§ 26. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan cabs, licensing authorities allow fare-meters with black dial and such small apertures for the fare-figures that it is difficult to read the taximeter fares except in bright daylight?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Douglas Hacking)I am informed by the 159 Commissioner of Police that since 9th February, 1933, when my hon. and gallant Friend asked a question on the same subject, 326 new cabs have been licensed and the Commissioner is satisfied that the meters on these cabs are satisfactory both as regards the size of the figures and as regards their illumination. For reasons indicated in reply to the previous question, the older types of instrument have not yet been wholly replaced, but constant attention is given to the lighting of the dials, which is an important factor in the visibility of the figures.
§ 28. Mr. DORANasked the Home Secretary if he will empower the licensing authorities to refuse a licence to any cab over 10 years old, in the interest of traffic arrangements?
§ Mr. HACKINGThe existing order provides that a cab licence shall not be issued by the Commissioner of Police unless the applicant satisfies the Commissioner that the cab conforms to certain conditions of fitness. The fitness of cabs is the main consideration to be taken into account by the licensing authority, and that depends on questions of maintenance and condition and is not merely a matter of age. Cabs over 15 years of age are at present subjected to special examination and the question of extending this special examination to cabs over 10 years of age is at present under consideration.