§ 53. Sir WILFRID SUGDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the number of convictions against taximeter-cab drivers in London during the last three years, whether he will consider the question of the system of licensing now in operation with a view to adjusting the personnel in this industry without inconveniencing the public and yet acting in equity to the taximeter-cab drivers as a body?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)I am not quite clear what aspect of this problem my hon. Friend desires to bring to my notice, but if he will be good enough to give me further particulars, I shall be glad to consider them. If, however, he is suggesting that there is an excessive number of licensed drivers, I ought to point out that there is no power under the existing law to limit either the number of licensed cabs or the number of licensed drivers.
§ Sir W. SUGDENWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that when a statutory regulation is broken by the majority of people for whom it is enacted, they will require a new enactment, and does he not think the time has now arrived for that?