Sir Eric Geddes: According to the re-commendations.
Sir Eric Geddes: I beg to move, after Sub-section (2), to insert a new Subsection— (3) Where not less than twelve hackney vehicles of a similar type, and belonging to one owner, are registered with a county council, and the council is satisfied that one of those vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "the old vehicle") has been destroyed or withdrawn permanently from use as a hackney vehicle, the council...
Sir Eric Geddes: I am sorry that this proposal is looked upon as a sinister move to commandeer motor cars or any connivance with the War Office, because that is quite a misunderstanding of this provision. A book has a very grandiose sound, but this is not really a book, it is a folded card introduced for simplicity and economy. All the motorist has to do is to apply for the only form he ever fills up, and he...
Sir Eric Geddes: If the car be sold, this document on the completion of the purchase goes with the car, because the licence belongs to the car and goes with the car. The Noble Lord is fearful that if he sells one of his cars it may not fetch as much on the market as the car of my hon. Friend. He need not disclose that it is his car until he has the cheque. There is no reason to say whose car it is until it is...
Sir Eric Geddes: No, it is not a title; it is a registration.
Sir Eric Geddes: You can leave that at home.
Sir Eric Geddes: I think I have given a reason and it is that it is the most economical and most convenient way of getting a renewal of licences for motorcars without having to draw out afresh each year all the particulars. The postal clerk to whom we are entrusting the work will simply have to look at what is written on this paper and will be able to grant a renewal of a licence while the owner of the...
Sir Eric Geddes: I am very sorry there should be this feeling in the Committee about this record, because it was devised as the most economical and simple way of imposing the new taxation. I am afraid I differ from my hon. Friend who thinks I made a mistake. I did not. You do not fill up any more forms. The Post Office was consulted, and gave most careful consideration, and came to the conclusion that this...
Sir Eric Geddes: I think I may facilitate matters by stating where we stand in this matter. On Second Reading I said quite frankly that I thought the Clause could be interpreted in a way which went further than it ought to go. What I propose to do is to bring up on Report stage a new paragraph in substitution for paragraph (g), and which will only apply in circumstances involving the safety of the vehicle...
Sir Eric Geddes: I am afraid we shall have to take the Report of this Bill on Monday.
Sir Eric Geddes: If the hon. Members who are particularly interested would let me know, I will call a conference for Monday and discuss the paragraph on the lines suggested, and we will then know where we are.
Sir Eric Geddes: The point which the Noble Lord mentions is before me, and I propose to provide something of the kind in the new Clause. The point which the hon. and gallant Gentleman raises presents great difficulty, because if you are going to allow anybody to ask for an inquiry you are going to entail a tremendous amount of work all over the country, as you will have people wanting to have roads closed...
Sir Eric Geddes: I have already dealt with that. The hon. and gallant Gentleman was not in the Chamber at the time. I mentioned that the conditions were safety for the vehicle, safety for the users of the road, or the unsuitability of the road.
Sir Eric Geddes: The division of expenditure in detail between railway companies ceased to be necessary when the Government guaranteed to the companies their aggregate net receipts of the year 1913, and it was accordingly suspended to save labour and expense. It is therefore not practicable for individual companies to publish detailed particulars of the present cost of working of their several departments.
Sir Eric Geddes: The grouping proposed is shown in the White Paper Cmd. 787, and was built up on consideration of operating economic administrative efficiency. I have now received alternative proposals supported by a large majority of the railway companies which I am considering.
Sir Eric Geddes: No obstacle has ever been placed in the way of railway companies as regards raising capital. Further, in order that the controlled railway companies may be encouraged to spend the capital necessary to provide the facilities required by traders and the public, the Government allows during the period of possession interest at 5 per cent, on approved capital expenditure or new works and...
Sir Eric Geddes: I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Fulham East on the 22nd of November. I am able to add that a Report from the Rates Advisory Committee has quite recently been received and is under consideration.
Sir Eric Geddes: It is not possible within the limits of question and answer to cover satisfactorily the wide scope of the hon. and gallant Member's question, but the following instances may be mentioned. In spite of depleted resources and serious dislocation due to the War vastly greater goods and passenger traffic has been carried than ever before in the history of the railways of this country, and the...
Sir Eric Geddes: I have said that in many directions the Ministry has cooperated with other agencies, and that statement includes the railway companies.
Sir Eric Geddes: As soon as the position is made clear regarding the new legislation which it is proposed to introduce, for the creation of a London Traffic Authority, it will help matters. In the meantime, temporary measures have been taken, and, I am told, have made a material improvement.