CHAIRMEN OF TRAFFIC COMMIS SIONERS, ETC. (TENURE OF OFFICE) BILL. (Hansard, 13 July 1937)

THE EARL OF ERNE

My Lords, in moving that the House do resolve itself into Committee, with your permission I would like to say a few words, because when this Bill was debated on Second Reading I promised Lord Howe that I would give an answer to certain questions which he then raised. In the first place, I want to make it quite clear that the object of this Bill is to give reasonable security of tenure with a prospect of pension to a body of men who were carefully selected for their posts as long ago as 1930 and have an onerous and exacting task to perform. There is nothing in this Bill which will make it more likely for an unsuitable person to be appointed or to be allowed to continue his office if found to be unsuitable. Assuming good behaviour, their posts are made permanent as against the present system of varying tenures at the will of the Minister, who has power to prolong them, a power which he frequently exercises. The Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal, for instance, was appointed by the Minister for ten years as from 1934. The question as to whether there should or should not be Traffic Commissioners or a Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal is not affected by the Bill at all. All that this Bill lays down is that all such persons as have 357 been appointed under the 1930 and 1933 Acts shall be given reasonable security of tenure and a pension if eligible.

My noble friend also asked me whether it would be possible to raise the conduct of the Traffic Commissioners on the Ministry of Transport Vote. I am advised that, as the salaries of the Commissioners are borne on the Vote, discussion would appear to be in order. The powers of the Minister of Transport, however, in respect to the Commissioners are severely circumscribed by the 1930 and 1933 Acts. I feel that this Bill is an act of justice to the present holders of these offices and will facilitate the recruitment of suitable successors to fill their places in time to come, and I hope your Lordships will agree to pass the Bill into law. I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on the said Bill.