§ 10 Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he is aware that Mr. Harry Brown of Birmingham, made an appeal under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, more than 18 weeks ago, and that no Ministerial decision has yet reached the appellant or his legal representatives; why this protracted delay is occurring; and why Ministerial decisions in such casescannot be given with reasonable promptitude;
§ (2) why his decision following the appeal on 12th October, 1953, by Gliderways Coaches Limited, of Birmingham, under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, took more than three months to reach the appellants; and
§ (3) what steps he is taking to expedite the machinery of appeals and decisions under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have now given my decision on Mr. Harry Brown's appeal and it has been communicated to the parties. This particular appeal presented great difficulties mainly of a legal nature. The appeal of Gliderways Coaches raised some complex issues and it took longer than usual to reach a decision and draft the necessary order. As the Thesiger 1167 Committee recognised, the time taken between the lodging of an appeal and the holding of an inquiry into it cannot be significantly shortened. The interval between the inquiry and decision depends mainly on the complexity of the case, but I can assure my hon. Friend that theneed for speed in dealing with these appeals is fully recognised and every endeavour is made to reach and announce a decision as quickly as practicable.
§ Mr. NabarroMay I thank my right hon. Friend for a very sympathetic and a helpful answer?