asked the Minister of Transport whether, in arriving at a decision in connection with the application for a licence by a road haulage contractor under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, any consideration is taken of the possible displacement of labour as a result of the application for a licence being refused?

The licensing authorities act entirely independently of me, but so far as I am aware they take all relevant circumstances into consideration.

Mr. RUTHERFORD:

Would my right hon. Friend circulate the licensing authorities drawing their attention to the many cases in which labour has been displaced?

I do not think it would be proper for me to seek to influence them in a jurisdiction which is properly conferred upon them by Parliament.