§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary the degree of inspection undertaken by the police officers engaged in the licensing of taximeter cabs, chars-a-bancs, omnibuses, and tramcars before any such vehicle is licensed for carrying the public; and whether he can state if these officers concerned attend road tests to determine whether the brakes of vehicles are satisfactory?
Mr. STANLEYThe degree of inspection is such as to establish that there is full compliance with the prescribed conditions of fitness. The efficiency of the brakes is one of the points ascertained by road tests, except in the case of tramcars. Tramcars are tested at the depots if power is available, and are also subject to frequent brake tests by inspecting officers.