Mr. STEAD MANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Chief Commissioner is now making a charge of 2s. 6d. each on all cabdrivers after their failing to pass a second time; and whether, considering the poverty of the majority of these men, more particularly in the later stages, he will remove this tax and grant them an unlimited number of tests, the same as as observed when being examined as to their knowledge of London?
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§ Mr. GLADSTONERepresentations were made to me that the rule which formerly existed, under which a candidate for a motor cab driver's licence was only allowed to present himself three times for examination at Scotland Yard, operated in some cases as a hardship. I have therefore recently approved new regulations, under which additional tests are allowed unless it is manifest that the man is lacking in the qualities necessary to make a competent motor cab driver. I have found it essential, however, to impose a small charge of 2s. 6d. for the third and every subsequent test, in order to prevent men from presenting themselves before they are properly qualified, and so adding unncessarily to the work of the examining staff, which is already unduly heavy.