in the two preceding years, and although four drivers have died recently whilst on duty, I understand that in none of these cases was the nature of the work held to be responsible for the fatality. The 1073 average sickness during the periods October-December, 1932, and March-June, 1933, was lower than any corresponding period for the previous three years. The incidence of the influenza epidemic in January and February last precludes useful comparison with the sickness in those months in previous years.