Govt promise on Amos background
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)SE look will be taken at the track record of former Hong Kong 3ort commissioner Tony Shepherd, if he should appeal against ;sible refusal by London Transport to grant a licence for his ; minibus service in London.
nsport Under Secretary ReEyre made this quite clear mek when a short debate eld in the Commons about mos plans to run 400 16minibuses on four routes 3 London.
Eyre refused to comment ; merits of the Amos appliI in case Transport Secrelavid Howell has to decide peal. But he added that any !ant would have to satisfy affic Commissioners about fessional competence, iaI standing, good repute, tenance arrangements, es, and so on".
born Labour MP Frank Dobson demanded an assurance that this meant it would be proper for a look to be taken at Mr Shepherd's bona fides.
"If you consider carefully what I have said, I think you will find that I have answered this question in what I said about the normal procedure that would apply in such cases," said Mr Eyre.
He made clear he thought London Transport had given all interested parties a good opportunity to air their views on the subject at the public hearing at the beginning of last month.
Mr Dobson underlined his strong opposition to the idea of a minibus scheme similar to the Hong Kong service that was set up when Mr Shepherd was transport commissioner.
"The prospect was of quite exceedingly slack and sloppy supervision of the service. In Hong Kong the service had caused considerable problems for the police and other road users."
It is also clear that the minibus system has been "rife with corruption," according to a number of reports carried out.
"There is no evidence to suggest that he either recognised the corruption or acted to sort it out. I have no wish to make unwarranted aspersions against Mr Shepherd but I believe that the information I put before the House obliges the Secretary of State to investigate the suitability of Mr Shepherd to run a minibus service in London.
He hoped that any investigation would clear up the doubts that have been raised in the report. But nothing less that a thorough investigation would discharge Mr Howell's obligation to ensure that the highest standards of conduct in public life were maintained.