HC Deb 25 March 1926 vol 193 cc1350-2
7. Sir FRANK MEYER

asked the Home Secretary the number of taximeter cabs licensed to ply for hire in the Metro- politan area which are, respectively, more than 12 years old, more than eight years old, and more than five years old?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. It would be an almost impossible task to ascertain from the records in the possession of the Metropolitan Police the origin of every cab plying for hire in the Metropolitan area.

Sir HARRY BRITTAIN

Is it not a fact that some of these older cabs have been well looked after by their owners, and that they go very well, and is it not a great hardship for their licences to be withdrawn?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

That does not quite arise out of this question. It is quite true that some of them arc well cared for, and it is equally true that some of them are not.

9. Sir F. MEYER

asked the Home Secretary with whom rests the decision as to the fitness of a taximeter cab to obtain a licence to ply for hire in the Metropolitan area; and whether there is any fixed standard of engine efficiency, of condition of bodywork, and upholstery by which such fitness is judged?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The condition of body work, upholstery, and the vehicle generally is subject to the standard laid down in the Commissioner's conditions of fitness for taximeter cabs. of which I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

Sir F. MEYER

If the right hon. Gentleman should find it necessary to licence an extra number of two-seater cabs, will he take into consideration the advisability of removing from the streets some of those cabs which really are not fit for hire by the travelling public?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I should like to meet my hon. Friend's wishes, but my difficulty is this: As I have explained before, so many of the least efficient cabs are run by the owners themselves, who are many of them ex-service men, and I should he very loath really to exercise my powers in regard to them, but I hope that in due course the condition of the cabs will gradually improve.