§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Regulations which he proposes to make under Section 7 of the London Traffic Act, as affecting the tramway route between Shepherd's Bush and Uxbridge, will mean that of the 73 vehicles controlled by the London General Omnibus Company only 18 are to be withdrawn, while of the 24 independent vehicles four are to be entirely withdrawn and the remaining 20 to operate only to the extent of one-third of their capacity, thus in effect reducing the independent vehicles from 24 to six; and whether he will reconsider this matter, in view of the fact that 80 of those employed in the operation of the independent vehicles are ex-service men?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe number of omnibuses which will be affected by the restrictions to be placed on omnibus services running over the tramway route between Shepherd's Bush and Uxbridge will depend upon the manner in which 1053W the omnibus proprietors concerned decide to operate the journeys permitted under the Regulations. This will not be known until fresh schedules for the services affected have been deposited by the proprietors with the Commissioner of Police.
The proprietors, owning four vehicles, who will not be allowed to operate any journeys over the route, did not come into the business until early in 1925, several months after the London Traffic Act came into force, and when it was known that omnibus services would be restricted under the powers conferred by that Act.
With reference to the last part of the question, while I should regret if, as a remit of these restrictions, any ex-service men were thrown out of employment, I must point out to my hon. Friend that if as a result of continued unrestricted competition any tramway undertaking wore compelled to cease operating, a far lager number of ex-service men would be thrown out of employment.