HC Deb 20 March 1913 vol 50 cc1219-20W
Mr. GLANVILLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per day the motor-omnibus drivers work on the omnibuses which run from Dulwich to Shoreditch; whether, having regard to the number of accidents in connection with motor-omnibus driving, the Home Office will take whatever steps are necessary to fix a daily limit of time during which an omnibus driver shall work; and, in the interest of public safety, will the Home Office take some steps to secure that motor-omnibus drivers are not penalised in time, dinner time, or money through the opening of Tower Bridge causing a delay in the journey which the omnibus is performing?

Mr. McKENNA

According to the information in possession of the police, the omnibus drivers upon the particular route mentioned work the following number of hours per day:—

  • Those on early duty, 8 hours 58 minutes.
  • Those on relief duty, 9 hours 3 minutes.
  • Those on late duty, 13 hours.
The tours of duty are changed weekly, and there is no work on Sundays. An interval of twenty minutes is allowed between each journey. I have no information as to whether drivers suffer loss in time or money in consequence of delays occasioned by the opening of the Tower Bridge. I have no power to take any action of the nature suggested, but the whole question of motor traffic is at the present time under the consideration of a Select Committee.