§ 88. Brigadier Lowasked the Minister of Labour why, when he no longer has the power of direction of labour, he forces applicants for private motor care hire licences to undergo an interrogation by the employment exchange, and after that to have a compulsory medical examination.
§ Mr. IsaacsThere is no compulsion upon applicants for private motor car hire petrol allowances to be interrogated by officers of my Department or to be medically examined. There is an arrangement for my Department to assist my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power in his policy of dealing sympathetically with applications from men handicapped by disablement, by advising on individual cases. It is solely designed to assist a disabled man to get an allowance which would be refused if the need for special consideration on the grounds of disability were not proved.
§ Brigadier LowDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that as a result of this alleged arrangement between him and the right hon. Gentleman nobody is able to get a private car licence unless he has gone through the process of interrogation and medical examination at one of the Ministry of Labour centres? Is not that a true statement of affairs?
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir. There may be an interrogation in that way, but it is done at 997 the request of the applicant to help him and not to hinder him to get a licence.