HC Deb 07 October 1931 vol 257 cc1093-4W
Mr. MILLS

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the complaints from the urban councils of Crayford, Dartford and Bexley against the excessive speed of motor coaches when passing crowded shopping areas; if he is aware that in order to work to the motor combine schedules the drivers must break the law; and if he will recommend that the owners should be prosecuted instead of cancelling a driver's licence, which is virtually his living?

Mr. PYBUS

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I caused to be sent to representations made by the urban district council of Bexley, but am unable to trace the receipt of any recent communication on this subject from the other two councils. The Road Traffic Act, 1930, requires that the traffic

1929–30 and 1930–31; what amounts were earned by each service for each of those years; and what unearned subsidy was held by Imperial Airways, Limited, at the end of the financial years 1929–30 and 1930–31 in respect of each service;

(2) what sums were actually paid to Imperial Airways, Limited, in respect of subsidies during the financial years 1929–30 and 1930–31; for what particular services were they paid; and what amount was paid for each service for each of these years?

Sir P. SASSOON

The following table gives the information required:

commissioners shall not grant a road service licence in respect of any route if it appears to them from the particulars of the time tables which the applicants are required to furnish that the provisions of the Act relating to the speed of motor vehicles are likely to be contravened. The commissioners have not yet dealt with all the applications for road service licences which have been made to them and, therefore, only a proportion of the road services have at present been brought under their review. The enforcement of the statutory speed limits is a matter for the police, and I have no doubt that both they and the magistrates are fully aware of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act which deal with persons who aid, abet, procure or incite any person to exceed any statutory limit of speed.