§ 15. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many of the 21,200 prohibition notices issued by officials of the licensing authorities in accordance with the provisions of Section 17 (3) of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, during the years ended 30th September, 1952, and 1953, respectively, related to British Road Service vehicles.
§ Mr. MolsonOf the 21,189 notices issued during the year ended 30th September, 1952, 1,175 related to vehicles operated by the British Transport Commission; separate figures for vehicles employed by British Road Services are not available. Figures for the year ended 30th September, 1953, are not yet complete.
§ Mr. DaviesWould not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these figures indicate that the British Road Services vehicles have been kept in a comparatively better serviceable condition, inasmuch as the number of notices has not been so large, than those of private operators? Does that not show that the break-up of the organisation and its return to a large number of small units will lead to a deterioration in the condition of the road haulage vehicles on the roads?
§ Mr. MolsonNo, Sir. The figures actually point to a diametrically opposite conclusion. This prohibition was applied to 1 in 47 of the vehicles in the hands of private owners and to 1 in 46 of those owned by the British Transport Commission.