§ MR. GILBERTasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the proposed withdrawal of 150 steam omnibuses from the streets of London by the National Company, who have disposed of these omnibuses to the provinces; whether ho is aware that this means the closing of three garages and the discharge of about 1,000 men employed by this company; and if he will state what action he proposes to take in order to prevent this number of public vehicles being removed from London in the present overcrowded state of all kinds of transit?
Sir R. WILLIAMSI have seen it stated in the Press that the National Steam Car Company intend to withdraw their steam omnibuses from the streets of London, and I understand that, this is due to the fact that the vehicles are being run at considerable loss. The National Steam Car Company is a private undertaking, and the Ministry has no power under the Transport Act to insist that those privately-owned vehicles should continue to run upon the London streets.