§ 23. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that considerable apprehension exists among operators of public service and goods vehicles as to their future in the industry of road transport owing to their licences being withheld; and will he reassure them that no combines of railway companies will be allowed to take over their trade, especially that of the small men in rural districts?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the number of cases where a licence is refused is small, and that it is always open to an unsuccessful applicant to exercise his right to appeal against the decision of the authorities responsible for the administration of the two systems of licensing.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs my hon. Friend aware that the small men in many cases try for licences, and the big railway companies and the lawyers turn them inside out, and they go in fear of their lives; and cannot he give them some protection?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am sorry to hear that. The provisions of the law ought to be followed, and, as I have said, there is a right of appeal.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs my hon. Friend aware that at a mass meeting at Newbury these grievances are going to be put forward, and, if I send him the resolutions that are passed, will he look into the question?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMost certainly I will. I shall be very grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend, for I desire to see all injustice avoided.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIs it a, fact that in some cases licences are disallowed to small men because the services are no longer required on those routes, and later on they are granted to the bigger companies?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMy hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that I am not the licensing authority, and I cannot intervene, but the provisions of the law must be obeyed by the licensing authorities.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that the reason why the small men were dropped was that an accident happened, and, when we pursued the matter for the benefit that should accrue to the individual who met with the accident, the small men went out of business?