§ 32. Mr. John Lewisasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that applicants for "B" licences are being called upon by the licensing authority for goods vehicles to provide verbal evidence of consumers' need; and, in view of the difficulty of providing this evidence, whether he will take steps to make affidavits acceptable to the authority.
§ Mr. BarnesI have no authority to interfere with the discretion of the licensing authorities for goods vehicles to require such evidence of need as they consider necessary. An appeal against the decision of a licensing authority lies only to the appeal tribunal set up under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, which in a recent case expressed the view that written evidence of need is generally of little value.
§ Mr. LewisIs my right hon. Friend aware that, although written evidence may be of little value, with which I agree, applicants who go before the licensing authority are called upon to bring with them their potential customers, who are not prepared to leave their own businesses to give evidence on consumers' needs? In the circumstances, why could not a sworn affidavit be acceptable to the licensing authority?
§ Mr. BarnesThe chairmen of these licensing authorities usually give an indication to the applicants of the procedure to be followed in these cases, and I have no jurisdiction to direct them.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that these are cases in which one would think that a sworn affidavit would be acceptable, and will he make representations to the licensing authorities on what they should do in the matter?
§ Mr. BarnesEvidence of that kind would be given proper consideration, but it does not follow automatically that it would ensure the granting of a licence.