§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that members of the general public are forced to pay an illegal three shillings standing money fee when parking 44W private vehicles in the vicinity of Covent Garden Market during certain times of the day; and if he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to prosecute all persons demanding or seeking to collect this charge in public thoroughfares.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that his inquiries have revealed no evidence of money being demanded from the owners of private vehicles, though he is aware that many persons using the market habitually employ cart minders to take charge of their vehicles. The police would take appropriate action if any abuse of this practice, which is a long standing one, came to their notice.